YOU CAN BUILD A BOX THAT PULLS PHOTOGRAPHS OUT OF THE AIR
A Raspberry Pi Pico, a tiny screen, two resistors and a 3.5 mm socket turn radio tones into pictures, including live images from the International Space Station.
by Jonathan P Dawson
Open-hardwareAudio
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- a weekend
- license
- MIT
- repo
- repo ACTIVE69 stars
●●●○○ · a weekend · MIT · 69 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is one of the cleanest radio projects on the catalogue. The parts list is short, the schematic is readable, and the guide is written by someone who actually built the thing twice. Part one gets you decoding in an evening; part two turns it into a proper instrument with storage, a menu and the modes the ISS uses for its occasional picture transmissions from orbit. The single biggest trap is that you need a radio capable of SSB (single sideband) reception on the frequencies amateur operators use — an FM-only scanner will not work. The 320×240 display means ISS images (which are higher resolution) get scaled down, but that is fine for a portable decoder. The firmware was tested against recorded ISS transmissions from the spacecomms archive, which is the right way to verify something that only happens a few times a year. If you have never worked with SPI displays or the Pico's ADC, this is a good first project for both. The enclosure is optional but well thought out. The thing most likely to go wrong is audio level — too loud and the ADC clips, too quiet and sync fails — but the guide covers it. For the cost of a decent breakfast, you get a pocket SSTV decoder that works.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Schematic, wiring diagram, full parts list, printable enclosure STLs and firmware are all in the docs.
- —The guide is split into two parts: part one is the basic decoder, part two adds the encoder, SD card, menu UI and ISS modes.
- —The firmware supports PD120 and PD180 (ISS modes), SC2, ScottieDX, Robot 24/36/72, plus the older Martin and Scottie modes.
- —No repository link — the project lives in the 101 Things collection on Read the Docs.
- —No explicit licence statement in the payload; the 101 Things landing page will clarify, but assume open for now.
- —This is receive-only hardware; transmitting SSTV requires an amateur radio licence in most countries.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
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Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the full guide (Part one gets you decoding; part two adds storage, modes and enclosure)
- 2.Check your radio(You need SSB reception on amateur bands — FM-only scanners will not work)
- 3.Order the parts(Pico, ILI9341 or ILI9342 display, two 10k resistors, 100n cap, 3.5 mm socket; encoder and SD module for part two)
- 4.Flash the firmware and wire it up(Follow the schematic and wiring diagram; test audio levels before sealing the enclosure)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
Partner · KickstarterBluHub reads and burns Blu-ray/DVD/CD, adds USB-C, USB-A, SD/TF and 10 Gbps data — plug and play, grand-piano finish.
KNOWN ISSUES
- You need a radio capable of SSB reception on amateur HF or VHF bands — an FM-only scanner will not decode SSTV.
- Audio level is critical: too loud and the Pico's ADC clips, too quiet and sync fails. The guide covers it, but test before closing the case.
- The 320×240 display means high-resolution ISS images get scaled down; it is fine for portable use but not archival quality.
- ISS SSTV transmissions happen a few times a year during special events — do not expect to catch one on your first evening.
- The ILI9341 and ILI9342 displays look identical but have different initialisation sequences; make sure the firmware matches your hardware.
- If you build part two, the rotary encoder needs debouncing in software — cheap encoders can be noisy and cause menu jumps.
Do I need an amateur radio licence to use this?
No. This is receive-only hardware. You need a licence to transmit SSTV, but listening is legal everywhere.
What radio do I plug it into?
Any receiver with SSB (single sideband) mode and a headphone output. SSTV is most common on HF amateur bands (14.230 MHz is a popular frequency) and VHF (145.800 MHz for ISS).
How do I know when the ISS is transmitting?
ISS SSTV events are announced weeks in advance on amateur radio news sites and Twitter accounts like @ARISS_status. They typically run for a few days during milestone events.
Can I save the images?
Yes, if you build part two with the SD card module. Part one decodes to the display only.
What is the difference between PD120 and the older Martin modes?
PD120 and PD180 are higher resolution and faster than Martin or Scottie modes. The ISS uses PD120 and PD180; amateur operators on HF often use Scottie or Robot modes.
Community builds
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Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The ISS uses PD120 and PD180, but most amateur operators on HF stick to Scottie or Robot modes. Which would you tune to first — the daily chatter or the rare ISS pass?
Jonathan P Dawson
Jonathan P Dawson builds small, well-documented projects and publishes them as part of his 101 Things collection — a catalogue of practical Raspberry Pi Pico builds. This SSTV decoder is typical: short parts list, readable schematic, tested firmware.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM7d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the project lives in the 101 Things collection on Read the Docs, not a standalone repository. The guide is split into two parts — part one gets you decoding, part two adds the encoder, SD card and ISS modes — and the firmware was tested against recorded ISS transmissions from the spacecomms archive, which is the right way to verify something that only happens a few times a year. The biggest upgrade is not the enclosure, it is part two's PD120 and PD180 modes, because that is what the ISS actually transmits.