Tracking things in the sky is better when you are part of a community doing the same thing. These are the tools people actually use, the networks they contribute to, and the guides that got them started.
Before you build a ground station, start by seeing what is up there. These tools show you satellite positions in real time from your browser.
N2YOEnter your location, see what is above you right now. The quickest way to find your first satellite pass and understand how orbits cross your sky.
Heavens-AbovePass predictions with sky charts showing exactly where to look. Particularly good for visual observations -- ISS passes, Starlink trains, and bright satellites.
In-The-Sky.orgPlanetarium-style view that combines satellites, planets, and stars in one sky map. Useful for understanding the full picture of what is above you.
Amateur radio operators have been working satellites since OSCAR 1 launched in 1961. The community is welcoming, the equipment does not have to be expensive, and hearing your own signal bounce off something moving at 7 km/s is genuinely thrilling.
AMSAT Getting Started GuideEquipment recommendations, operating frequencies, procedures, and which satellites to try first. The definitive starting point for satellite communication.
SatNOGSOpen-source global ground station network. Browse observations from stations worldwide or build your own and contribute. Hardware designs are open source too.
AMSAT-NA Pass PredictionsPass prediction tool specifically tuned for amateur radio satellites. Filters out everything except birds you can actually work.
Ham Radio Crash CourseJoshua Nass covers licensing, first radios, and satellite work in a style that respects your time. Good for getting oriented before diving into the AMSAT material.
Weather services launch radiosondes twice daily from hundreds of sites worldwide. These small transmitters ride balloons to 30+ km altitude, broadcasting temperature, humidity, pressure, and GPS position the entire way up. You can receive them with a $25 SDR dongle.
SondeHubLive map of radiosondes worldwide. Watch balloons ascend, burst, and descend. This is the community network that feeds Craft's radiosonde tracking.
radiosonde_auto_rxOpen-source software for receiving and decoding radiosonde signals with an RTL-SDR. The tool that feeds data into SondeHub. Runs on a Raspberry Pi.
APRS.fiLive APRS map showing amateur radio positions, weather stations, and high-altitude balloon flights. A broader view of what is in the air.
If you are interested in radio reception but satellites feel like a big first step, ADS-B is the easiest entry point. Aircraft broadcast their position, altitude, and callsign on 1090 MHz — and you can receive it all with a basic SDR setup.
RTL-SDR ADS-B GuideStep-by-step tutorial for receiving aircraft positions with a USB dongle. From unboxing to seeing planes on a map in under an hour.
USRadioGuy SDR GuidesPractical RTL-SDR setup guides across platforms. Written by someone who clearly enjoys helping beginners get their first signals decoded.
FlightAwareCommercial flight tracker. Useful for understanding what ADS-B data looks like before building your own receiver -- and for validating your setup against a known-good source.
FlightRadar24Another commercial tracker with good coverage visualization. Between FlightAware and FR24, you can see how complete the global ADS-B picture is.
