TinyGS is the open-source global satellite network that empowers anyone, anywhere to become a space pioneer — for free. Join the global TinyGS community.
Features
Build your own tiny, affordable ground station and join thousands of citizen scientists tracking satellites collecting vital telemetry, contributing to real science projects!
Easy-to-build ground stations using readily available components.
Open-source knowledge and amazing community support.
Access to real-time satellite data and cutting-edge space technology.
Be part of a global citizen science network making real impact.
Helping keeping track of objects in orbit and predicting where they will be at any given time.
Who will capture more satellites or conquer more areas of the sky?
For radio amateurs & makers
Any ESP32 LoRa board ($20–30) is all you need. Dozens of compatible boards are supported out of the box.
Flash the firmware directly from your browser, connect to Wi-Fi, and your station starts receiving satellite signals automatically. No RF expertise required.
TinyGS is more than hardware: it is a global community where makers, radio amateurs, and satellite teams exchange knowledge and help each other grow.
For satellite operators
Over 2,200 active stations across the globe mean your satellite is heard every time it passes overhead — anywhere on Earth.
Access a live dashboard showing every packet received, from every station, the moment it happens. No setup required on your end.
Generate independent, fresh TLEs directly from downlinked radio passes. Stop relying on outdated public tracking data—predict your satellite's position with higher precision using custom, community-refined orbital elements.
Step 1: Join the community
Ask any friend in the community for an e-mail invitation, or join our Telegram Channel.
For workshops or educational purposes, contact us for invites.
👉 Learn how to join step-by-step
Step 2: Buy inexpensive HW $20-30
Check the documentation, there are dozens of compatible ESP32 / ESP32S3 LoRa boards, don't forget to choose the 433MHz version and build your DIY antenna.
👉 Check the Ground Station BOM (Hardware Guide)
Step 3: Flash firmware from your browser
Use the TinyGS Web Installer to flash the firmware directly from your browser — no drivers, no terminal, no technical setup required. Just connect your board via USB and click flash.
Ready!
Community
Whether you're a curious maker or a professional satellite operator, there's a place for you in TinyGS.
Put your ham radio skills to work tracking real satellites and contributing to a global receiving network.
Build your own ground station from scratch with a $20–30 ESP32 LoRa board and a homemade antenna.
Follow live satellite passes, explore telemetry data, and feel connected to the spacecraft above.
Bring space into the classroom with a real hands-on project that teaches electronics, coding, and orbital mechanics.
Get free global ground station coverage for your CubeSat or smallsat mission, with a real-time telemetry dashboard.
Tap into a global low-cost receiving network for orbital intelligence, propagation analysis, and satellite operations, with coverage that scales as the community grows.
Stay up to date with TinyGS news, satellite tracking guides, hardware tips, and community stories from Tiners around the world.
This week the TinyGS community blended high-altitude ambition with workbench problem-solving: a new LoRa balloon mission is being prepared to chase the August 2026 total solar eclipse from Spain, while detailed hardware discussions dug into SX1262 sync behavior and board-level component variations. Meanwhile, a compact 2-in-1 station packed into an eggbeater antenna tube and the return of a popular QFH calculator gave builders plenty of inspiration.
In the week ending August 2, 2026, the TinyGS community untangled a hardware mystery behind 800/900 MHz reception problems, uncovered a subtle SX1262 sync-word difference for LoRaWAN satellites, and traded practical antenna wisdom from DC grounding to keeping antennas low. Station owners worked through decoding and configuration quirks, while antenna builders rescued the popular QFH calculator after the original site went offline.
This week the TinyGS community explored amplifier choices for satellite uplinks, compared antenna designs from V-dipoles to QFHs, and debated the performance of SX1262 versus SX1276 modules on higher frequency bands. A new satellite family (ET-001A-D) appeared, requiring decoder updates, while newcomers received guidance on Starlink reception and weather balloon payloads. Technical troubleshooting ranged from FSK decoding challenges to cable shielding effects, making for a week rich in both experimentation and collaboration.
This week, the TinyGS community celebrated a workshop at EMF Camp that brought 22 new members into the network, while technical discussions dug deep into board performance comparisons between Lilygo and Heltec V3, antenna optimization for different bands, and the nuances of decoding GMSK beacons from SX1262-based satellites. A detailed solar-powered station build also sparked practical advice on making remote setups fully self-sustaining.
FAQs
tinyGS is an open-source project that allows anyone to set up a low-cost satellite ground station using inexpensive LoRa hardware (like ESP32). By joining the network, you contribute to a global community that provides real-time tracking and data reception for hundreds of satellites and weather probes, making space exploration accessible to everyone.
To get started, you need a supported LoRa board (such as the Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 or TTGO LoRa32), an antenna tuned to the correct frequency (usually 433MHz or 868/915MHz), and a power source. Simply flash the tinyGS firmware onto your board, connect it to your local Wi-Fi, and your station will begin automatically uploading received packets to the network.
While tinyGS is primarily a receive-only (RX) network, some satellite operators occasionally allow for data uplink. However, to participate in these transmissions, you must hold a valid Amateur Radio License to comply with international radio regulations and legal requirements.
By acting as a massive, distributed sensor array. By capturing precise timestamps of signal reception across thousands of global coordinates, the network helps track and verify the orbital position of satellites. This data is vital for predicting satellite paths and avoiding collisions, which is the primary defense against the Kessler Syndrome.
We welcome new missions! Contact us via GitHub or Telegram with your satellite's NORAD ID and modulation parameters (LoRa/FSK). Once integrated, our global network will provide you with a real-time dashboard of your satellite's health and telemetry from across the planet.
The Kessler Syndrome is a theoretical scenario where the density of objects in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is high enough that a single collision could cause a cascade of debris, making space activities and satellites impossible for generations. tinyGS helps prevent this by providing precise, crowdsourced tracking data.
100% of donations go directly to keeping the network alive and growing.
Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. 🌟
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