Welcome to More dBs!

CP6

  • Frequency: 437.365 MHz
  • Modulation: AFSK
  • Mode: LSB
  • Baud Rate: 1200
  • Protocol: AX.25
  • Beacon: Every 120 seconds
  • Launch Date: 19-May-2009 23:55:00
  • Object Number: 35004

CP6 Details | Pass Log

More dBs, or the Massive Operations, Recording, and Experimentation Database System, is a system to manage all data generated by Cal Poly satellites during development and on-orbit operations. More dBs is an attempt to consolidate all satellite information into a single, readily accessible location to make data analysis more efficient.

What's With The Unusual Name?

The name More dBs developed from our frustration while conducting operations with our first two satellites, CP3 and CP4. Due to comm issues which make CP3 and CP4 extremely difficult to command, a common theme in the lab at the time was that we needed "More dBs" in order to talk with our satellites. We tried everything to get "More dBs," including increasing our ground station's gain using a 100 Watt amplifier. Unfortunately, nothing fixed our link, and in remembrance of those frustrating times, we named our new ground support system More dBs.

CP5 on OUTSat NROL-36

CP5 is a 1U CubeSat developed by Cal Poly's PolySat Program. The payload is designed to test a deployable spacecraft de-orbiting thin-film mechanism. The mechanism consists of a miniature solar sail, similar to the ones used by NanoSail-D or LightSail but much smaller in size.

CP5 has launched aboard the NROL-36 mission on September 13, and it is currently operational. Please visit http://polysat.calpoly.edu/CP5.php for more information, and http://www.cubesat.org for current Object TLEs. We've been tracking ObjectI with uplink and downlink success.

Get Involved

To increase the amount of on-orbit data collected from our satellites, we provide a decoding program, CPX Data Decoder, to individuals around the world. CPX Data Decoder decodes any received beacons and displays the satellite health information contained in the beacon. It also forwards the beacons to More dBs, where it will show up in the pass log.

Alone, Cal Poly's ground station can only collect satellite data approximately 30 minutes per day. With the help of amateur radio enthusiasts such as yourself using CPX Data Decoder, data collection can happen around the clock and around the world.

More Information

Contact Info

If you have any problems or questions, please contact sfitzsim@calpoly.edu.