SatNOGS

As if I didn't already have sufficient Raspberry Pi systems around the house I set up one for SatNOGS (https://satnogs.org/). I already have a little LoRa device for TinyGS so why not add somehting else satellite-y? I mean, there was a spare port on the Cross Country Wireless multicoupler (and indeed there are still two spare ports now).

Configuring it all was relatively straightforward although you do need to read the information on the wiki first.  I am using an rtl-sdr V3 dongle which was sitting doing nothing so itis nice to actually use the thing.

There is plenty of information on how to set things up and my station is running in test mode while I check it all out. With my compromised setup I did wonder if I would pick anything useful up but it does seem to. The results can be found at https://network.satnogs.org/observations/?station=4293

At the moment everything is spread about. The Pi needs boxing up and a place found on the shelf, pulus the USB and RF leads need tidying but otherwise it all seems to work ok.

I have added a Minikits LNA to give a bit more oomph. When configuring the system you use (for example) CubicSDR and the soapysdr-server running on the Pi in order to select a useful gain setting for the rtl-sdr - I have mine set to 22.9dB with 28dB provided by the LNA. It does seem to be picking signals up ok without the dreaded noise except where the satellites are close to or within the 70cm band. The next plan is to move the LNA to the antenna side of the multicoupler so the TinyGS station can also benefit from the signal gain - plus of course move the antenna outside / replace it with a Parasitic Lindenblad if I ever finish making it, or get / make another QFH.