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Discovery Drive – An ESP32-S3-based azimuth/elevation rotator for satellite dishes and SDR antennas (Crowdfunding)

ESP32-S3 antenna rotator

KrakenRF, the team behind the KrakenSDR, has designed the Discovery Drive ESP32-S3-based, low-cost, fully weatherproof, automatic azimuth/elevation (Az/El) antenna rotator for their Discovery Dish or other directional antennas, such as Yagis and Wi-Fi grids, weighing up to 5kg. Compared to DIY projects like SatNOGS (which require 3D printing and hardware sourcing), the Discovery Drive is designed as a plug-and-play solution. You can simply mount it to a mast, attach the dish, connect to 12V power and Wi-Fi, and use its web UI to start tracking polar-orbiting weather satellites (like METEOR-M2 or FENGYUN), CubeSats, or amateur radio satellites. KrakenRF Discovery Drive specifications: Controller – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3-based control board Connectivity – 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi 4 (via ESP32) with external antenna Motor and Rotation Torque – Up to 125 kg·cm (12.25 Nm); supports antenna payloads up to 5 kg Azimuth Range – -360° to +360° Elevation Range – 0° to […]

Blues Notecard for Skylo IoT module offers 5G NTN satellite, NB-IoT/LTE-M cellular, WiFi, and GNSS connectivity

Blues Notecard for Skylo

Blues Notecard for Skylo is an IoT module combining subscription-free 5G NTN satellite, NB-IoT or LTE-M cellular, WiFi, and GNSS connectivity for asset tracking applications in transportation and logistics, energy, and commercial equipment. provides an all-in-one satellite IoT solution that doesn’t require additional hardware or a satellite subscription contract. By default, the module connects over WiFi and switches to cellular when out of range. It only falls back to pay-as-you-go Skylo satellite connectivity when neither WiFi nor cellular connectivity is available, and ensures IoT connectivity at most times. Blues Notecard for Skylo (NOTE-NBGLWX) specifications: Modem – Quectel BG95-S5 NTN satellite + LTE IoT communication module Data Networks – LTE-M, NB-IoT, GPRS, Skylo SIM card –  Embedded MFF2 SIM, external SIM switch Data included Cellular: 500MB valid for 10 years Skylo: 10KB; enough to send 1 message a day for 6 months. Additional data is priced at $0.00075 per byte, with […]

u-blox MAX-M10N GNSS module supports Low Energy Accurate Positioning (LEAP) mode, firmware upgrades

u blox UBX M10150 KB chip and the MAX M10N module

Following the launch of the UBX-M10150-CC low-power GNSS module, u-blox has expanded its lineup with the MAX-M10N, another ultra-low-power module based on the UBX-M10150-KB GNSS chip. The new module supports firmware upgradeability and offers up to 50% lower power consumption thanks to features such as Low Energy Accurate Positioning (LEAP) and PSMCT cyclic tracking modes. The latest SPG 5.30 firmware also adds support for RTCM correction input for sub-meter positioning accuracy, along with improved spoofing and jamming detection. It also includes data logging and geo-fencing for autonomous tracking and uses AssistNow Predictive and Live Orbits for faster satellite acquisition. The MAX-M10N integrates an LNA and dual SAW filters for better RF sensitivity and interference protection, while maintaining pin compatibility with earlier MAX modules. These features make it suitable for low-power, high-accuracy applications such as wearables, asset tracking, and battery-powered IoT devices. u-blox MAX-M10N GNSS module specifications: Receiver type – u-blox M10 […]