I managed to receive images from the ISS with my Baofeng UV-5RM
📆 2026-05-11 12:32
Yesterday between 21:56 and 22:03 EET, I managed to hear SSTV tones from the International Space Station using only a Baofeng UV-5RM from my balcony.
The audio captured
The photos I received
ISS - International Peace and Cooperation
The images aren't perfect. They have blurry lines and static bars across them. Despite those lines, capturing 2 recognizable images from the ISS is a HUGE win for me considering that my radio has it's stock antenna.
My setup
Radio: Baofeng UV-5RM
Frequencies: 437.560 MHz (approach), 437.550 MHz (overhead) and 437.540 MHz (departure).
Location: Balcony
Decoding: Recorded the audio on my phone (recorder app) and decoded it afterward with Robot36 android app.
Info on ISS: Spot the Station (android app)
Android apps used
Spot the Station ( get info on ISS passes )
Robot 36 ( decode audio into images )
Getting the audio
First of all, I saved the 3 frequencies mentioned above in the radio so I could easily swap between them. I then made sure to charge the radio and my phone in the evening. Everything was charged and ready to rumble at about 20:30 EET.
The waiting begins with a beer. I was thirsty. Drank it all in 5 minutes. Luckily, my fridge was also prepared with 5 more. 3 beers after, the time was 21:45 EET.
With my Baofeng UV-5RM in my left hand and my phone (Audio Recorder app already running) in my right, I unlatched and swung open the bug screen to ensure nothing stood between me and the sky. Reaching out past the railing, I extended both arms into the open air to give the radio a clear, unobstructed line to the ISS.
As the ISS passed overhead at around 28.000 km/h, SSTV tones started chirping and whistling on my Baofeng UV-5RM on 437.550 Mhz. I managed to hear them 2 times during the same pass. ISS was above me for 7 minutes with a max height of 72°. Because of this height of 72° I didn't have to switch between the approach, overhead (only frequency used) and departure frequencies.
At first, I thought that I have received the same image 2 times. I was really amazed, and glad, that I kept recording audio until the ISS passed my location at 22:03 EET.
Decoding the audio
I then fired up Robot 36 and played the recordings. You don't know how happy I was once those first lines of color appeared and actual images started taking shape on my screen.
SSTV Event information
The SSTV event began Friday May 8 10:30 UTC and concludes Tuesday May 12 16:40 UTC, so there is still time for others to try this. The 2 photos I managed to get are proof that even with a standard handheld radio and a bit of patience on a balcony, anyone can pull an image directly from space.
Related posts
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📄 2025-12-01 Introduction to Ham Radio
It was fun. I can't wait to be somewhere outside the city. Maybe then and there I'd get better signal and recordings.