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2 published entries Updated 15 August 2026
Technology update Posted COSMOS-C3 2.0 3 minute read Permalink

TinyGS auxiliary MQTT feed expands ground-station experimentation

A flexible auxiliary MQTT feed delivers complete received packets from TinyGS ground stations to other applications.

AUX MQTT artwork showing a satellite, ground station, network, and independent data path
The auxiliary MQTT feed makes complete received packets available to other applications.

As part of the COSMOS-C3 2.0 work, Hacker Ranch LLC added an auxiliary MQTT feed to TinyGS firmware, expanding TinyGS-based satellite ground stations with a flexible feed for additional applications.

Flexible feed for other applications

The auxiliary feed supports TinyGS while also providing a flexible MQTT feed for other applications.

Complete received packets

The auxiliary MQTT feed delivers complete received packets to MQTT-capable tools for reading, archiving, analysis, visualization, or decoding. This opens the station to a wider range of experiments and applications.

  • Receive complete packets through the auxiliary feed.
  • Connect a broad range of MQTT-capable tools.

Stable Mosquitto testing

Current testing with Mosquitto has been very stable. The auxiliary feed has reliably provided complete received packets for additional tools and satellite ground-station experimentation.

Public firmware

The TinyGS firmware modification is public and available from the versioned source tree below.

View AUX_MQTT v0.1.0 source →
Keywords TinyGS Auxiliary MQTT Mosquitto Satellite Ground Station Experimentation
Product release Posted Version 1.1.0 4 minute read

Hacker Ranch LLC releases Radio GridFix

A focused field utility that converts one accurate GPS position into the coordinate formats used across amateur radio, emergency communications, and land navigation.

Radio GridFix release artwork showing the app icon and supported coordinate formats
Radio GridFix is available now as a free download for iPhone and iPad.

Hacker Ranch LLC has released Radio GridFix, an iPhone and iPad utility built to make accurate field positions immediately useful. Lock one GPS position, then copy it in the format required by the radio net, activation, incident, or navigation task at hand.

One fix, five useful formats

Radio GridFix keeps the workflow deliberately direct: acquire an accurate position once and convert it without retyping coordinates or moving between separate tools.

  • Maidenhead Grid for amateur-radio exchanges and logging.
  • Decimal Degrees for mapping, incident systems, and general navigation.
  • Degrees, Minutes, Seconds for traditional field and land-navigation workflows.
  • Geohash for compact, shareable geographic references.
  • Plus Code for location sharing where street addresses are impractical.

Designed for the field

The app is aimed at amateur-radio operators, POTA and SOTA activators, emergency communicators, and anyone who needs dependable coordinate conversions without a complicated interface. Its small download and focused feature set make it a practical addition to an iPhone or iPad field kit.

Current release: version 1.1.0

Version 1.1.0 improves the Radio GridFix Pro purchase and restore flow, makes annual pricing and policy links clearer, and improves availability when GPS is temporarily unavailable. The base app is free to download from Apple’s App Store.

Download on the App Store → Official Apple App Store listing