Ham Radio - Automate satellite capture with Gpredict and GQRX on Linux.

I show how to set up the automation, and demo a couple of captures.
If you like my videos, please subscribe here:
kzbin.info?s...
If you want me to keep making more videos like this, consider becoming my patron at Patreon: / kb9rlw
Discuss this and other videos on Facebook:
/ kb9rlw

[@kirovoleg]

On Gpredict there is an option to download the transponder data, so that it makes it available to select from a dropwdown list on the Radio Control screen customized for each satellite.

[@spacemanspiff85]

Fantastic work, man. For some reason I didnt' realize that gpredict would do the doppler adjustments automagically like that. Thanks.

[@EricTheCat]

Very nice demo. Thank you for sharing. I was set up to receive the ISS those days as well and only got the very start of 1 image. I thought I might have an antenna problem until I switched it back to receive NOAA satellites and had no trouble.

[@mikehorvath4780]

Thanks for the video! This helps clear up some of my questions.

[@W4TRI]

Two days ago I had a "Had enough" moment. Blew away my 4 year old Windows 10 install and loaded Mate. Have not looked back as it is running so much faster. I'd encourage others to try it as well. Thanks Kevin! K4RJJ

[@chucksayers1248]

very good video Kevin, I hope your staying cool out there. I can see the temp's are brutal.

[@muddyexport5639]

Good vid & job explaining/demo'g!

[@Spookieham]

Thanks Kevin - going to go back and watch the rest now

[@famren]

Excellent video. Very helpful, thank you.

[@BobtheTraveler-WD8NVN]

Great Video, Kevin !!!

[@mattghoward]

this is cool by the way - love your videos - in this case you can setup a group in gpredict for all the sats you want to track, then use AUTOTRACK to automatically switch between them. gpredict will switch satellites and frequecies based on the transponder file. The challenge here is that the transponder files for each satellite need to have your preferred mode/transponder as the first entry in the transponder file. This needs to be done because gpredict doesnt store some things and the satellite transponder mode is one of them. When it switches to the next satellite it automatically defaults to the first entry in the transponder file. It can be edited simply using a text editoir - just be aware every time you update the transponder files then you will have to re-edit the file to put your preferred transponder at the top.

[@loughkb]

Good info, thanks for sharing.

[@larrybomber83]

Thanks Kevin. I had to remove the big tree in the front yard, so I hope to get a good file from a Satellite pretty soon.

[@bet2600]

Good stuff! Thanks! I am also all linux.

[@wf2v]

Awsome! Thanks!

[@elwood.downey]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@R2AUK]

Very nice video, many thanks for sharing! I think the next logical step might be to try antennas that better suit receiving the satellites: like double cross or QFH. Might be interesting to compare with the images received on the Slim Jim. 73s de R2AUK

[@loughkb]

See the previous video. I did a comparison with the horizontal V dipole.

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

@@loughkb i can put a link in of the windows ver of gperdict

[@falconredneck]

hi Kevin I really enjoy the videos, there very informative, i was wondering as your next project you might set up your airspy hf on openwebrx. im trying to learn linux but its a struggle lol. thanks again for the videos

[@loughkb]

I can't. I'm on cellular internet and the cell companies don't send along incoming requests on high ports. So I can't get things like this or echolink nodes to work.

[@lairdnigelplawrence1447]

I di really enjoyed this series I am Mint Linux user 73's KG0PL Nigel

[@anthonyglaser929]

awesome

[@TheNoCodeTech]

Cool

[@BiohaZd5]

Are there any Docker images with both of these software installed ?

[@steveashwb7veq479]

Morning Kevin.

[@loughkb]

Howdy.

[@charlesschindler1971]

G.morning K. ⚔️🇺🇸⚔️

[@loughkb]

Howdy.

[@BentConrod]

Russia not happy with USA ATM?? SSTV was being transmitted during all passes over VK land for the duration of the event. I automatically captured several images utilising the IC-9700 stand alone AFC function to track doppler shift whilst recording to SD card was triggered by squelch opening. It's a pity that currently the AFC function on the IC-705 doesn't deliver the same functionality. SSTV is scheduled to be transmitted "continuously" from 21st through 26th. Let us know if USA is excluded again this time.

[@Digi4u]

Thanks for the video Kevin. One question though...as the satellite is above the horizon it starts recording automaticly on your system, but it does not on mine. Did I miss some setting in both programs for automatic recording ? 73, Patrick.

[@loughkb]

In the gpredict preferences, interface module, where you add the device, there's a couple of check boxes at the bottom of the window labeled "Signaling". There's a box for AOS and one for LOS. I think you just need to check those boxes.

[@Digi4u]

@@loughkb That's it ! Found it and both boxes ticked now. Thank you very much for the reply and answer...73 !

[@ve1arn]

​@@loughkb On my version, in the radio configuration box, I double click on gqrz and an edit window opens up. At the very bottom of that window are AOS & LOS buttons. I just clicked on those.

[@Jackaldridge2011]

Hey Kevin...I can get gpredict to talk with gqrx re frequency...but it doesn't trip the program to start recording. What am I missing?

[@loughkb]

In the gpredict preferences, interface module, where you add the device, there's a couple of check boxes at the bottom of the window labeled "Signaling". There's a box for AOS and one for LOS. I think you just need to check those boxes.

[@Jackaldridge2011]

@@loughkb thanks...enjoying your vids...

[@dennisthrush2835]

I thought that I heard that Gpredict can be used for controlling servo or stepper motors. If so, could it be used to tune a mag loop antenna?

[@loughkb]

Maybe, but that wouldn't be a good choice for receiving sats. It has too strong of a pattern with a couple of strong nulls. No matter how you orient it, there would be a big fade-zone during the sat pass.

[@dennisthrush2835]

I'm thinking of using the mag loop for 80-10 meters, using the gpredict servo feature to tune the loop. Nothing to do with satellites.

[@loughkb]

@@dennisthrush2835 Gpredict is a satellite tracking program. It has everything to do with satellites. ;-)

[@pacquetman]

@@dennisthrush2835 Gpredict is not going to help you at all; the tracking (servo) functionality in Gpredict is to control directional antennas and keep them pointed towards the selected satellite. Tuning an antenna is not what Gpredict was designed for.

[@hikviz9410]

When click Engage on Radio Control - it works for about 2 seconds then the Engage button dis-engages, any ideas what's wrong?

[@brianl2607]

how do you know to set the receiver offset frequency to 39 khz?

[@loughkb]

The radio remote control function in Gpredict sets the frequency depending upon the calculated Doppler shift.

[@sarbog1]

I tried receiving from NOAA 15, 18,19 with my 2 meter veritcal but not enough signal to decode and process. I was able to decode and process the signal with a three element Yagi (vertically polarized) using RTL-SDR, Gpredict, Gqrx and NOAA-apt ..... I live in Durango. Colorado surrounded by some high mountains ..... lost the signal about 10 to 12 degrees elevation..... but good decode when the sat was in my antenna's forward lobe. Would love to send some pic s but this channel wont't allow. I pointed my Yagi at the point of closest approach according to Gpredict and waited for the sat to cross my antenna's beam..... don't have rotors for az/el control.......

[@sarbog1]

I am using Ubuntu Linux so can not help with Windows..

[@jeff-73]

MAC / OSX port - ports.macports.org/port/gpredict/summary

[@kodyeliason1389]

I set this up on my raspberry pi 4 and everything seems to work EXCEPT for the auto record. AOS come around and it does not start recording. What am I missing? Is there a certain setting that needs to be changed? HELP!

[@loughkb]

In the gpredict preferences, interface module, where you add the device, there's a couple of check boxes at the bottom of the window labeled "Signaling". There's a box for AOS and one for LOS. I think you just need to check those boxes.

[@kodyeliason1389]

@@loughkb thanks, I’ll try that

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

If Microsoft Windows 11 is Linux based then Gpredict and GQRX can be run.

[@s57rw]

Do you have a geiger counter nearby? Hearing its clicks in the audio :) 73 s57rw!

[@loughkb]

Yes. I was letting it collect data for a couple of weeks.

[@s57rw]

@@loughkb The clicks were sounding familiar :) What radiation backgruond you have at you place? At my place being at sea level and limestone gruond base have a dose of abt. 0.08 - 0.10 uSv/h. By the amount of clicks guess you have a bit more. Don't know the rock composition there and you are at higher altitude than me. When you have time maybe you can make a video on this topic. To some probaby would be intersting :) Make sure the safety guys don't think we have something nuclear around :))) 73 Andrej - s57rw!

[@loughkb]

@@s57rw At this location, desert sand and 3,500 feet above sea level, it averages around 20 CPM. Down in Yuma, at around 200 feet above sea level, 12 CPM.

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Microsoft Windows 10 and Microsoft Windows 11 can run Gpredict and GQRX via WSL

[@JimAndyAllyn]

This should download the Windows version(scroll down for Mac): sourceforge.net/projects/gpredict/files/Gpredict/2.3.37/gpredict-win32-2.3.37.zip/download Or download for Mac here: ports.macports.org/port/gpredict/summary

[@pckiddy]

The windows build in in the releases section of their github!

[@kirovoleg]

Correct, on the releases page there is a gpredict-win32-2.2.1.zip wich contains the Windows executable, no need to install, just unompress the whole folder and run.

[@vincei4252]

"Engage ?" I guess someone was a Star Trek fan.

[@corsha]

Pi