SkyRoof: New Ham Satellite Tracking and SDR Receiver Software

by rmasonon 6/5/25, 7:15 PMwith 15 comments
by JKCalhounon 6/5/25, 11:04 PM

Super cool.

Tangent: I know this is communications related — but I was wondering today (just read something about some new FRB's) if radio astronomy, of a kind, could be something an amateur could deep dive into and actually contribute to.

I recall a project that allowed you to tune into long radio emissions from the sun — perhaps keep tabs on the solar weather?

(And stupid me thought astronomy was more or less headed for stagnancy decades ago.)

by politelemonon 6/6/25, 6:43 AM

Source code is here: https://github.com/VE3NEA/SkyRoof

It's in .NET so I'd think it ought to be buildable on Linux too? Unless there are some specific hardware/driver requirements involved (there isn't much in the readme right now)

by CapricornNobleon 6/6/25, 1:54 AM

Nifty to see this. I was recently brainstorming about FOSS satellite tracking tools that could be pressed into service for military operations planning. Stuff ranging from planning attacks when certain space-based sensors have gaps in coverage, to working out minimum requirements for targeting adversary satellites. A lot of budget-constrained forces might be able to leverage SkyRoof to fill this gap.

by ThaFreshon 6/6/25, 4:06 PM

a satellite made of ham will never work

by zomboton 6/6/25, 4:55 AM

Since macOS 14 (Sonoma) I'm unable to find SDR software that works with my SDRPlay device. CubicSDR still worked in Ventura. I was hoping this app also had a macOS build.