Send APRS Packets From the ISS Digipeater with the FT3D or FT2D

Finally got around to making this video, and it was really fun to do.
The ISS has an onboard APRS Digipeater that anyone with a licence can use to send packets from.
Today, the International space station had a great pass, so I got the FT3D with the Arrow 2 antenna, and filmed a small how to guide on digipeating packets off the ISS.

Freq used:145.825

Video on APRS for the FT3D:

Video on Ham radio Satellites:

Track the ISS:

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[JasonHissong]

Thanks for your video! It helped me make my first digipeater contact with the ISS with my FT300D just using my station antenna.

[GadgetAddict]

Congrats 👍 I'm glad it worked out and you were heard. An interesting overview of the process 👍

[matsherwood]

Thanks for a great video. Just went outside for a pass and it occured to me I should be trying to play aprs with the ISS. You have been a great help to me on my aprs journey!

[SoaringSkies]

I was able to bounce my packet off the digipeater tonight! February 4, 2023 at 19:09 with my FT3D and a signal stuff antenna. It has been my goal every since getting my license. I only had 10 minutes before the pass and your video has helped me set it up in record time, THANK YOU!! 73 N7DIB

[mikeyost]

Thanks for the great video instructions, Made my first Contact with Handheld FT2dr and Homebrew 4 element handheld yagi antenna.

[we]

Thanks a lot for these videos. I'm getting the most out of my FT3D since I'm watching your videos. Very cool to sent messages to space and actually being received and answered by someone else in another country.

[Mike_Hoellwarth]

Awesome video. I tried this yesterday with no luck, didn't realize I had to change the digipath. Corrected now and waiting for a pass in a couple hours to try again.

[WoyLad]

Too cool. When you got to the bottom of the dam, I knew exactly where you were. In the 80's, lake Reba was essentially abandoned, with a little park denotation, but no improvements. The lake was empty, and we used to 4-wheel through the old spillway into the lakebed. It was a cool place. Glad to see the place has grown up and you are there taking advantage of it. I am in Richmond here and there, I'll be sure to add the local repeaters and give you a call next time I am down. KE4NVR.

[mjarger]

Thank you for the video. I’ve been trying with my FT3D for 2 weeks now. I can receive but have not been able to get a packet in. Might be my homemade yagi. This video helped confirmed it’s nothing with my path or radio settings! Keep up the great content!

[ErikN]

Thank you for sharing the setup and experience. Reaching the ISS digipeater is one of my goals but being as for north as I am I probably need a solid Yagi so make it. It's 17° above the horizon at best.

[aquatone]

Just picked up an FT3DR today. Love it and thanks for the video!

[KYK-]

KY4K here.... in Lex. Great video. I just built a small tracker for the arrow antenna and I thought I would try to send a packet through the of course found your video lol. Catch you later!

[off-trailseeking]

Thanks much for doing a video specifically using the FT3dr ! It's confusing enough attempting to get all the settings correct, and if you miss one things don't work. Very frustrating! Just nice to have the same radio to compare settings with and set up.

[NEJM]

Nice video, never thought of putting Wide2-1 as the secondary address on the Digi Path. Need to share this with some fellow Hams. 73 de N4EJM

[craigbruenderman]

Enjoyed the video. I'm a new ham in Louisville, KO4IWK.

[markdoyle]

Great job I can’t wait to do this myself and if successful I will share my knowledge I learned from you with a new ham. Thanks for the inspirations and sharing you ups and downs.

[RonanCantwell]

Nicely done Sir! I've been trying the same here but no luck... yet.

[remingtonkevin]

I just got a message from the ISS on my yaesu 3D! Thanks for uploading that video!

[borderlandsroadkill]

Great Video, I just got my FT3D can you share some info about the antenna and adaptors you used?

[thomashardy]

Thanks for the video. I’ll have to try this.