Category: SDR and software

Här skriver vi artiklar runt SDR och övrig mjukvara som har något gemensamt med satelliter.
Posts and guides about SDR and satellite software related topics.

Categories
Ham Satellite news SDR and software

SkyRoof SDR satellite software

SkyRoof is a Windows application for Hams and satellite enthusiasts by Alex Shovkoplyas VE3NEA.

The main features of SkyRoof are:

  • detailed information about all satellites that transmit in the Ham bands;
  • satellite tracking in real time;
  • pass prediction for the selected satellites;
  • visual representation of the current satellite position and future passes, using:
    • Sky View – the view of the sky from your location;
    • Earth View – the view of the Earth from the satellite;
    • Time Line – the satellite passes on the time scale;
    • Pass List – the details of the predicted passes;
  • SDR-based waterfall display that covers the whole satellite segments on the VHF and UHF bands, with zoom and pan;
  • SDR-based SSB/CW/FM receiver with RIT and Doppler tracking;
  • audio and I/Q output to external programs via VAC or UDP;
  • frequency scale with satellite names and transponder segments, Doppler-corrected;
  • CAT control of an external transceiver;
  • antenna rotator control.

Download at https://ve3nea.github.io/SkyRoof/

Categories
Ham Satellite news SDR and software

SatTrack by OZ9AAR

Carsten Grøn / OZ9AAR (@CarstenGrn1) has released his tracking software SatTrack. Please note and respect that it’s released as is with no support.

https://moonbounce.dk/hamradio/sattrack.html

Categories
SDR and software

WSJT-X Full Duplex FT4 test with IC-9700 via RS-44

The latest version of WSJT-X Improved, from v2.7.1, it is possible to use full duplex, that is listening and decoding at the same time you are transmitting. For satellite operators, mainly QO-100, you can now have full duplex control over your transmission avoiding drifting of your FTx signal.

I did a test with FT4 over RS-44 as I will try to describe here in this post. I’m using Icom IC-9700 and PstRotator for doppler control but the concept is the same if you are using other rigs and doppler control software.

First download WSJT-X Improved, use version from v2.7.1.

To be able to use doppler control from PstRotator and at the same time control PTT from WSJT-X use Omnirig (this setup is not described in this post).

When using the “Satellite mode” with IC-9700 the RX is the main band and the TX is the sub band.

For IC-9700 you must set up the USB soundcard in Windows to use both channels (“Kanal 2” in swedish means “2 channels”):

Note – sometimes this setting can change during a Windows update and be reverted to one channel again.
Updated 2026-02-01: It seams that it works also if just using one channel as the IC-9700 then only outputs the main band.

In WSJT-X use the USB left channel from the IC-9700 – left channel is the main band audio. A very good article by GM4VVM about the sound card setting in IC-9700 can be found here.

Set up for Full Duplex Mode in WSJT-X:

Below is an animated GIF when using FT4 via RS-44. Transmitting power is at 0% (zero) so very little uplink power is needed. You see that after every TX sequence WSJT-X is decoding my signal:

And below you see the WSJT-X spectrum as an animated GIF. What you see is my transmitted FT4 signal received in full duplex.

Summary:

The Full Duplex version of WSJT-X improved is working perfect for FT4 via satellite!

Categories
SDR and software

Nooelec Ham It Down 3GHz downconverter

Nooelec, manufacturer of LNAs and SDR equipment, releases a new downconverter. It is designed to convert signals from the 1.55 GHz to 3.1 GHz range into the frequency range of software-defined radio devices like RTL-SDRs.

Initial price is set to around 90 US$ and it makes it an interesting product for S-band RX if you have a SDR since before.

Nooelec product page

Also there is a first review on Youtube from dereksgc

Categories
SDR and software

Greencube Terminal by OZ9AAR

Greencube Terminal by @CarstenGrn1 Carsten Grøn / OZ9AAR is a packet terminal software for the Greencube IO-117 satellite. This software adds a couple of interesting features compared to the original terminal by Andy, UZ7HO.

Some of the feature are:

  • Logging to several logging software
  • Local ADIF search of worked stations
  • Integrated tracking of your own station and all active stations on the satellite
  • A smart way of list stations who are calling you
  • And many others

I highly recommend this software for working IO-117. It is updated often and full info can be found at this page.

Categories
Ham Satellite news SDR and software

Working GreenCube digipeater guide by FG8OJ

@FG8OJ has made an excellent guide of working GreenCube digipeater with IC-9700 and supporting software. I will not write a new guide as Burts guide fully covers everything.

Working GreenCube digipeater

Valid exchange messages for a QSO should be:

You can look at FT8 needed exchange : 2 exchanges from each side:

A:Grid
B:Report
A:R + Report
B:RR73

or
A:Report
B:R + Report
A:RR73
B:73