ESP32-OSCAR-WB-Spectrum-Monitor

This repository contains the code for an ESP32-based application that displays the wideband spectrum of the Qatar-OSCAR 100 (QO-100) satellite on a 4" TFT display (ILI9488). The spectrum display is similar to the one available on the BATC Wideband Spectrum Monitor page.

Inspiration

This project is inspired by Tom's Oscar 100 Wideband Spectrum Clock. I want to acknowledge that this is not an original idea of mine; instead, it builds upon Tom's work. While his implementation integrates with Open Tuner software, my adaptation is designed to run independently on an ESP32 connected to the Internet via WiFi.

About This Project

The key difference in this project is that the functionality has been ported to run on an ESP32 microcontroller with a connected 4" ILI9488 TFT display. The ESP32's limited resources mean that the application does not run as fast or smoothly as the BATC webpage, but it serves as a compact, standalone solution for monitoring QO-100 wideband transponder activity. The display provides a visual indication of band activity, making it useful for quick monitoring.

Demo

Check out the project in action on YouTube:

(Right-click on the video link to open in a new tab.)

Screenshots

Here are a few screenshots of the project:

Features

• Standalone Solution: No need for a PC or additional software.
• Compact Hardware: Powered by an ESP32 and a 4" TFT display.
• Simple Spectrum Display: Offers a real-time indication of transponder activity.
• Lightweight Design: Optimized to work within the constraints of the ESP32 platform.

Limitations

• Due to the ESP32's limited processing power, the refresh rate and overall performance are slower than Tom's implementation or the BATC webpage.
• The display is for quick monitoring and is not as detailed or feature-rich as the BATC online monitor or Tom’s PC-based solution.

Hardware Requirements

• ESP32 microcontroller
• 4" TFT display (ILI9488)
• Power supply for the ESP32 and display

Software Requirements

• PlatformIO for compiling and uploading the code
• Required libraries are already included in the lib folder, so no additional installation is needed.

Installation

1. Clone this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/ESP32-OSCAR-WB-Spectrum-Monitor.git

2. Open the project in your preferred development environment.
3. Compile and upload the code to your ESP32.

Acknowledgments

• Special thanks to the BATC and AMSAT-UK for their contributions to the amateur radio community and tools like the Wideband Spectrum Monitor.
• Thanks to Tom (ZR6TG) for his original work on the Oscar 100 Wideband Spectrum Clock, which inspired this project.