Version 1.00 — June 2026 SpaceCommsKit — https://spacecommskit.com
The SCK-915 is a complete RF communications development kit based on the open-source OpenLST radio platform originally developed by Planet Labs. The kit includes two CC1110-based radio boards operating at 915MHz and a Windows ground station application for commanding, monitoring, and imaging.
With the SCK-915 Ground Station you can:
Send and receive commands between a ground station and a remote radio board over RF
View real-time telemetry including uptime, signal strength, and ADC readings
Trigger a remote Raspberry Pi Pico to capture images with an Arducam OV2640 camera
Transfer JPEG images from the remote SD card back to your Windows PC over RF
Build and flash custom firmware to the remote board
Note: The SCK-915 operates at 915MHz in the ISM band. Check local regulations for power limits in your jurisdiction before field or high-power operation.
| Item | Qty | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SCK-915 Radio Board | 2 | CC1110-based 915MHz transceiver (HWID 0001 and 0004 pre-provisioned) |
| USB-Serial Adapter | 1 | 3.3V TTL FTDI adapter for connecting board 0001 to your PC |
| Antennas | 2 | SMA 915MHz antennas |
| Power Supply | 1 | 5V DC power supply for board 0001 |
| Ground Station Software | 1 | SCK Ground Station Windows application |
Note: Sold separately for full imaging: Raspberry Pi Pico, Arducam OV2640, SPI SD card adapter, microSD card (FAT32 formatted).
Run the installer. Double-click SCK_GroundStation_Setup.exe and
follow the prompts.
Install USB-Serial driver. Connect the USB-serial adapter. Windows installs the driver automatically. If not, download from ftdichip.com.
Note your COM port. Open Device Manager → Ports and note the COM port for your adapter (e.g. COM5).
Launch the application. Find SCK Ground Station in the Start menu.
Quick Start Checklist:
0001, click ConnectBoard 0001 connects to your Windows PC via the USB-serial adapter.
| USB-Serial Pin | Board 0001 Pin |
|---|---|
| TX | P0_5 (UART1 RX) |
| RX | P0_4 (UART1 TX) |
| GND | GND |
Board 0004 is the remote unit. It communicates via RF and connects to the Pico for imaging.
| Board 0004 Pin | Connection |
|---|---|
| P1_5 (UART0 TX) | Pico GP1 (UART0 RX) |
| P1_4 (UART0 RX) | Pico GP0 (UART0 TX) |
| GND | Pico GND |
Warning: Board 0001 must be powered from the included external 5V supply during RF operation. The RF PA draws a current spike during TX that will cause a brownout if powered only from USB.
| Component | Supply | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Board 0001 / 0004 | 5V DC | ~120mA idle, ~1.6A during RF TX |
| Raspberry Pi Pico | 5V (USB) or 3.3V | ~25mA typical |
| Arducam OV2640 | 3.3V | ~50mA active |
| SD Card Adapter | 5V (VBUS) | ~100mA active |
Full imaging requires a Pico with Arducam OV2640 and SPI SD card adapter. All three share SPI0 with separate CS pins.
| Device | Signal | Pico Pin |
|---|---|---|
| Arducam OV2640 | VCC | 3.3V |
| Arducam OV2640 | GND | GND |
| Arducam OV2640 | MISO | GP16 |
| Arducam OV2640 | MOSI | GP19 |
| Arducam OV2640 | SCK | GP18 |
| Arducam OV2640 | CS | GP15 |
| Arducam OV2640 | SDA | GP4 |
| Arducam OV2640 | SCL | GP5 |
| SD Card Adapter | VCC | VBUS (5V) |
| SD Card Adapter | GND | GND |
| SD Card Adapter | MISO | GP16 (shared) |
| SD Card Adapter | MOSI | GP19 (shared) |
| SD Card Adapter | SCK | GP18 (shared) |
| SD Card Adapter | CS | GP17 |
Warning: The Arducam OV2640 must be connected with direct jumper wires — not through a breadboard. Breadboard connections are unreliable for SPI at the required speed.
The Home tab shows live telemetry updated every 5 seconds when connected.
| Panel | Description |
|---|---|
| Uptime | Seconds since last boot |
| Last RSSI | Received signal strength (dBm) |
| Last LQI | Link quality indicator (0–255) |
| Packets Sent/Good | RF packet counters since boot |
| UART0/1 RX Count | Packets received on each serial port |
| ADC 0–9 | Raw ADC readings from CC1110 analog inputs |
Provides quick access to all standard OpenLST commands.
| Button | Opcode | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Get Telem | 0x17 | Request telemetry from the addressed board |
| Reboot | 0x12 | Immediately reboot the addressed board |
| Get Time | 0x13 | Request current RTC time |
| Set Time | 0x14 | Set the RTC time |
| Get Callsign | 0x19 | Read stored callsign |
| Set Callsign | 0x1A | Store callsign (up to 8 characters) |
Lets you send any opcode with any payload. Commands persist between sessions. Pre-loaded Pico commands:
| Name | Opcode | Payload | Response |
|---|---|---|---|
| PICO Ping | 0x20 | 00 |
PICO:ACK |
| PICO Read Temp | 0x20 | 01 |
TEMP:13.47C |
| PICO Snap | 0x20 | 02 |
SNAP:OK:snap_001.jpg:4617 |
| PICO List Files | 0x20 | 03 |
LIST:snap_001.jpg,... |
A complete SD card file manager for the remote Pico. List, download, and delete files over RF.
Warning: Set HWID to
0004before using the Files tab. The Pico must be runningmain.pywith an SD card inserted.
Images\ folder and Explorer
opens automaticallyA typical 320×240 JPEG (4–8 KB) transfers in approximately 2–5 seconds depending on RF conditions.
Used to build, sign, and flash custom firmware. Set Project Dir to your OpenLST source folder.
Warning: Always use Clean + Build after making source code changes to avoid stale object files being linked.
After flashing via serial, send 2–3 Get Telem commands before moving the board to remote RF operation.
Programs the bootloader onto a fresh CC1110 board using the TI CC Debugger. One-time operation for new boards.
0001) and AES keymain.py| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| RF Frequency | 915MHz (ISM band) |
| Modulation | 2-FSK with Forward Error Correction (FEC) |
| Data Rate | 7.4 kbaud |
| TX Power | +30 dBm (1W) via on-board power amplifier |
| Receiver Sensitivity | −112 dBm |
| Microcontroller | Texas Instruments CC1110 |
| Flash Memory | 32 KB |
| Interface | 3.3V TTL UART ×2, 115200 baud |
| Supply Voltage | 5V DC |
| Board Size | 50 × 60 × 5 mm |
SpaceCommsKit SCK-915 User Guide v1.00 For updates and source code see https://spacecommskit.com