Satellite - this is very simple - 2

Publication «Sputnik - it is very easy» were told about how easy it is now to hear satellites orbiting the Earth and the possibility to decrypt received signals of some satellites. Unfortunately, this telemetry data remains inaccessible to stakeholders.

Although space ships travel through the large theater satellites successfully in orbit and transmit information about the experiments, but "hear" their owners can only a few minutes. Because the owners of various CubeSat publish instructions and software for receiving his companions, hoping to get as much information from the telemetry enthusiasts. For example, to Manfred Memorial Moon Mission (4M) competition was held among enthusiasts who sent the largest number of accepted telemetry.

A possible solution to this issue can become project SatNOGS , which is a project of mass construction and deployment of amateur tracking stations around the world based on the technology of open source and open standards.







SatNOGS station is modular and can be easily modified. The station is connected to the internet and is fully automated.

The following diagram shows the essence of the project:



Through the Global Management Network observers interact with several tracking stations. The collected data will be made available to the public through its own website.

Tracking station SatNOGS - is azimuthally rotating device, antenna, LNA, and built a system that derives from the Global Management Network planned operations, records observations and sends them back to the Global Management Network.

Station configuration can be modified - factory or homemade azimuthally rotating device, different types of antennas:



Independent production and antenna rotator well illustrated , and construction uses readily available and cheap materials. for example, water PVC pipe:



The station consists of three parts:

1. Instrumentation
2. Odroid U3
3. TP-Link TL-WR-703N
   Instrumentation - this antenna diplexer, amplifier, receiver RTL-SDR, GPS, rotator.
   Odroid U3 - the computer station that is entrusted with functions of the antenna control, queue processing work, receive and decode the signal.
   TP-Link TL-WR-703N - to access the Internet via WiFi.
   
   The station was built from the following components:
   
4. 2 stepper motor

2 A4988 stepper motor driver Arduino Micro (controls the motors Command Odroid U3) TP-Link WR703N < / DVB-T receiver based on RTL2832U For one directional antenna on the range of 2 meters and 70 cm ODROID U3


In that first mounted mechanical components made on a 3D printer and stepper motors:



Then there are mounted electronic components:





It remains to go to installing software on iron .

Satellites are waiting!





Source: geektimes.ru/post/241834/