Raspberry Pi Satellite Hotspot Software
Budget: $30 – $250 USD
I want to turn a standard Raspberry Pi 4 into a true plug-and-play satellite transceiver: power it up, point the attached SDR-based antenna to the sky, and instantly have a local Wi-Fi/LAN hotspot with free, always-on connectivity.
The core need is rock-solid reception. Everything you write should prioritise efficiently receiving satellite signals and, above all, staying compatible with a wide range of constellations. Decoding, routing, hotspot services, and security layers come next; if the Pi cannot pull in clean signals, nothing else matters.
Most important technical focus
• Compatibility with multiple satellite types for maximum coverage.
Required satellite networks your code must recognise
• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites
• Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites
• Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites
Scope of work
1. Develop or integrate open-source SDR libraries (e.g., GNU Radio, SoapySDR) that auto-detect and lock onto the active satellite band and FEC scheme.
2. Implement a modular demodulation/decoding pipeline so new constellations can be added by config file, not code rewrites.
3. Once decoded, route traffic through the Pi’s on-board radios to broadcast a WPA2 Wi-Fi hotspot and a wired Ethernet bridge.
4. Provide a lightweight web UI for status (signal strength, constellation in use, data rate).
5. Package the entire stack as an image or install script that boots straight into “online” mode—no command-line tweaks required.
Acceptance criteria
• Cold boot to usable hotspot in under 90 seconds.
• Maintains ≥95 % link uptime under clear-sky tests.
• Seamless handoff when switching between LEO passes or falling back to GEO/MEO links.
• Complete build notes and schematic for any external RF front-end you assume.
If you have prior work with satellite SDRs, Forward Error Correction, or have already tuned Raspberry Pi networking for low-power boards, let’s talk; otherwise, be ready to demonstrate a quick proof-of-concept lock on a publicly accessible satellite downlink before we commit to full development.
The core need is rock-solid reception. Everything you write should prioritise efficiently receiving satellite signals and, above all, staying compatible with a wide range of constellations. Decoding, routing, hotspot services, and security layers come next; if the Pi cannot pull in clean signals, nothing else matters.
Most important technical focus
• Compatibility with multiple satellite types for maximum coverage.
Required satellite networks your code must recognise
• Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites
• Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites
• Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites
Scope of work
1. Develop or integrate open-source SDR libraries (e.g., GNU Radio, SoapySDR) that auto-detect and lock onto the active satellite band and FEC scheme.
2. Implement a modular demodulation/decoding pipeline so new constellations can be added by config file, not code rewrites.
3. Once decoded, route traffic through the Pi’s on-board radios to broadcast a WPA2 Wi-Fi hotspot and a wired Ethernet bridge.
4. Provide a lightweight web UI for status (signal strength, constellation in use, data rate).
5. Package the entire stack as an image or install script that boots straight into “online” mode—no command-line tweaks required.
Acceptance criteria
• Cold boot to usable hotspot in under 90 seconds.
• Maintains ≥95 % link uptime under clear-sky tests.
• Seamless handoff when switching between LEO passes or falling back to GEO/MEO links.
• Complete build notes and schematic for any external RF front-end you assume.
If you have prior work with satellite SDRs, Forward Error Correction, or have already tuned Raspberry Pi networking for low-power boards, let’s talk; otherwise, be ready to demonstrate a quick proof-of-concept lock on a publicly accessible satellite downlink before we commit to full development.