Heard 4S7NDR on ARISS for First Time!


Today morning there was an Eastern pass of International Space Station at 7.36 am IST (UTC+5.30), with maximum elevation of around 50 degrees in my region. I had set my Moxon Yagi antenna towards the down phase of the pass expecting some DX station from the Eastern side. As my Moxon Yagi is at a fixed elevation of only slightly above zero degrees or practically horizontal, I did not expect good signals when the satellite was high above. Still I could hear VU2AAP when the satellite was at around 30 degree elevation in the up phase and at an azimuth of about 5 degrees North, which was almost perpendicular to the direction of my Moxon Yagi. This could be because of the higher beamwidth of my antenna with just elements for UHF. After some time, I could hear part of the callsign of 4S7NDR. Still later I could hear VU2AAP asking which is the 4S7 station! Though I tried calling back 4S7NDR, I could not receive his reply. Later I could hear VU2AAP calling 4S7NDR. He also called me and I did reply. Towards the end of the pass I could hear VU2AAP calling back VU2APL as well.

Here is the audio clip of the pass after removing most of the hissing noise of the open squelch when no satellite signals were being received.