Category: Applications

Moving SatDump Towards V2.0.0

Over on the SatDump blog developers Aang23 and Lego11 have recently uploaded a post discussing their plans to move SatDump towards Version 2.0.0. SatDump is currently the most comprehensive and popular software for SDR users wanting to decode images and data from satellites. 

The developers note that their update frequency has slowed down recently due to their focus on V2.0.0. The new version introduces significant under-the-hood changes that will make SatDump easier to manage and develop in the future, and also focuses on improved documentation.  

Users of SatDump will also see an improved GUI, new functionality such as crop, an SSTV decoder, support and improvements for a wide range of satellites, any many other improvements discussed in the post. 

We note that V2.0.0 has not yet been released. The post notes that at some point in the near future they will begin merging the new V2.0.0 branch into master, followed by frequency alpha releases, before finally releasing an official V2.0.0. 

SatDump V2.0.0 ALPHA with new GUI
SatDump V2.0.0 ALPHA with new GUI

RadioSport SDR: Portable Receiver Software for RTL-SDR

Thank you to Richard (9G5AR) for writing in and sharing with us a program he's developed called "RadioSport SDR". RadioSport SDR is a portable, no-install-required SDR program compatible with RTL-SDR devices. Richard writes that it is small and fast enough to be run off a USB stick.

The software supports demodulation of wideband FM, narrowband FM, AM, USB, and LSB modes. It also has a noise reduction feature.

The software can be downloaded from its GitHub release page here.

RadioSport SDR. Portable SDR Software for RTL-SDRs.

Saveitforparts: Receiving NOAA-15 One Last Time

Over on YouTube Gabe from the saveitforparts channel has uploaded a new video discussing the decommissioning of NOAA-15 and NOAA-19. We also previously posted about this topic a few days ago, if you are interested.

NOAA-15 was scheduled to shut down on August 12, 2025, but due to anomalies with NOAA-19, the decommissioning date of NOAA-15 has been extended by a few days until the week of August 18th. NOAA-19 has recently been experiencing transmitter failures, and it may be impossible to receive signals from it at the moment, despite its expected decommissioning date of August 19, 2025.

In the video, Gabe also rushes to try and receive signals from all transmitters on NOAA-15 one last time, setting up VHF, L-Band, and S-Band receivers. He experiences some issues with weak signals, interference, and recording failures, but ultimately succeeds in capturing all three signals during one of the final passes of NOAA-15.

US Government Shutting Down More Weather Satellites

Tech Minds: Testing out Discovery Dish for Inmarsat and Hydrogen Line Radio Astronomy

Over on YouTube Matt from the Tech Minds YouTube channel has recently uploaded a new video where he tests out our Discovery Dish antenna. Discovery Dish is designed to be a low-cost, portable solution for receiving L-band and S-band weather satellites, Inmarsat satellites, conducting amateur hydrogen line radio astronomy, and more.

In the video, Matt unboxes the Discovery Dish and provides an overview of the build process before demonstrating its use in decoding AERO and STD-C messages on Inmarsat. He then shows the dish and Inmarsat feed being used to receive Iridium satellites, and how they can be decoded using iridium-extractor with a HackRF or Airspy R2.

Finally, Matt swaps out the Inmarsat feed for the Hydrogen Line feed. Using SDR#, the IF AVG plugin, and Stellarium, he was able to obtain a clear hydrogen line peak.

This Discovery Dish Is The ONLY Satellite Dish You Will Need!

A Video Introduction to Broadband Surveillance with RTL_POWER

Over on YouTube "Mount Lethe Hellfire" has recently uploaded a video showing a deep dive into the rtl_power tool. rtl_power enables users to generate wide-spectrum displays by rapidly sweeping the RTL-SDR’s center frequency across the desired frequency range.

In this video I do a deep-dive into the command line tool, rtl_power, which is a purpose built headless RF broadband spectrum scanner. I dive into the command line, its use cases as it pertains to SIGINT (COMINT, ELINT), and finally do a live demo. Additionally, I provide some other ways to access your DragonOS running on Raspberry Pi with VSCode as well as troubleshooting issues with USB claims on Linux.

Broadband SIGINT Surveillance with RTL-SDR & rtl_power

In a second video, Mount Lethe Hellfire continues this topic and goes on to show how rtl_power can be combined with visualization and scripting for powerful RF spectrum analysis.

In this video I walk you through how to use a Python script (running on DragonOS, or otherwise) that will process rtl_power SSV outputs, normalize the data points, and assist you in visualization as well as local analysis using Structure Query Language (SQL) with DuckDB. The SQL analysis is to pull out the Top 10 frequencies sorted by dBm, nothing too crazy but enough to inform you on further ELINT and COMINT collection, processing, exploitation, and analysis efforts.

Analyze & Visualize RF Spectrum with rtl_power and Python scripting | ft. RTL-SDR

ARPS.Chat – Send and Receive APRS Messages Globally

Thank you to Sarah Rose Giddings (aka Signals Everywhere) for submitting to us her latest project called aprs.chat. This is a web service that allows ham radio operators to have all of their incoming APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) messages (regardless of SSID) saved in history on the web platform. This will enable operators to never miss a message, even when their radios are turned off. The service works over the APRS-IS (APRS Internet Service) network, which bidirectionally connects APRS radios to the internet.

Sarah notes that the service currently works through the website, but an Android app is planned for release in the near future. Patreons of Sarah/Signals Everywhere can get early access to the Android app on request.

More information about the service can be found on this post on the Signals Everywhere blog.

aprs.chat website
aprs.chat website

Saveitforparts: Tracking US Government Spy Planes over your Neighbourhood

In his latest YouTube video, Gabe from the saveitforparts channel has uploaded an interesting video detailing how he's tracking government spy planes over his neighbourhood using SDRs to monitor ADS-B data, and Orbic hotspots to detect Stingray activity (fake cell tower basestations).

In the video, Gabe highlights how he detects and follows a suspicious aircraft, concluding that it is most likely a DEA surveillance plane. This conclusion is supported by the fact that the ADS-B data is censored on FlightRadar24, something which normally only happens with law enforcement aircraft, as well as private jets. Upon zooming in on the aircraft with a camera, various antennas and cameras are also visible on the belly. Finally, Gabe found that the plane's registration number is linked to a Texas-based shell company with connections to the DEA.

In the video Gabe also tests out the RayHunter custom firmware for Orbic mobile internet to WiFi hotspot devices. This custom firmware turns these devices into Stingray detectors. A Stingray is a fake cellular base station that is often used by law enforcement to spy on cell phone activity.

Is That Really A Government Spy Plane Over My Neighborhood?

Decoding Inmarsat AERO 1545 MHz with a Backfire Helix and JAERO

Thank you to Nagy István for writing in and sharing with us his video showing how he uses a home-made backfire helix antenna and the JAERO software to receive and decode Inmarsat Aero at 1545 MHz. AERO messages are a form of satellite ACARS, typically containing short messages from aircraft, and some channels also support digital voice communications.

The backfire helix is an antenna design that consists of a helically wound wire, typically wound around a 3D-printed frame, attached to a large backplane. Recently, a similar design called a 'heliocone' has become popular for use with 1.7 GHz polar orbiting satellites.

In the video, Nagy shows two designs, one of his own and the other by Digitalelektro, and the good SNR that he's achieved with them in JAERO.

Inmarsat Aero 1545Mhz decoding with Backfire helix / JAERO software