Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
** Many thanks to this Teardown Session's sponsor: Qorvo! **
In this Teardown Session, Crowd Supply's Helen Leigh talks with Zeke Wheeler (KJ7NLL) about satellite tracking, ham radio and making contact with the ISS. Join them on a deep dive into antenna design and construction as they examine Zeke's latest prototype antenna. What happens when he tries to make contact with the space station? Watch and find out!
*About our Guest*
Thirteen year-old Zeke Wheeler has been making waves on the engineering circuit for a few years already. In October 2024, after nearly five years of research and troubleshooting, Zeke successfully communicated with the International Space Station over amateur radio using homemade antennas and satellite tracking equipment. Zeke has a popular YouTube channel (@KJ7NLL) and loves to share his projects.
*About Crowd Supply*
Crowd Supply is the crowdfunding platform of choice for engineers, hackers, designers, and idealists. We help them with the funding and support they need to deliver respectful, thoughtfully crafted, open source hardware to their delighted backers. The Teardown Sessions are a series of interviews and hands-on learning sessions with Crowd Supply creators, staff, and lots of special guests.
Come see what our creators are making: crowdsupply.com
*About the Teardown Sessions*
Welcome to The Teardown Sessions, a series of interviews and hands-on learning sessions with Crowd Supply creators, staff, and lots of special guests. Crowd Supply is the crowdfunding platform of choice for engineers, hackers, designers, and idealists. We help them with the funding and support they need to deliver respectful, thoughtfully crafted, open source hardware to their delighted backers.
*Links & Resources*
* Zeke's YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@KJ7NLL
* Teardown Session #43 (Zeke's previous appearance): youtube.com/watch?v=TMeRyTrTooM
* OreSat Ground Station campaign: crowdsupply.com/psas/oresat
* OreSat home: oresat.org
* ISS home: nasa.gov/reference/international-space-station
* Qorvo RF Accelerator: crowdsupply.com/qorvo/rf-accelerator
* Qorvo home: qorvo.com
* Tinkercad: tinkercad.com
* FreeCAD: freecad.org
* TearDown 2025: crowdsupply.com/teardown/portland-2025
* Crowd Supply Newsletter: crowdsupply.com/newsletter
**Don't forget to Like, Link, and Subscribe!**
#opensourcehardware #hardwarehacking #opensource #hardware #teardown #maker #hacker #electronics #crowdsupply #crowdfunding #satellite #iss #hamradio #manufacturing #radioastronomy #qorvo #lego #sciencefair #oresat #satellite #3dprinting #cubesat
** Many thanks to this Teardown Session's sponsor: Qorvo! **
In this Teardown Session, Crowd Supply's Helen Leigh talks with Zeke Wheeler (KJ7NLL) about satellite tracking, ham radio and making contact with the ISS. Join them on a deep dive into antenna design and construction as they examine Zeke's latest prototype antenna. What happens when he tries to make contact with the space station? Watch and find out!
*About our Guest*
Thirteen year-old Zeke Wheeler has been making waves on the engineering circuit for a few years already. In October 2024, after nearly five years of research and troubleshooting, Zeke successfully communicated with the International Space Station over amateur radio using homemade antennas and satellite tracking equipment. Zeke has a popular YouTube channel (@KJ7NLL) and loves to share his projects.
*About Crowd Supply*
Crowd Supply is the crowdfunding platform of choice for engineers, hackers, designers, and idealists. We help them with the funding and support they need to deliver respectful, thoughtfully crafted, open source hardware to their delighted backers. The Teardown Sessions are a series of interviews and hands-on learning sessions with Crowd Supply creators, staff, and lots of special guests.
Come see what our creators are making: crowdsupply.com
*About the Teardown Sessions*
Welcome to The Teardown Sessions, a series of interviews and hands-on learning sessions with Crowd Supply creators, staff, and lots of special guests. Crowd Supply is the crowdfunding platform of choice for engineers, hackers, designers, and idealists. We help them with the funding and support they need to deliver respectful, thoughtfully crafted, open source hardware to their delighted backers.
*Links & Resources*
* Zeke's YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@KJ7NLL
* Teardown Session #43 (Zeke's previous appearance): youtube.com/watch?v=TMeRyTrTooM
* OreSat Ground Station campaign: crowdsupply.com/psas/oresat
* OreSat home: oresat.org
* ISS home: nasa.gov/reference/international-space-station
* Qorvo RF Accelerator: crowdsupply.com/qorvo/rf-accelerator
* Qorvo home: qorvo.com
* Tinkercad: tinkercad.com
* FreeCAD: freecad.org
* TearDown 2025: crowdsupply.com/teardown/portland-2025
* Crowd Supply Newsletter: crowdsupply.com/newsletter
**Don't forget to Like, Link, and Subscribe!**
#opensourcehardware #hardwarehacking #opensource #hardware #teardown #maker #hacker #electronics #crowdsupply #crowdfunding #satellite #iss #hamradio #manufacturing #radioastronomy #qorvo #lego #sciencefair #oresat #satellite #3dprinting #cubesat
