Tagged: satellite

Listening to Spacewalk Communications from the International Space Station

Over on YouTube user LEGION ELMELENAS has uploaded a video showing his reception of voice communications from a Russian spacewalk on the International Space Station (ISS).

Legion used a Funcube Dongle Pro+ which is a software defined radio USB dongle similar to the RTL-SDR, but with better performance and higher cost. He also used a home made turnstile antenna, the SDRSharp software and the Orbitron satellite tracking software to automatically correct for the signals doppler shift as the ISS flies over.

International Space Station spacewalks(Russian astronauts EVA) received with Funcube Dongle Pro+

Receiving Signals from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter with an RTL-SDR and WiFi Grid Antenna

Gat3way has recently posted on his blog an article showing how he was able to receive a signal from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) using only an RTL-SDR, WiFi grid antenna and a low noise block (LNB). The LRO is a NASA spacecraft which is currently orbiting and being used to create maps of the moon.

The LRO transmits a tracking, telemetry and control (TT&C) signal at 2271.125 MHz which is in the S band (2 to 4 GHz). Since the S band frequencies are commonly used for Indovision satellite TV, gat3way was able to find a cheap LNB which could downconvert the GHz level S band frequencies down into a frequency receivable by the RTL-SDR. For the antenna he used a high 22dBi gain motor controlled WiFi mesh parabolic grid antenna.

After aiming the antenna at the moon, gat3way was able to clearly see the LRO carrier signal in the RTL-SDR waterfall as shown in the image below.

WiFi Parabolic Mesh Antenna for the S Band
WiFi Parabolic Mesh Antenna for the S Band
LRO Signal Received by RTL-SDR, LNB and WiFi antenna.
LRO Signal Received by RTL-SDR, LNB and WiFi antenna.

GNSS-SDRLIB: Real Time GPS Positioning with RTL-SDR

Over on YouTube user taroz1461 has posted a video showing an RTL-SDR getting a real time GPS location fix using his GNSS-SDRLIB software package. Taroz1461 used an RTL-SDR modified with a temperature controlled oscillator (TCXO) to improve the frequency stability of the dongle.

In the video description he writes that GNSS-SDRLIB will soon have RTL-SDR support in the next update.

GNSS-SDRLIB: Real-time positioning with RTL-SDR (DVB-T Dongle)

Receiving the Chinese Space Station Tiangong-1 with the RTL-SDR

Blogger gat3way has created a post on his blog showing how he was able to receive the Chinese space station Tiangong-1 with the RTL-SDR and a simple cantenna antenna.

The Tiangong-1 station transmits a signal at 2232.15 MHz. To get this signal into a range receivable by the RTL-SDR gat3way used a LNB (Low Noise Block) to downconvert the frequency into one that the RTL-SDR can receive. Using this setup he was able to get a decent signal copy.

Cantenna setup for receiving the Tiangong-1 Chinese Space Station
Cantenna setup for receiving the Tiangong-1 Chinese Space Station

Receiving SO-50 Saudisat 1C with the RTL-SDR

Over on YouTube user Orlando Lima shows reception of the SO-50 Saudisat 1C satellite. Saudisat is an amateur radio satellite with an FM radio repeater. Orlando listened to the downlink frequency at 436.795 MHz using an RTL-SDR, Yagi antenna and Orbitron software to track the downlink frequency in SDR#.

Video Tutorial: Setting Up Satellite Tracking with SDRSharp and Orbitron

YouTube user HamradioSat has put up a video tutorial showing how to connect SDR# and Orbitron together. By interfacing the two, Orbitron can then be used to automatically tune to the doppler corrected frequency of a satellite passing overhead in SDR#. Orbitron is a free satellite tracking software program.

This can be useful for simplifying the tracking of NOAA weather satellites and downloading their live images.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Ut-HvnRb8&feature=youtube_gdata

Orbcomm Reception with the RTL-SDR

YouTube user Drvarnick has uploaded a video showing how he receives Orbcomm satellite data with the RTL-SDR. To do this he uses a a homemade 1/4 wave antenna, SDR# and the Orbcomm-Plotter software by COAA.

COAA describes Orbcomm satellites as

a satellite communication system (www.orbcomm.com) providing two-way data and positioning service to small, portable user terminals in the VHF frequency bands. You can use a simple VHF radio receiver (scanner) tuned to the band between 137 and 138 MHz to pick up the strong signals from these satellites. With OrbcommPlotter you can decode the telemetry and find out the positions of the satellites, their operational status and their uplink and downlink channels. Unlike most satellite signals, there are so many Orbcomm satellites that there is likely to be one within range of almost any spot on Earth at any time of the day or night.

Receiving ISS Data Comms with the RTL-SDR

YouTube user mutezone has uploaded a video showing some data communication packets from the International Space Station (ISS) being received with the RTL-SDR. To receive the packets he used SDRSharp, and piped the audio using a virtual audio cable to the Qtmm AFSK1200 Decoder.

I tried to get the ISS (International Space Station) data comms on 145.825 MHz while the satellite was in orbit close to my location & it worked, even though it can go off frequency due to atmospherics & such. On this day, I caught it when it orbited twice around my location in the space of almost three hours. The data comms was decoded on the 2nd attempt. The antenna I used was an omni placed outdoors, & also using a TV + radio signal booster.
For anyone interested in getting the ISS, you have to wait until it orbits close to your location, & I fully recommend a decent aerial that should be placed externally. You can check the ISS tracker websites to see live updates of when & where it will orbit. Here is a link to one website…

http://www.isstracker.com

List of frequencies link…

http://www.issfanclub.com/frequencies

Receiving ISS Data comms on RTL-SDR in UK, 6th June 2013