SatRoverWatch

Built to keep tabs on sneaky rover N6UA. 📡 APRS tracking, Maidenhead grids, satellite passes & rover adventures. 🛰️🚙

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

SatRoverWatch is going open source! 🛰️📡

What started as an experiment to see what we could do with APRS data, satellite pass predictions, maps, weather information and a little automation has grown into something we're ready to share with the Amateur Radio Satellite Community.

The complete SatRoverWatch source is now public on GitHub under the MIT License:

https://t.co/R3N6m6vfkS

Take a look under the hood. Run your own copy. Modify it. Break it. Improve it. Send us a pull request. Or just tell us what you'd like SatRoverWatch to do next.

You definitely don't need to be a programmer to participate. Feature ideas, bug reports, testing and “have you thought about doing this?” are all welcome. This is about experimentation, learning and having some fun with Amateur Radio satellites.

And speaking of testing...

SatRoverWatch is looking for one rover for our next round of field testing.

If you're planning an upcoming satellite rove and wouldn't mind having SatRoverWatch tag along, we'd like to hear from you.

For an opted-in rover, SatRoverWatch can follow your APRS activity and help give your rove some extra visibility. Depending on what happens during the trip, it can recognize grid transitions, generate maps and location context, provide weather information, calculate upcoming satellite passes when you're stopped, and publish updates for people following along.

There may also be the occasional completely unnecessary motivational message. And yes, we'll take submissions for those too. 😄

Participation is entirely voluntary and trip-by-trip. Tell us you're going roving, we'll enable tracking for the trip, and we'll turn it back off when you're finished. Private credentials and rover registration information are not part of the public GitHub repository.

Interested in being our next test rover—or just have an idea for the project?

Send a DM to @SatRoverWatch or Mitch at @AD0HJ.

Let's see what we can build together. 🛰️

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

@dtabor @ZL3GAV I hope to explain this more when I get a chance. N6UA @dtabor gave me plenty of field data for a start to this crazy experiment. 😃

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

N6UA has turned on APRS and is on the move! 📡🚙
Current grid: EM24 | Current speed: 66 mph
Starting the day in EM24, after last reporting from EM34.

Rover weather: Mostly Sunny today, high near 91°F.

@dtabor Another day of roving — have fun out there! 🛰️
Position via https://t.co/8PIiatATTI: https://t.co/5jWis6gMxk

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

Good thing that we double-checked. Here are alot of AI generated words explaining since I have been sniffing paint fumes all morning. 😊

I went back and checked the APRS history from last night. Your first essentially stationary report in EM18el was at 00:15Z, and by 00:20Z SatRoverWatch had the second stationary report it needed to confirm the stop. You remained at essentially the same coordinates through at least 00:45Z.

I also checked that RS-44 pass independently in SatMatch using EM18el. SatMatch shows AOS at 00:19:49Z, so you arrived right as the pass was beginning. It gives a maximum elevation of 74.5° and LOS around 00:43Z. SatRoverWatch reported MAX 75° and LOS 00:42Z, so the numbers match very closely. The elevation in the SatRoverWatch post was definitely being calculated for your location, not mine.

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

N6UA has stopped in EM18el. 📡🚙
Location: McPherson County, Kansas
Food, fuel, a rover break — or satellites? 📡🛰️
Our guess is as good as yours!

Next 5 qualifying passes:
• RS-44 NOW, LOS 00:42Z, MAX 75°
• ISS 00:41Z, MAX 17°
�� FO-29 00:46Z, MAX 41°
• AO-7 01:47Z, MAX 24°
• RS-44 02:15Z, MAX 23°

@dtabor We will keep an eye on you! 😄
Position via https://t.co/8PIiatATTI: https://t.co/5jWis6gMxk

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

@dtabor Gosh I have been so busy with maps. I don't know. Will rerun those numbers and get back to you. 😀

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

@dtabor Okay it was 9:30 am. You are a true road warrior Doug!

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

N6UA is collecting grids again — DN90 is behind us and DN91 is now on the map.
The rover rolls on toward the next grid. 🚙🛰️

@dtabor Happy roving! 🛰️
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

We had a special message waiting for you when you tripped the 10 km geofence around your house this morning (got home about 2:30 am?). But your APRS didn't make it as far as you did. 😂

Here is the Easter Egg that you did not unlock:
@dtabor Welcome back home! Glad to see that you completed another successful trip. How about taking a nice nap? 😴💤

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

N6UA is collecting grids again — EN00 is behind us and DN90 is now on the map.
Still moving — who knows which grid is next? 📡🚙

@dtabor Keep on roving! 🚙🛰️
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

DN90 → EN00: another grid change for N6UA.
The Rovermobile is still rolling. 🚙📡

@dtabor Safe travels, rover! 📡🚙
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

N6UA is collecting grids again — EN00 is behind us and DN90 is now on the map.
The rover rolls on toward the next grid. 🚙🛰️

@dtabor Keep on roving! 🚙🛰️
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

Another grid in the rearview mirror — N6UA has crossed from EM09 into EN00.
The Rovermobile is still rolling. 🚙📡

@dtabor Happy roving! 🛰️
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

New grid! N6UA has crossed the line from EM08 into EM09.
Still moving — who knows which grid is next? 📡🚙

@dtabor Keep on roving! 🚙🛰️
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

The Rovermobile rolls on! N6UA has moved from EM18 into EM08.
The rover rolls on toward the next grid. 🚙🛰️

@dtabor Onward to the next grid! 🛰️🚙
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

Grid change: N6UA has moved from EM17 to EM18.
The rover is currently on the move. 📡🚙

@dtabor Safe travels, rover! 📡🚙
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

EM27 → EM17: another grid change for N6UA.
The Rovermobile is still rolling. 🚙📡

@dtabor Onward to the next grid! 🛰️🚙
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

Another grid in the rearview mirror — N6UA has crossed from EM26 into EM27.
The rover rolls on toward the next grid. 🚙🛰️

@dtabor Happy roving! 🛰️
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

EM25 → EM26: another grid change for N6UA.
The Rovermobile is still rolling. 🚙📡

@dtabor Safe travels, rover! 📡🚙
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

N6UA has stopped in EM25se. 📡🚙
Location: LeFlore County, Oklahoma
Food, fuel, a rover break — or satellites? 📡🛰️
Our guess is as good as yours!

Next 5 qualifying passes:
• JO-97 NOW, LOS 16:50Z, MAX 50°
• ISS 18:11Z, MAX 26°
• SO-50 18:14Z, MAX 29°
• ISS 19:48Z, MAX 27°
• SO-50 19:54Z, MAX 28°

@dtabor We will keep an eye on you! 😄
Position via https://t.co/8PIiatATTI: https://t.co/5jWis6gMxk

[SatRoverWatch @SatRoverWatch]

N6UA is collecting grids again — EM24 is behind us and EM25 is now on the map.
The rover is currently on the move. 📡🚙

@dtabor Keep on roving! 🚙🛰️
Position via https://t.co/T7njmBOJN1: https://t.co/6UY3uNbXBg