I’ve published a new field reference guide designed for radio operators, Scouts, and STEM educators who want a quick, reliable way to work the International Space Station (ARISS) and the Chinese Space Station (Tiangong / CSS) from portable setups.
This document consolidates the most current uplink and downlink frequencies, modes, and operational notes for both stations, along with a streamlined setup procedure for tripod-mounted satellite systems. The goal: a single laminated sheet you can throw in your go-kit or binder — accurate, readable, and field-tested.
Note that the ISS uplink frequency only displays ITU regions 2 and 3 (my primary region – Americas). If reside in ITU region 1, ping me and I’ll add the region 1 frequency for you.
What’s Inside
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Step-by-step setup checklist for portable rotator tripods and handheld satellite rigs.
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ISS and CSS frequency tables covering FM voice, APRS/packet, digipeater, SSTV, and cross-band repeater modes.
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Helpful tips on Doppler shift, crew contact windows, and split-memory programming.
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Color-coded page borders — red/white/blue for the ISS and red/gold for the CSS — for quick visual ID in laminated use.
Download
The full document is available here: ISS & CSS Amateur Radio Quick Reference (PDF)
Why I Built It
Radio Scouting and amateur-radio education continue to grow within Scouting America and the broader ham community. Having a durable, standard reference for ARISS and CSS operations helps ensure Scouts and operators can connect successfully whether it’s an SSTV event, packet relay, or a casual voice contact with an astronaut.
This card is part of a broader push toward field-ready documentation: technical guides that are just as rugged and mission-focused as the gear we deploy and part of a larger project I started in May for documenting and publishing practical technical guides for the everyday ham.