On 05/08/20 14:11, Peter Goodhall (2M0SQL) wrote:
Not sure what you think needs doing, there's already a pisdr image available setup for most common SDRs on the market and most of the common software tools see https://pisdr.luigifreitas.me
Think only improvements the image needs perhaps is the Fox decoder added but its pretty much ready to use.
Peter,
I didn't know about this project, but that's great. After a quick perusal of the web pages, here are a few thoughts:
- This isn't a "out of the box" experience setup. The Usage section of Getting Started talks about SSH or VNC access to log. This begs the question: What if someone had a TFT daughterboard with touchscreen (or keyboard) and wanted to have it boot right into the SDR, ready to go?
- The FCDP+ is not supported, but probably could be. This is a dongle that many in our hobby might already possess.
Now, how would a prospective new AMSAT member know about this path? Probably not via this -bb, and the AMSAT website makes no mention of this path on any of these pages:
https://www.amsat.org/introduction-to-working-amateur-satellites/
https://www.amsat.org/station-and-operating-hints/
The main amsat.org page doesn't have anything like "Getting Started" or "How Do I Work An Amateur Satellite?", and that's where something like this could go.
I really like AMSAT-UK's website (https://amsat-uk.edu/) with the tab "Beginners" and all sorts of useful information under it about how to get started. However, they also do not mention the SDR path under either "How to work <mode> satellites" page.
I'll stop there, because now I'm armchair quarterbacking. Please, if anyone can volunteer to get something like this popularized, volunteer for AMSAT and do it! We need more active operators, regardless of the method that they utilize to get on the bird.
--- Zach N0ZGO