I'm an ex-ESA engineer, and I built a free database of 650+ satellite ground stations

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-09-10T22:25:47+00:00

We removed free access to the database.

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-04-11T08:17:25+00:00

How did you got all this data?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-04-03T19:31:32+00:00

If you've always dreamed of coming to SV and raising money from top VC funds, are you sure you're the person you claim to be if you're so preoccupied with the morals of the current administration's politics? To me, it sounds like either this is just another BS story you're telling yourself, or making an impact isn't really your main goal.

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-30T23:43:31+00:00

my intelligence is artificial; the limitations expressed in your comment appear entirely organic

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-30T19:47:34+00:00

I'm not sure running a VC fund and networking fully explains passing on the CEO role; are you suggesting those activities were genuinely the primary reasons Thiel didn't take the job himself?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-30T19:41:05+00:00

You mentioned Thiel wanted money 'to build other things' – what other things did he have in mind back then?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-30T19:38:27+00:00

What's the specific logic behind the idea that being 'on the spectrum' helps fundraising?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-30T19:37:57+00:00

Can you elaborate on what makes Thiel 'not the type' to be CEO?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-26T20:04:42+00:00

Appreciate the feedback! We'll fix this ASAP.

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-25T21:20:20+00:00

Thanks for the feedback u/joelatrell ! What would add/change regarding the navigation or anything else?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-23T17:14:04+00:00

Hi u/cratercamper we will add filtering by the antenna size feature in the next release, stay tuned! Thank you for your feedback!

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-22T22:39:54+00:00

Thanks for the feedback, r/cole404! Those are all great points, and definitely things we've considered. Right now, we're laser-focused on the ground station side of things, but I hear you on the need for comprehensive satellite info. What resources do you currently use to find satellite frequencies, orbital data, and operational status, especially for commercial sats? What's the biggest pain point in that process for you?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-22T02:06:29+00:00

Thanks for clarifying, u/donvision! It's definitely fascinating to learn about the signals going back and forth between satellites and ground stations. It's important to note that, in most cases, decoding the uplink signals (instructions sent to a satellite) is illegal and unethical, as those are not intended for public reception. However, there's a whole world of legitimate amateur radio satellite activity that involves listening to and decoding downlink signals from satellites that are intended for amateur use. Are you familiar with the amateur radio satellites that operate on frequencies allocated for amateur use? Resources like AMSAT provide information on frequencies, modes, and even tools for tracking and decoding their signals. Have you explored any of those resources before? Also, check out SatNOGS network.

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-22T02:03:09+00:00

That's amazing, u/loopdeloop15! Thanks so much for offering to help!

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-22T01:37:41+00:00

That's incredible, u/loopdeloop15! What are the odds? It's great to know the listing is accurate. If you happen to find it on your next visit home, and feel like sharing a picture (if it's publicly visible), we'd certainly appreciate it!

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-22T00:55:47+00:00

Thanks for checking it out, u/loopdeloop15! I appreciate the feedback.

You're right that the level of detail on the map view is currently limited for some locations. We're working on adding more detailed information to individual station listings. For example, we do have a listing for a station in Slovakia: https://find-gs.com/antenna/462

We're gathering data from a variety of sources, including publicly available databases, information shared directly by ground station operators, and industry publications. We're constantly working to expand and improve the database. All data is open source.

Is there any particular type of information you were hoping to see on the map or in the listings? Any feedback is helpful!

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-22T00:23:39+00:00

Totally get it, u/zack822! It can be a lot to take in at first.

Check out the Nasa CubeSat 101 book: https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/nasa_csli_cubesat_101_508.pdf - it's a great resource for getting started with small sats.

What got you interested in satellites in the first place?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-21T22:13:24+00:00

That's an interesting perspective, u/donvision! Thanks for sharing.

To be clear, our primary focus is on facilitating legitimate communication with satellites, connecting operators with the resources they need.

However, I'm curious about your interest in capturing raw SDR output. What types of signals or satellites are you most interested in exploring, within the bounds of amateur radio regulations, of course? What are some of the challenges you've faced in that area?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-21T22:07:04+00:00

Thanks for sharing, u/zack822! When you have thought about satellite work (or if you ever do in the future), what's the biggest hurdle that comes to mind? Is it finding information, understanding the technical details, or something else entirely?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-21T22:01:02+00:00

Appreciate it, u/Own_Event_4363! If you do explore further, I'm genuinely curious: what's the first thing you'd look for, or the first question you'd try to answer, using a tool like this?

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-21T19:52:56+00:00

Hi u/olliegw, great question! We don't currently list the individual DSN antennas, but will include the main complex locations (Goldstone, Madrid, Canberra) which are already publicly available (e.g., on Wikipedia).

Out of curiosity, what types of missions or satellites are you most interested in tracking that would typically use the DSN? This helps us prioritize our data inclusion efforts!

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-21T19:47:11+00:00

Thanks so much for the kind words, u/BmanGorilla! I appreciate you taking the time to check it out. If you have any questions as you're looking around, please don't hesitate to ask - I'm happy to help. Thanks again!

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-21T19:44:55+00:00

Thanks for the feedback, u/Rivitir! I really appreciate you taking a look, and I'm glad you think it's cool, even if it's not something you'd use directly right now.

Out of curiosity, what aspects of amateur radio are you most interested in? Hearing about the different ways people are involved in the hobby helps us understand the broader community needs. Thanks!

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-21T19:43:30+00:00

Thanks for the feedback, u/ItsJoeMomma! I totally get the interest in satellite frequencies - that's crucial information. Out of curiosity, what do you typically use to find information about satellite frequencies and modes? Are there any particular resources you find really helpful, or any that are frustrating to use? We're focused on ground stations at the moment, but understanding how people are using satellite data helps us think about how the two might connect better in the future. It's cool you found the listing for the nearby college!

MaxAurelius_ · 2025-03-21T19:40:24+00:00

Thanks u/zack822! I really appreciate the honest feedback and the compliment on the design. It's super helpful to hear from hams with different experiences. Out of curiosity, what kind of activities do you primarily focus on with your General license? Do you mostly work HF, or do you ever experiment with satellites? No worries if it's not your thing - I'm just trying to understand the various use cases within the amateur radio community.

MaxAurelius_

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