![]() An improvement would be a 2m band telescoping antenna. If you have a handheld radio, go outside and try that first using the rubber duck antenna. Stuff in your house may produce noise as well. You would be better served to go outside with a handheld radio and hold the radio so that the antenna is perpendicular to the ISS position. If part of your house is above the garage, and your neighbors are close by, your RX signals diminish significantly. As to receiving a signal in your garage, much depends on what is above and around it. A metal door is going to be very unfriendly to receiving a signal as you suspected in that direction. The boom on that Yagi is just over three feet long. A Yagi antenna you would need to hold by hand, or some mechanism as you need to track the ISS as it moves across the sky. ![]() Most of the suggestions you are getting here are for that and not for the ISS SSTV signals. An omni antenna would be best for general scanning to RX signals around you. Here are two captures using an Elk Log Periodic, but again that tape measure Yagi works too. By the time we get another SSTV signal campaign, you'll be a pro.and the neighbors will be accustomed to your craZy ass waiving an antenna in the air like the rest of us. Anyways, you can practice by using it to monitor the ISS crossband repeater, or the APRS digipeater on the ISS if they're up and working. Also, when you're using the handheld antenna and catch the signal, twist it slightly left and then right. ![]() The results using that will exceed an indoor omni directional antenna all day, every day. You can also build an inexpensive Yagi antenna. They may even later say, "So.you said something about the ISS sending images?" When the realize the truth and finally see it in the sky for themselves.you're not the craZy guy anymore. Even if they think you're craZy they may research it. Tell them that there are websites online that will even tell them when there is a good chance to see it. Also tell them that they can actually see the ISS overhead at dusk sometimes. When someone asks you what you're doing, just tell them the truth. Hell, I have had other amateurs look at me like I was craZy when I was working a satellite to make contacts. Yes, you will look like craZy guy aiming an antenna at the sky, but that's how it goes. (Some of you already know this, but others will drop in via a search who don't.) It was less if at all when they used PD180 due to the timing, angle, etc. On a good pass I'll get two images since they changed it to PD120. I make sure the radio is on the correct frequency and set to record, or have whatever recording device ready and turned on. The first few minutes before the pass I'm outside and double check my gear. ![]() I go outside and aim the antenna in the direction of the ISS and once the signal is sent, I am easily able to focus right on it. Now, for ISS SSTV signals that are sent every so often I use an Elk Log Periodic antenna. Still, if I had to use a 2 meter antenna indoors I would use a Diamond X50A. I have received ISS SSTV signals on that antenna from different pass angles and the results were junk. I have 75' of LMR-400 coaxial cable going to that antenna. I have a fine dual band omni directional antenna on my roof about 25' above ground level.
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