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Web Interface (Mobile Access)

FBSAT59 includes a built-in Web server for browser-based access from any device on your local network — no app installation needed.

Quick Access

When FBSAT59 launches, the Status Bar (bottom-right) displays:

🌐 LAN Access: http://192.168.1.100:8080  [QR]

From Your Smartphone

  1. Connect to the same WiFi network as your computer
  2. Open browser and enter the URL, or scan the QR code
  3. You're in! No login required (local network only)

Available Tabs

1. Tracking

Real-time satellite tracking from your mobile device:

  • Satellite list — Scrollable list with current elevation/azimuth/range
  • Live radar — Sky view showing satellite positions
  • Favorites — Quick access to frequently-tracked satellites
  • Status — Next pass times, signal strength indicators

Mobile compass mode (Android/iOS with gyroscope): - Radar rotates with device orientation - Point your phone at the sky to see satellite position in real-time - Like a digital compass for satellites

2. Antenna

Large-format control panel for radio operators:

  • Azimuth / Elevation — Large digital readout (easy to read from across the room)
  • Pass progress bar — Visual indication of pass progress (AOS → TCA → LOS)
  • Transponder cards — Downlink/Uplink frequencies for quick reference
  • Rig connect/disconnect — Control radio connection without touching desktop

Perfect for: Setup during pass, remote monitoring, photography sessions

3. Pass Prediction

Upcoming pass predictions for selected satellite:

  • Date & time — AOS, TCA, LOS in local time or UTC
  • Maximum elevation — Quality color-coded (green/blue/yellow/gray)
  • Duration — How long the pass lasts
  • CSV export — Download for external tools

4. Group Pass

Search and display passes for a satellite group:

  • Group filter — Amateur / Weather / CubeSats / etc.
  • Multi-satellite view — See all upcoming passes in one table
  • Sort options — By quality, elevation, time

5. Settings (Mobile)

Minimal settings UI for on-the-fly adjustments:

  • Location — Update coordinates (GPS fallback)
  • Time zone — UTC or local display
  • Frequency calibration — PPM adjustment for SDR
  • Remote Rig Control — IP/port of desktop rig

Security & Privacy

Local Network Only

  • No internet required
  • No data leaves your LAN
  • No user accounts or passwords
  • Port 8080 not exposed to internet by default

If you need remote access (away from home):

  1. Use VPN (WireGuard, Tailscale) to your home network
  2. FBSAT59 accessible only through VPN tunnel
  3. No port forwarding necessary

Desktop vs Mobile

Feature Desktop Qt UI Mobile Web UI
Display Full-featured Simplified
Radar North-up only Compass mode (mobile sensor)
Editing Add/edit frequencies, settings View-only
Performance Native (fast) Browser-based
Latency 0–1 sec updates 1–2 sec WebSocket

Design philosophy: Mobile UI shows the essentials for pass operations without overwhelming users with options.

Technical Details

Architecture

  • Backend: FastAPI WebSocket server (Python)
  • Frontend: JavaScript + Canvas (no jQuery)
  • Updates: Real-time via WebSocket (1–2 Hz)
  • Responsive: Adapts to any screen size

Browser Compatibility

Browser Support
Chrome / Chromium ✅ Full support
Safari (iOS/macOS) ✅ Full support
Firefox ✅ Full support
Edge ✅ Full support
Internet Explorer ❌ Not supported

Network Requirements

  • WiFi: 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz (both supported)
  • Bandwidth: <100 kB/s typical
  • Latency: <100 ms for smooth radar update
  • Firewall: Port 8080 must be accessible on LAN

Troubleshooting Mobile Access

"Cannot Connect to http://192.168.1.100:8080"

  1. Verify you're on the same WiFi network as the computer
  2. Check IP address in Status Bar (may differ from example)
  3. Try entering http://localhost:8080 if on the same device
  4. Check firewall (some routers isolate guest networks)

"Radar shows satellites in wrong positions"

On Android with compass mode: - Ensure location services are enabled - Recalibrate compass (move phone in figure-8 pattern) - Check that device has a compass sensor

"Updates are sluggish / delayed"

  • Check WiFi signal strength (RSSI)
  • Reduce number of open tabs
  • Check desktop CPU usage (background tasks)
  • Try refreshing page (browser cache)

Tips & Tricks

Landscape Mode

Flip phone to landscape for larger radar display (recommended for operations).

Multiple Devices

Multiple smartphones can connect simultaneously: - Each device sees live updates - Useful for multi-person ground stations - No performance impact

URL Sharing

Share session URL with team members on the same LAN:

http://192.168.1.100:8080?satellite=ISS

This opens directly to ISS satellite (if supported).

QR Code

Scan QR code from Status Bar with any QR reader app to open Web UI instantly.

Next Steps