Weekly Newsletter - May 25, 2025

Highlights

General

• Helmi explained that the order of stations on the User Console depends on the number of telemetry packets received. 🔗
• G4lile0 explained the meaning of different parameters: Doppler Server (Doppler drift calculated within the server), tGS Doppler (same Doppler drift value calculated locally on the tinyGS), Freq. Error (the error between the tuned frequency and the received signal), and tGS Offset (the dynamic offset applied to each board to compensate for drift). 🔗
• Alan reported that MQTT was off and his station wasn’t appearing on the world map and asked for guidance. Stefan/OE6ISP asked if Wifi is connected and if so, the MQTT-credential might be incorrect. He suggested to build a simple groundplane as described in the antenna section and to use copy/paste for the credentials to ensure the correct values. Further troubleshooting steps were provided, including checking router/internet provider port locks and using a mobile phone’s AP and is working now. 🔗
  
• Robert shared information about obtaining MQTT credentials for the new TinyGS system, advising users to join the group, start a private chat with @tinygs_personal_bot, and ask for /mqtt. He also provided an email address. 🔗

Technical Problems

• kd7eir reported that their station was no longer accepting admin credentials and asked if there was an alternative to reinstalling. 🔗
• Stefan/OE6ISP provided updated TLE data for STRATOSAT-TK1, noting that the existing data (110) was outdated and shared the latest data (140). 🔗
• Notsure7 asked about good sources for multicolor magnet wire for baluns, mentioning using salvaged inductors and needing green, natural, and red colors. Helmi provided a link to an eBay listing for multicolor magnet wire, and Notsure7 thanked Helmi. 🔗
  https://www.ebay.de/itm/332026780350
• Stefan/OE6ISP mentioned that the TLE for STRATOSAT-TK1 is outdated in TinyGS and provided a link to the latest TLE. 🔗
  https://celestrak.org/satcat/table-satcat.php?CATNR=57167&PAYLOAD=1&MAX=500
• G4lile0 updated SAMSAT-IONOSPHERE because it was outdated. 🔗

Share your setup

• Stefan/OE6ISP explained that the enclosure around the T-Beam is primarily to protect the antenna from interference from the T-Beam itself and mentioned that they now often use Lilygo Lora32 boards, which are less noisy and do not require shielding when mounted near the antenna. 🔗
• Manuel shared that they are deciding between a LILYGO LoRa32 and a HELTEC board, appreciating the information about the LILYGO boards being quieter and promising to showcase their station once it’s up and running. 🔗

Antenna Building

• F21467 shared their “heretical” second station, featuring an omnidirectional antenna coupled with a Yagi antenna, and mentioned it’s still managing to receive packets. 🔗
  
  
• F21467 replied to ddddd975, explaining that the setup includes a bandpass filter (since the preamp isn’t exclusively for 868 MHz), a wideband LNA preamp, and a splitter for two antennas. 🔗
  
  
  
  
• cluster37 is trying to make a yagi antenna of 433 MHz and asked for guidance on how to make/design the drive element 🔗

New Satellites

• K4KDR indicated that another FOSSA sat will be in orbit soon but no frequency or confirmation of the LoRa settings were found. Previous satellites used the same settings. 🔗
  https://x.com/SEOPSLLC/status/1925266495766241753
• Chris_DL7AG asked if there is a TLE collection that contains all TLE’s of “our” satellites, and mentioned that so far he has collected them himself and added to the lists, wondering if there is already something ready. 🔗
• Helmi shared a link to the TinyGS TLE wiki page. 🔗
  https://github.com/G4lile0/tinyGS/wiki/TLE

Beta Firmware Testing

• Stefan/OE6ISP reported that despite issues with buffer-length and CRC for FSK with the SX1278, the modem basically works well. Explained that the RX was off frequency due to a significant temperature/frequency drift between the reference (NORBI) and the FSK satellites, with a drift of up to 3KHz over 24 hours. Suggested a TCXO would help. 🔗
  
• Juan Pablo shared positive results from a test using a splitter bought on Aliexpress (attenuating the signal by at least 3dB), a 433 MHz turnstile antenna, a Lilygo TTGO LoRa32 V2.1_1.6 board (SX1278), and a Heltec ESP32 LoRa Meshtastic Asset Tracker (SX1272) with TinyGS version 2504272. The Heltec successfully received its first FSK frame. 🔗
  
• G4lile0 explained that the algorithm that attempts to compensate for the offset runs every 45 minutes and they need to add other reference satellites because relying solely on Norbi doesn’t provide enough data packets to compensate for the temperature drift and asked for satellite suggestions. 🔗
• Stefan/OE6ISP detailed that with the tracking on the lora board is now available. By sending the azimut/elevation-data to the serial-port with Log::debug, any rotor can easily be controlled from the board in autotuning mode. With a few lines of python-code the rotor-data can be read from the COM-port and sent to any antenna-rotor and shared a photo about it. 🔗
  
• F21467 reported having Lora and FSK working with the new Heltec using good chips on their station. 🔗

Events

• tdr112 mentioned another 13 joining the network from a workshop in Tog Hackerspace in Dublin, Ireland. 🔗
  
  
  

Featured Conversations

• The community actively shared knowledge on antenna configurations, with discussions covering omnidirectional setups, Yagi designs, and considerations for interference shielding.
• Troubleshooting remains a strong suit of the community, with experienced members offering guidance on resolving station login issues, MQTT connectivity problems, and signal reception degradation.
• Beta firmware testing continues to yield promising results, with users reporting successful FSK frame reception and positive experiences with new Heltec chips.
• The TinyGS network expands as workshops bring in new members, fostering collaborative growth and knowledge sharing within the community.
• Community members shared valuable resources and insights, including updated TLE data, links to helpful wiki pages, and suggestions for improving station performance, contributing to the collective learning and advancement of the TinyGS project.

What’s next

Thank you for your continued engagement with TinyGS. Your contributions help make this a vibrant and informative community. Keep sharing your setups, insights, and questions!