[amsat-bb] Global Geo SATCOM system?

[Scott]

The O/S image for the Pi can be downloaded from:

https://archive.outernet.is/images/rxOS-Raspberry-Pi/

... there is documentation at:

http://rxos.readthedocs.io/en/develop/getting_started/raspberry_pi.html

... but that doc currently seems to cover a lot more than the Pi and also a
lot more than just installing & using the system.

So, in summary it's a lot more straightforward than you would think from
the instructions:

-write the O/S image to a micro-SD card for the Pi

-point your antenna in the correct direction & plug it into the LNA > SDR >
Pi

-power on the Pi

-from a wi-fi capable computer, connect to SSID "Outernet"

-in a browser, connect to either 10.0.0.1 or 10.10.10.10 (mine uses the
former, but I noticed in the doc that they reference the latter)

-the browser interface will walk you through setting up an admin password;
you can explore the interface from there

Ref. the TP-Link dish, the feed is included.   I believe it's more-or-less
a dipole.


==================================================================

On Thu, Oct 6, 2016 at 12:53 AM, Andrew Rich <vk4tec at tech-software.net>
wrote:

> Scott
>
> I am interested in getting mine going tonight
>
> Can you step me through the software side please
>
> Andrew
>

>>>>> what feed on the dish ?

>
> ------------------------------------------
> Andrew Rich VK4TEC
> w www.tech-software.net
> e vk4tec at tech-software.net
> m +61 (4) 19 738 223
> m 0419738223
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 6 Oct 2016, at 9:25 AM, Scott <scott23192 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Hi Bob & everyone.
>
> I have a partially obscured view at the angle required for geostationary
> satellites but was curious to see if I could get Outernet's signal from
> Inmarsat 4-F3, which is where Outernet's transmission originates from in
> this area (USA East Coast).
>
> For background, I had used a variety of antennas (patch, vivaldi, DirecTV
> dish repurposed) to receive some of the various data streams from Inmarsat
> 4-F3 in the past, with varying results.
>
> I ordered the combination patch antenna / LNA / SDR that Outernet has
> assembled optimized for L-Band.  That left only the software side to
> configure.
>
> The first option was zero-cost, which was to attempt to decode the
> Outernet feed using their guided software install for an existing Linux
> computer. This consisted of a number of apps working in concert.
>
> The "receiver" portion worked properly - I did see a reasonable SNR and
> mostly error-free data stream.  Unfortunately, I never decoded any content
> with the other apps either due to their alpha or beta stage of development
> or my lack of linux expertise.
>
> However, at the same time I was corresponding with a couple of other hams
> who saw similar results with the "add on" apps for a working linux
> computer. I have not dug any deeper with that method so as of now, for all
> I know that branch of the software might have improved.
>
> In stark contrast to my lack of success with the linux method was a
> turnkey boot image that Outernet makes available for you to write to an SD
> card for use in a Raspberry Pi.  Consisting of a fairly lite linux OS, plus
> all the apps required and optimized for Outernet use, this solution was
> very much ready for production use.
>
> I would say within 2 minutes of booting a new Pi-3 with the Outernet
> image, content started downloading to the local storage on the Pi.  I
> didn't have to do a thing but figure out how to log into the web interface
> that is your portal to the Pi.  (web as in http; there is no internet
> connection, naturally)  It was as plug-and-play as you could possibly
> get... turn on the Pi and point the antenna.  Period.  Content just starts
> downloading if you have a decent signal.  You connect to the Pi from
> another computer and any files that have downloaded are available for you
> to view.
>
> Of course the antenna / LNA / SDR was attached before I powered up the Pi
> and positioned to have decent visibility in the right direction.  And of
> course it's easy to see that the better your RF receive situation, the
> better will be the rate at which content is received.
>
> Finally, using items already on-hand for other experiments, I replaced the
> patch antenna with the TP-Link 2.4 GHz dish (https://www.amazon.com/
> Directional-Parabolic-Connector-Resistant-TL-ANT2424B/dp/B003CFATOW?th=1)
> that you often see used by amateurs for experimentation.  Never mind that
> it's supposedly for a higher frequency and never mind that it's not
> circularly polarized, I found that in conjunction with the LNA & SDR from
> Outernet, I received a much stronger signal than with the patch antenna.
> But in fairness, I have not made a comparison with a 100% clear view of the
> sky.
>
> I hope those very early and limited observations of Outernet's solution
> are useful to you.
>
> -Scott, K4KDR
> Montpelier, VA  USA
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Robert Bruninga
> Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2016 6:51 PM
> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Global Geo SATCOM system?
>
> AMSAT tinkerers?
>
>
>
> OUTERNET is a free worldwide Geostationary Satellite downlink system
> designed to bring content to remote areas all over the globe.  They have
> six geostationary birds covering the entire globe EVERYWHERE.  All you need
> is a small 18” (or 36” in some very remote areas) to receive content via
> your own home-made receiver based on a TV dongle and Rasberry Pi.
>
>
>
> Is there anyone on AMSAT-bb that is already receiving this content?  We’d
> like to hear about how easy it is to set up a receiver.
>
>
>
> We have some ideas on how this can be used to augment Ham radio in our
> Emergency Response and remote operations missions.  See
> http://aprs.org/outnet.html
>
>
>
> Bob, WB4APR
>
>