[amsat-bb] The bleeding DIY edge: Othernet Ku RX now available

Wed Oct 2 21:21:36 UTC 2019

AL0I reports that Othernet has now released their latest Ku band downlink
receiver for the Othernet project.
These receivers and the process of setting up are only for those on the
bleeding edge of tinkering, but supposedly there is an APRS
satellite-traffic channel on the GEO downlink that can be received anywhere
in North America now with just the feed horn.
https://othernet.is/products/dreamcatcher-v3-05

The APRS feed comes from FINDU.COM and selects only APRS Satellite traffic
for uplink to the GEO bird.  This can form half of the link for rapid
response anywhere...  see http://aprs.org/othernet.html

-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB  On Behalf Of Matthew J Wolf via AMSAT-BB
Sent: Thursday, June 13, 2019 8:18 PM
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] OUTERnet becomes OTHERnet (APRS geo feed)

I go ta Dreamcatcher Data Radiowhen they where on sale for $49.
I can confirm that you can replace the supplied USB WiFi NIC with the
TP-Link
TL-UE3000 USB Ethernet NIC.

I have to use a Pringles can on the LNB to get a marginalsignal, SNR
-12.5 to -14 dB. Every time it rains I have to readjustthe LNB.

I have sent a few test ARPS messages from N4MTT-2 via rf to a local i-gate.
The messages then were seen on the down link via a text file.
The Skylark operating system has a "Messages" application that displays the
text file.

APRS Link can display the history of the messages sent to OUTNET,
https://aprs.link/app/aprs/stations/messages-OUTNET

I noticed the messages I sent to OUTNET did not receive a REPLY ACK.
There where duplicate messages on the down link from another SSID.
I wanted to avoid sending duplicate messages. In Xastir I canceled the
messages after the first message transmission.

I agree tha tit "is a powerful capability" .

-Matt, N4MTT

------------- original message  ----------------------------- Hi Bob,

I have been watching Outernet/Othernet developments for a couple of years
and waiting for their system to stabilize (it still has not).
I bought a Dreamcatcher 3 Version 3.03 receiver in April when they dropped
the price to $49.00US.  The User Manual may be of interest:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0770/0935/files/Dreamcatcher_V_3.03_SL_5.5_User_Manual_1.pdf?6506786568900441680

Information about the current state of affairs is unfortunately scattered
throughout a number of threads in the Othernet forum.
As noted in the following thread,  Othernet is/was dumping the Dreamcatcher
3.03  in favor of a "cost-reduced version" of the receiver:

https://forums.othernet.is/t/is-sale-price-an-omen/5974

The Dreamcatcher 3.03 uses a LoRa device for KU-band reception unlike the
older L-band receiver which was based on an RTL-SDR as noted in the this
post:

https://www.rtl-sdr.com/othernet-dreamcatcher-on-sale-for-only-49/

I am not aware of any specific information released concerning the upcoming
Othernet receiver, but it is supposed to be forthcoming soon.

The current North American downlink is about 30 kbps with 8 kbps allocated
for an audio stream (Voice of America at the moment) and the rest for files,
including the satellite APRS transmissions. The latest kits were sold with a
bare LNB,  but a number of users have been experimenting with adding a
feedhorn to improve reception:

https://forums.othernet.is/t/increasing-gain-with-15-degree-cone/5258

Some users are using re-purposed KU-band antennas as well.

Hope this helps.

Todd
AL0I

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2019 4:30 PM
Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Transponders For Rent??? (for free)

Actually there is a geostationary channel that can be used by Ham Operators
that is for free.
https://othernet.is/

About 2 years ago, the APRS satellite ground station captures were made
available worldwide via three GEO satellites for reception anywhere on
earth.  But I recently found that the OUTERnet system has changed to a new
GEO satellite constellation and no longer uses INMARSAT L band satellites
but is now using a KA band downlink over the USA.  And that they are now
selling a new KA receiver kit for this satellite.

Has anyone kept up with them?
Here is my original WEB page but with the  links changed from OUTnet to
OTHERnet, but otherwise, not kept up to date.
http://aprs.org/othernet.html

If anyone has one of their receivers or is receiving the downlink and/or
wants to help me get my web page all cleaned up to what has changed over the
last two years, let me know.

This is a powerful capability.  I hope we can keep it working.

The way it is supposed to work is that you can send a specially formatted
APRS packet (position, status or message) on any APRS network (terrestrial
or satellite) and it should get parsed by the APRS-IS.  Therer it can be
captured by the OTHERNET non-profit ground station and uplinked to the APRS
channel on their satellites to the downlink that anyone can receive.
Ostensibly a ham radio volunteer global emergency backup channel.

Its round-about, but a possible play-point...

Bob, Wb4APR