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
Built withRaspberry Pi Pico / RP2040
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- a weekend
- license
- MIT
- repo
- repo ACTIVE70 stars
●●●○○ · a weekend · MIT · 70 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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COMPAREE VERDICT
This is one of the cleanest radio projects on the catalogue. The parts list is short (a Pico, a 320×240 display, two resistors, a capacitor and a 3.5 mm socket) and the schematic is readable. Part one gets you decoding in an evening; part two turns it into a proper instrument with SD storage, a menu, transmit, a waterfall and the PD120/PD180 modes the ISS uses for its occasional picture transmissions. You need a radio with a headphone output in the right mode: SSB for HF amateur traffic, FM for the ISS on 145.800 MHz. The 320×240 display means the higher-resolution PD images are scaled down, which is fine for a portable decoder. The new modes were tested against recorded transmissions from the spacecomms archive, the right way to verify something that only happens occasionally. If you have never worked with SPI displays or the Pico's ADC, this is a good first project for both. Expect to experiment with your radio's volume, since the guides do not specify an input level. For the cost of a decent breakfast, you get a pocket SSTV decoder that works.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —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 SSTV transmit, SD card storage, a menu UI and the ISS modes.
- —The firmware supports PD120 and PD180 (ISS modes), SC2, ScottieDX, Robot 24/36/72, plus the older Martin and Scottie modes.
- —Code, Arduino library, examples and enclosure files are in the GitHub repository; the build write-ups live in the 101 Things collection on Read the Docs.
- —MIT licence, which allows commercial use with attribution.
- —It can receive and, with the part-two build, transmit; transmitting SSTV requires an amateur radio licence in most countries.
Parts to buy
6 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
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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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 a receiver with a headphone output: SSB for HF amateur SSTV, FM for ISS transmissions on 145.800 MHz. An FM-only scanner covers the ISS but not HF traffic.)
- 3.Order the parts(Pico, ILI9341 or ILI9342 display, two 10k resistors, 100n cap, 3.5 mm socket; push buttons and an 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.
KNOWN ISSUES
- You need a receiver with a headphone output in the right mode: SSB for HF amateur SSTV, and FM on 145.800 MHz for ISS transmissions. A cheap FM-only scanner can catch the ISS but not HF traffic.
- Audio level matters: too loud and the Pico's ADC input clips, too quiet and sync fails. The guides do not give a target level, so experiment with your radio's volume 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.
- Buy a 320×240 ILI9341 or ILI9342 SPI display as listed; if the image looks rotated or mirrored, check the display settings in the example sketch.
- If you build part two with transmit, remember the PWM audio output and PTT line go to a transmitter — you need an amateur radio licence before you key up.
Do I need an amateur radio licence to use this?
Not to listen: receiving SSTV needs no licence in most countries. The project can also transmit (part two), and that does require an amateur radio licence.
What radio do I plug it into?
Any receiver with a headphone output. For HF amateur SSTV (14.230 MHz is a popular frequency) you need SSB; for the ISS on 145.800 MHz you need FM.
How do I know when the ISS is transmitting?
ISS SSTV events are occasional and announced in advance by ARISS and amateur radio news sites; check those before you plan a listening session.
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 carry much higher-resolution images than Martin or Scottie, so the decoder scales them down to fit the 320×240 display. The ISS uses PD120 and PD180; on the amateur bands the author found Martin and Scottie most popular, with quite a few PD50 and PD90 signals.
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Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The ISS uses PD120 and PD180, while Martin and Scottie are the most common modes you will hear otherwise. Which would you tune to first — the everyday traffic 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.
CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the project is documented in the 101 Things collection on Read the Docs, and the code lives in its own MIT-licensed GitHub repository (dawsonjon/PicoSSTV). The guide is split into two parts — part one gets you decoding, part two adds the encoder, SD card and ISS modes — and the new modes were tested against downloadable audio recordings from spacecomms, which is the right way to verify something that only happens occasionally. The biggest upgrade is not the enclosure, it is part two's PD120 and PD180 modes, because that is what the ISS actually transmits. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.