[amsat-bb] Global Geo SATCOM system?

Fri Oct 7 07:06:04 UTC 2016

What are the frequencies for the different regions ?

I want to use my SDR to get a dish going 

Andrew 
'
> On 7 Oct 2016, at 01:02, Scott <scott23192 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
>> 
>> 
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