Starlink Mini and Ham Radio

 

I've been a user of Starlink for over three years now. Recently they started offering their portable Starlink Mini for "free" to those who have been customers for more than two years. I thought it was a good deal and picked it up. Here's my experiences and how I'm planning on using it as a ham radio tool. 

Direct to Cell Satellite Service, T-Mobile and Starlink Cellphone connectivity

Some of the cooler technology making gains these days is raining down from above. With the onslaught of LEO communication satellites being launched, connectivity is everywhere and it's getting easier and cheaper to obtain. Through a deal between T-Mobile and Starlink, you can now experience satellite connectivity provided directly to your cellphone.

3D Printed Yagi for ISS

I've been playing around with using the amateur radio capabilities of the International Space Station for about as long as I've held my ham radio license. The ISS is one of the easiest satellites to work and while I've had success with a simple antenna on my handheld radio, having a directional antenna makes the task much easier. In this article I'll show you how to make a lightweight, portable antenna that is well suited for working the ISS. 

ISS SSTV Event Results (July 2017)

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of amateur radio aboard the International Space Station, the ISS transmitted SSTV images all weekend long. I tried a couple methods to capture these images with varying results.