Connect an ESP32 to a Satellite over Bluetooth!
Satellite via Bluetooth?! Try for yourself! Free trial of the both the terrestrial and satellite network from Hubble!
Check out the full video above to see the complete setup process and learn how to connect the SparkFun ESP32-C6 Thing Plus to the Hubble Network.
Connect a SparkFun ESP32-C6 to the Hubble Satellite Network
What if you could connect an IoT device to satellites using hardware you may already have on your workbench?
Hubble Network recently opened public access to its satellite network for IoT devices, making it possible to send data through its satellite network using Bluetooth-enabled hardware. Even better, you don't necessarily need specialized satellite hardware to get started. In this video, we connect a SparkFun ESP32-C6 Thing Plus to the Hubble Network and walk through the process from setup to sending data. To celebrate their new launch, Hubble is offering a free 45-day trial for both the Terrestrial and Satellite Networks!
How it Works
The demo uses the SparkFun ESP32-C6 Thing Plus, its built-in PCB antenna, and Hubble's SDK. After creating a Hubble account and API token, we install Espressif's ESP-IDF development environment along with the Hubble SDK and required libraries.
From there, we use Hubble's included SAT dual stack example. The example allows the ESP32-C6 to operate over Bluetooth when a satellite isn't available and switch over to satellite transmission during a satellite pass. Once the firmware is built and flashed to the ESP32-C6, the device is provisioned with the current time and satellite orbital information. Hubble's companion tool handles this over Bluetooth, giving the device the information it needs to know when a satellite will be passing overhead.
But First, Test
Before waiting around for a satellite, you can test the device over Bluetooth. The Hubble mobile app can detect the ESP32-C6's Bluetooth broadcasts and forward the packets to the Hubble Network, where they appear on your dashboard. The Hubble dashboard also includes tools for viewing upcoming satellite passes and exploring satellite orbits. When a satellite comes into range, the demo firmware can stop broadcasting over Bluetooth and begin transmitting data to the satellite instead.
That means a relatively familiar development board can become the foundation for an IoT device capable of communicating well beyond the reach of WiFi or traditional Bluetooth infrastructure. Satellite connectivity opens up some interesting possibilities for IoT projects in remote locations, from environmental monitoring and agriculture to asset tracking and field-deployed sensors.
$19.95
