HDMI Converter Installed on ISS HamTV System, Expanding Video Capabilities

Amateur Television operations aboard the International Space Station received a significant upgrade on December 22, when an HDMI converter was installed on the ARISS HamTV system. The new hardware expands video capabilities for HamTV and supports the use of a broader range of onboard cameras during future educational contacts. The installation was performed during scheduled maintenance activities by NASA astronaut Chris Williams, KJ5GEW. ARISS reported that the HDMI converter can generate a video test signal when the system is in standby mode, providing a clear visual indication of system readiness and video-path functionality.

The December upgrade builds on HamTV’s return to operation earlier in the year. The HamTV unit was installed aboard the ISS on July 29 by astronaut Jonny Kim, KJ5HKP, after several years offline for repairs. Following installation, ARISS confirmed acquisition of signal reports from amateur stations as the system began transmitting a carrier on 2395 MHz, with continued testing through August confirming stable carrier operation.

Those efforts led to successful video use during an educational contact on October 18 with scouts in the United Kingdom. During that event, Jonny Kim, KJ5HKP, answered student questions while appearing live on station via HamTV. Pre-contact testing included tone and color-bar transmissions, followed by a successful live video downlink from the ISS.

In the days following the December 22 maintenance activity, amateur observers again reported reception of color-bar test signals, confirming proper operation of the updated video chain. On December 23, amateur operator Scott Chapman, K4KDR, reported successful reception of HamTV test video during an ISS pass over North America, documenting decoding of a video test pattern using a one-meter S-band dish.

HamTV uses DVB-S digital amateur television transmitted on 2395 MHz, and reception typically requires a 2.4-GHz-capable antenna, a low-noise amplifier, and a compatible DVB-S receiver or software-defined radio. With the HDMI converter installed and testing completed, ARISS has indicated that further HamTV activity is expected during educational contacts in 2026.

[Credits:Mitch AD0HJ - [AMSAT-BB] ANS-004 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins]

HamTV color bar test pattern is shown as received from the International Space Station system. [Credit: Scott Chapman K4KDR]

ARISS radio contact between OR4ISS and ON4ISS on February 5, 2026.

Astronaut Chris Williams, amateur radio call sign KJ5GEW, will operate the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station.

Chris will answer questions from students in Belgium during this live amateur radio contact.
The ARISS telebridge ground station ON4ISS in Belgium is conducting this radio contact for Klimop Tongeren, Tongeren-Borgloon, Belgium.

This live radio amateur contact is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 12:21:51 UTC.
Astronaut Chris Williams will operate the amateur radio station call sign OR4ISS aboard the ISS and will call the ARISS telebridge ground station call sign ON4ISS in Belgium. This is an ARISS telebridge contact with Klimop Tongeren, Tongeren-Borgloon, Belgium. You can listen live to astronaut Chris Williams on board the ISS at 145.800 MHz (plus/minus 3kHz Doppler shift).

Fly Future 2026 - RADIOAMATORI VIA SATELLITE A FLY FUTURE 2026
https://www.flyfuture.it/notizie/radioamatori-via-satellite-a-fly-future-2026.html

Announcement: ARISS radio contact between OR4ISS and IK1SLD on March 19, 2026

Astronaut Sophie Adenot, amateur radio call sign KJ5LTN, will operate the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station. Sophie will answer questions from students in United States during this live amateur radio contact.

The ARISS telebridge ground station IK1SLD in Italy is conducting this radio contact for Lewis Center for Educational Research in Apple Valley, CA.

This live radio amateur contact is scheduled for Thursday March 19, 2026 at 17:15:13 UTC.
Astronaut Sophie Adenot will operate the amateur radio station call sign OR4ISS aboard the ISS and will call the ARISS telebridge ground station call sign IK1SLD in Italy. This is an ARISS telebridge contact with Lewis Center for Educational Research in Apple Valley, CA, United States. You can listen live to astronaut Sophie Adenot on board the ISS at 145.800 Mhz (plus/minus 3kHz Doppler shift).

The event will be streamed live:
https://youtube.com/live/rT4NiKPTM8s?feature=share

English is the expected language of communication in this amateur radio contact.

Credits: AMSAT Belgium

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule
as of 2026-03-25 21:00 UTC

Istituto Comprensivo “Gabriele D’Annunzio” Lanciano, Chieti, Italy, direct via IQ6LN

AND

Istituto Comprensivo “Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi”, Pontedera, Italy, telebridge via IQ6LN

The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS

The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz

The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

The scheduled crewmember is Sophie Adenot KJ5LTN
The ARISS mentor is IKØWGF
Contact is go for: Wed 2026-04-01 11:56:09 UTC 27 deg

Watch for Livestream at:
Lanciano: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUtvnVa2NBo
Pontedera: http://www.youtube.com/live/KrEtbdTEAfA

(Credits AMSAT-BB)

Possibile evento a maggio 2026
Credit ARISS International