Hack A Day Prize Final - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 15, 2014, 08:49:36 am
content: Nothing to do with the final results, but who do you think will/should win the $250K trip to space?http://hackaday.com/2014/10/13/announcing-the-five-finalists-for-the-hackaday-prize

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 12:49:58 am
content: "SatNOGS Wins the 2014 Hackaday Prize"http://hackaday.com/2014/11/13/satnogs-wins-the-2014-hackaday-prize/Didn't see that one coming.Brian Benchoff says:November 13, 2014 at 12:12 pmThis is unofficial, but they’re probably taking the ~$200k cash option. Makes sense, since it’s a huge team of people.

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 01:43:55 am
content: I wonder if Supply Frame feels they got the most bang for their buck? Hope they did - so they will do something like it again. Hopefully they will hire a PR firm or someone to run the thing a bit better. Parts of the contest felt very unpolished.Maybe if they had offered up $1000 a day for 250 days they would have gotten a lot more attention? No clue.And it seem the winner is team of 6 people. So, most likely, no trip to space.

author: Jane
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 07:47:03 pm
content: Congratulation to the winner but can anyone explain what is so excellent regarding the winner project?If I understand in a correct way, the winner project needs satellites. But who will finance those satelites so that the project can be accomplished? And besides there are similar projects ( google balloons for example)

author: Yago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 08:11:00 pm
content: Quote from: Jane on November 14, 2014, 07:47:03 pmI think it tracks and captures data from already existing satellites.The point is that it uses small cheap ground-stations that interconnect via the internet??Guess it requires some accurate clock for the ground-station signals to be synced?*Disclaimer in Manuel mode*"I know nothing!""dragonfly*

author: Jane
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 08:59:32 pm
content: If using data from existing satellites does it mean that owners of the satellites are willing to share their expenses and for free??Or who will pay?Still not understand how that project works. Can anyone explain?Thanks

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 09:03:09 pm
content: Quote from: Jane on November 14, 2014, 08:59:32 pmA lot of satellites use publicly-trackable UHF or VHF beacons. Some groups use them for studying space weather (scintillation, ionospheric delay, etc.), others use them for general satellite tracking. The satellite owners don't know or care who listens in, it doesn't affect them in any way, since the satellites are broadcasting regardless of who is listening (if anybody).

author: Yago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 14, 2014, 09:09:17 pm
content: Quote from: Jane on November 14, 2014, 08:59:32 pmI can only guess that just because you can receive the signal does not mean you can decode/decrypt it.... and I thought:It tracks the satelliteIt can receive the satelliteIt can transmit the data to a central collecting point.The data is recorded in such a way that multiple separate units can combine/network to act as one big antenna+receiver.Again the "I know nothing" disclaimer!

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2014, 01:13:54 am
content: This project is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!!!******(if you own a satellite)Having the ability to have better ground coverage for communicating with your satellite would be super valuable for all you futute satellite owners.... Now that this project shows you how to make your own satellite tracking and communication box using things in your parts bin and some duct tape, all you need to do is get the tens-of-thousands of dollars together to design, manufacture, and launch your satellite into space. Totally lowers the barrier!!

author: Jane
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2014, 06:41:44 am
content: Does it mean it has no practical use at the moment because there are no satellite owners who would be willing to participate in that project and it all depend on rich sponsors who will lanch the satellites?

author: scatha
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2014, 09:29:11 am
content: It was a bit of a weird choice for a winner given most people with an interest in satellite monitoring (a pretty small group to begin with) are more than capable of building their own (superior) system.The real problem is that the EMI around most urban areas makes most of the VHF band unusable without some pretty serious filtering given you're looking for -120 dBm beacons in the presence of -30 dBm interferers. This system doesn't appear to have *any* RX filtering, so it would be interesting what happens first - the DDC IQ mixers/LNA going non-linear, or the ADCs running out of dynamic range. As it stands, I can't see how this system will work for 138 MHz (NOAA birds, lots of interesting historical satellites), 144 MHz, etc.Really the system should have been designed with a greater focus on modularity given that you will almost certainly need to incorporate your own filtering (VHF cavity filters aren't small!), external LNA, better SDR, etc.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 15, 2014, 10:55:02 pm
content: Quote from: scatha on November 15, 2014, 09:29:11 amI see your point there..... but... but... but.........connected.... and... SPACE!!!!!