SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/ham-technician-contact-iss

Who may contact the ISS on amateur VHF frequencies?

Any amateur with a Technician license or higher may do so.

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  1. General licensees or higher only
  2. Technician licensees with NASA approval
  3. Technician licensees or higher ✔

Why: A Technician license provides amateur VHF privileges, including frequencies used for ISS contacts. No separate NASA approval is required for an ordinary amateur contact.

Huh, didn't know that: An ISS contact still requires operation within the privileges of the chosen uplink frequency.

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Why call the ISS by radio? The roaming charges are out of this world.
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References

Answer: Technician licensees or higher. A Technician license provides amateur VHF privileges, including frequencies used for ISS contacts. No separate NASA approval is required for an ordinary amateur contact.

  1. 2026-2030 Technician Class Question Pool ncvec.org/downloads/2026-2030%20Technician%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%20Public%20Release%20Feb%2019%202026.pdf
    Any amateur with a Technician class or higher license
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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