The Skunkworks team keeps things lively between Tech Saturdays with a range of ongoing activities that take advantage of the club’s unique infrastructure and the capabilities of amateur radio satellites, digital networks, and space-based systems. This section of the site provides regularly updated, live or near-live data feeds and scheduling tools to help members plan their radio activities around events happening right now.
Saturday Satellite Opportunities — The clubhouse satellite station tracks and operates through a variety of amateur FM satellites including SO-50, JO-97, AO-123, and the ISS FM repeater. Pass predictions are automatically generated each week for the Saturday morning operating window (9 AM – 1 PM EST) so members can show up ready to make contacts. Frequencies, CTCSS tones, elevation angles, and pass durations are all provided. It’s a great chance to experience satellite operation firsthand using the club’s tracked antenna system.
Upcoming ISS Viewing Opportunities — The International Space Station passes over South Jersey on a regular basis and is one of the brightest objects in the night sky — easy to spot with the naked eye. This page provides upcoming visible pass times and directions for our location so members can catch a glimpse of the station they’ve been contacting on the radio.
ISS APRS Activity — Members can also track upcoming opportunities for ISS APRS packet activity, when the space station’s packet digipeater is active and available for position report exchanges.
GOES-19 Weather Video — The clubhouse receives live imagery from the GOES-19 geostationary weather satellite using an SDR-based L-band receiving system. This page displays a regularly updated animation compiled from recent full-disk Earth imagery — a direct product of the club’s own ground station, not a third-party feed.
Recent DMR Activity — The GCARC DMR talkgroup connects members digitally whether they’re at the clubhouse or operating from home via hotspot. This page shows recent activity on the club talkgroup so members can see who’s been on the air and when.