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This page contains a quick reference guide for the Blockstream Satellite receiver setup and its general usage. Please refer to the main guide for detailed explanations on all steps.
- CLI Installation and Upgrade
- Common Steps
- Receiver-specific Configuration Steps
- Receiver-specific Antenna Alignment Steps
- Bitcoin-satellite Setup
- Satellite API
Install the command-line interface (CLI):
sudo pip3 install blocksat-cli
Alternatively, to upgrade a previous installation of the CLI, run:
sudo pip3 install blocksat-cli --upgrade
To check your current version, run:
blocksat-cli -v
These are the commands that are applicable to all the supported types of receivers.
Set initial configurations:
blocksat-cli cfg
Install software dependencies:
blocksat-cli deps install
To update the dependencies, run:
blocksat-cli deps update
Get instructions:
blocksat-cli instructions
Configure the receiver and the host by running:
blocksat-cli standalone cfg
Monitor the S400 receiver:
blocksat-cli standalone monitor
Install the drivers:
blocksat-cli deps tbs-drivers
Configure the host and the TBS 5927/5520SE:
blocksat-cli usb config
Start the USB receiver:
blocksat-cli usb launch
Launch the Sat-IP client:
blocksat-cli sat-ip
Configure Gqrx:
blocksat-cli gqrx-conf
Run the SDR receiver:
blocksat-cli sdr
This is the most time-consuming part of the process and has detailed guidance on the antenna alignment guide.
In summary, you will try to point your antenna until you get a signal lock on your receiver.
Monitor the S400 receiver by running:
blocksat-cli standalone monitor
While pointing the antenna, check the logs on the terminal until the receiver logs a Lock. Alternatively, check the lock indicator on the S400's web UI or front panel until it becomes green (locked).
Make sure that the USB receiver is running with:
blocksat-cli usb launch
While pointing the antenna, check the logs on the terminal until the receiver logs a Lock.
Launch the Sat-IP client:
blocksat-cli sat-ip
While pointing the antenna, check the logs on the terminal until the receiver logs a Lock.
Run gqrx:
gqrx
Point the antenna until you can visualize the Blockstream Satellite signal spanning 1.2 MHz. Take note of the offset between the observed signal's center frequency and the nominal center frequency (at the center of the gqrx plot).
Run the receiver with the GUI enabled and in debug mode:
blocksat-cli sdr --gui -d --derotate freq_offset
where freq_offset is the offset (in units of kHz) you observed on the gqrx step.
On the plots that open up, confirm the presence of the signal. Then, wait until the receiver prints LOCKED on the terminal.
Install bitcoin-satellite:
blocksat-cli deps install --btc
To update a previous installation of bitcoin-satellite, run:
blocksat-cli deps update --btc
Generate the bitcoin.conf configuration file:
blocksat-cli btc
Run bitcoin-satellite:
bitcoind
Configure encryption keys:
blocksat-cli api cfg
Broadcast a message using the satellite API:
blocksat-cli api send
Bump the bid of an API transmission order:
blocksat-cli api bump
Delete an API transmission order:
blocksat-cli api del
Listen for API messages acquired by the satellite receiver:
blocksat-cli api listen
Run the demo receiver:
blocksat-cli api demo-rx
Listen to the API messages coming from the demo receiver:
blocksat-cli api listen -d