# free-outernet: reconstructing Outernet broadcast services

> free-outernet reconstructs Outernet’s file and time broadcast services from reverse-engineered protocols. Its Python receiver accepts live UDP packets from gr-outernet or recorded KISS files, recovers transmitted files and prints time packets. The code also includes LDPC decoding to recover missing file blocks.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Protocol
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/daniestevez/free-outernet>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/daniestevez/free-outernet/blob/9e47e5d662c1b2edfd71640e96406e36424a5e91/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/free-outernet-protocol-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/free-outernet-protocol-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/free-outernet-protocol-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** gr-outernet supplies live modem packets or a previously recorded KISS file.
- **Prerequisites:** Python 3 with crcmod and zfec dependencies is specified.
- **Limits:** X.509 signature checking, system-time setting and automatic file decompression are unimplemented.
- **License:** GPL-3.0 license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/daniestevez/free-outernet/blob/9e47e5d662c1b2edfd71640e96406e36424a5e91/README.md>

## More in Protocols

- [MikroTik WinBox Terminal Client: implementing the terminal protocol](https://awesomerea.org/resources/winbox-terminal-protocol-case/index.md) · Case study
- [pippin: a Linux client for macOS high-performance Screen Sharing](https://awesomerea.org/resources/pippin-screen-sharing-case/index.md) · Case study
- [OpenSpy Core: reconstructing GameSpy online services](https://awesomerea.org/resources/openspy-core-case/index.md) · Case study
- [OpenSnell: reconstructing the Snell v4/v5 proxy protocol](https://awesomerea.org/resources/opensnell-case/index.md) · Case study
- [starlink-rs: Starlink dish gRPC definitions and client](https://awesomerea.org/resources/starlink-rs-case/index.md) · Case study
- [Acurite 00592TX Decoder: decoding wireless sensor messages](https://awesomerea.org/resources/acurite-00592tx-decoder-case/index.md) · Case study

## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.