SatNOGS vs Weather Balloon Hunter

SatNOGS Network is a global management interface to facilitate multiple ground station operations remotely. An observer is able to take advantage of the full network of SatNOGS ground stations around the world. The network is open to anyone. Any observer is able to utilize all available Ground Stations and communicate with Satellites. All observations results are public and all data are distributed freely under the Creative Commons Atribution-Share Alike license. Whether you own satellite ground station equipment or you want to build one you can head to SatNOGS Project site to get up to date documentation and info on how to build a SatNOGS ground station. App functionality is currently limited by SatNOGS API and will be significantly improved in next major release.

Track and recover weather balloons with professional-grade tools used by the global amateur radio community. BalloonHunter connects to MySondyGo devices via Bluetooth and integrates with the SondeHub APRS network for comprehensive real-time balloon tracking. KEY FEATURES Dual Connectivity - MySondyGo BLE - Direct connection to RadioSondyGo devices for real-time telemetry - SondeHub APRS - Automatic fallback to global amateur radio network - Smart polling adjusts API cadence based on data freshness (15s to 5min to 1hr) Professional Prediction - Tawhiri API - Leverages CUSF's professional trajectory prediction engine - Real-time updates every 60 seconds during flight - Accurate burst and landing point calculations with uncertainty mapping - Adaptive parameters use live descent rates when available Hunter-Focused Interface - Map-centric design optimized for field tracking operations (70% map view) - Live overlays show balloon track, prediction path, landing zones, and your position - Smart route recalculation only when needed: - Off-route detection (50m+ deviation) - Landing point movement (100m+ shift) - Transport mode changes (car/bike) - Apple Maps navigation with one-tap routing - Landing change alerts during CarPlay navigation (300m+ shifts) - Heading mode with compass-locked view for directional navigation Advanced Tracking - 7-state telemetry state machine for robust operation - Automatic BLE/APRS switching with 30-second debounce - Background Bluetooth support for continuous connection - Local data persistence with CSV export capability - Offline track viewing from cached data TECHNICAL DETAILS - Requires iOS 17.6 or later - Bluetooth and location permissions required - Internet connection needed for APRS and predictions - Works with or without MySondyGo hardware - Free and open source - no ads, no tracking, no accounts PERFECT FOR - Weather balloon enthusiasts and chasers - Amateur radio operators (hams) - High-altitude balloon (HAB) recovery teams - Educational institutions launching research balloons - Anyone interested in atmospheric science PRIVACY & DATA - All location data stays on your device - No personal information collected - No user accounts or registration required - Open source code available on GitHub - Full privacy policy included Built for the weather balloon tracking community by HB9BLA.