Getting Started

Understanding Your SatNOGS Station

The SatNOGS kit is designed to operate as a complete SatNOGS station, comprising three key components: the antenna, the amplifier (LNA), and the RF station box, as illustrated in the diagram.

  1. Antenna: This specialized antenna is your station’s primary sensor, designed to capture the faint radio signals emanating from satellites as they pass overhead.

  2. Amplifier (LNA): The Low Noise Amplifier boosts the received signal from the antenna, enhancing its strength and quality before further processing. It ensures optimal signal reception for improved data capture.

  3. RF Station Box: Housed within the RF station box are essential components such as the Raspberry Pi and the Software Defined Radio (SDR).

  • Raspberry Pi: This compact computer acts as the control center, managing the SDR, processing satellite data, and connecting to the SatNOGS network to share your observations.

  • Software Defined Radio (SDR): This versatile device converts analog radio signals into digital data that can be analyzed and decoded by the Raspberry Pi.

  • List of components included in the kit

Unboxing the package you will find the below components.

  1. Single Board Computer (Raspberry Pi 4 Computer Model B 4GB RAM)

  2. Power module for Single Board Computer (PoE HAT)

  3. SD Card (Philips microSDHC Card Class 10 UHS-I | 32 GB)

  4. USB Extension Cable

  5. Software Defined Radio (RTL-SDR v3)

  6. RF Cable (LNA to Outside)

  7. RF Cable (SDR to LNA)

  8. Low Noise Amplifier

  9. RF Cable (LNA to Antenna)

  10. Antenna

  11. Enclosure

  12. UTP Enclosure Connector

  13. Power over Ethernet Injector (Ubiquiti POE-50-60W PoE++ Injector)

  14. ZipTies

BOM

  • Tools and additional materials

    1. Laptop

    2. Screwdriver set

    3. Ethernet cable

    4. 1/2 & 9/16 End Wrench

    5. SD Card Reader (if not supported by the laptop)

In addition to the usual tools for assembling the station such as a screwdriver, wrench and laptop, an Ethernet cable is needed to complete the station. This last part is intentionally not included as it depends on the specific characteristics of each station installation, the distance to the LAN port. The operator depending on the form of his station must purchase an Ethernet cable that covers this distance.

tools