Saskatchewan hams talk to the International Space Station

Man takes ham radio to new heights by Jana G. Pruden - Regina Leader Post, Oct. 27/08

Space: The final frontiers of man and ham. Murray Crandon was one of several ham radio operators around the country who took their hobby to new heights last week by making contact with the International Space Station as it passed over Canada.

Crandon, better known on the air as "VE5MC" was at home in Moose Jaw when he was able to speak with space tourist Richard Garriott on board the space station in orbit.

"It was quite a thrill.  It's not something that the average person can do and it's really wonderful that amateur radio gives us this ability," said Crandon, a long-time ham radio buff. "There are not a lot of people who can say they've talked to people in space, so it's quite a thrill."

Crandon said he has been tuned in to radio communications from the time his parents gave him a set of walkie-talkies when he was a kid. He got his ham radio licence from Industry Canada 18 years ago, and has been exploring the international airwaves ever since.

He received an award in 2001 for contacting 100 entities around the world with his radio, and has since contacted 302 of the total 338 entities possible. Entities include countries, regions bases and locations such as Hawaii, which is considered to be a distinct contact because of its location.

Before the space call, Crandon said his biggest accomplishment had been a contact with a man in Iraq - a feat Crandon pulled off with a modest wire antenna he made himself for about $10. Crandon said he tried to reach the man for four days before he was finally able to make contact with the operator north of Baghdad."You'd like to say it was all skill, but really there was awful lot of luck involved a lot of times for me," he said.

Crandon started pushing the limit of his earthly contacts in April, when he spoke briefly with space tourist Charles Simonyi, who was on the International Space Station at the time. When Garriott blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Oct. 12 for his mission, Crandon knew he wanted to try to make another cosmic connection.

Aided by a computer program that shows where the space station is in orbit, Crandon was able to time and refine his attempts at radio contact.

Last Monday, Crandon heard the transmission he had been waiting for. NAISS, the callsign of the International Space Station.

Crandon was able to respond, and he and Garriott exchanged names and co-ordinates. Crandon wished Garriott a hearty 73 (ham speak for "Best Regards") and got off the air so other earthly operators would have an opportunity to get in touch with Garriott.

Crandon says at least two other operators from Saskatchewan and numerous others around the country were able to make a similar connection.

Meanwhile, Crandon says he will go back to contacting the remaining entities around the planet and waiting for the next big challenge to come over the airwaves.

"If they put a human on Mars, I'll be listening", he laughs.

Murray, VE5MC (we say More Coffee) is from Moose Jaw.

Late Item from Murray:

Murray will be at King George School on Monday, December 15th, just about the time this QSO goes to press, he will send us an update in the next QSO... sheesh, such a busy guy... who loves his ham radio. Val