Weather satellite monitoring!

N1SQB · #1 (**permalink**) 07-01-2009, 04:11 PM

Hello All!
I had the pleasure of visiting W1AW here in Newington Ct. While I was there, I saw they had a computer dedicated to satellite weather monitoring. They were using a Hamtronics R139 with a pre-amp hooked up. The images were amazing! I have very little to no experince in this area but I am hooked. I downloaded the program from WXTOIMG which is free. I was able to capture 2 satellites just by using a scanner programmed to the 137 MHZ band hooked up via an audio cable to the line in jack on my desktop. I was able to get away with just using my discone but I see I need a dedicated antenna. Does anyone on here have any experience monitoring these satellites that can point me in the right direction with regards to equipment and antennas ect..?

Manny

tyytor · #2 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 10:48 PM

PM sent with info

rdale · #3 (**permalink**) 07-03-2009, 11:31 PM

Decoding NOAA APT Weather Images - A quick how to guide

N1SQB · #4 (**permalink**) 07-04-2009, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tyytor

PM sent with info

I got it, thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdale

Decoding NOAA APT Weather Images - A quick how to guide

Very interesting article. Just needs a small update. There is now a NOAA 19 which transmitts on 137.9125
Otherwise, very nice!

Here are few shots I took inside W1AW at the A.R.R.L.
The receiver:
Hamtronics R139 pictures from hobbies & interests photos on webshots
The turnstile antenna on their north tower: (lower right)
Turnstile Antenna-North Tower pictures from hobbies & interests photos on webshots
Sample image taken while I was there: (view full screen)
Sample Image Taken at W1AW pictures from hobbies & interests photos on webshots

Manny

F1TJJ · #5 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 04:09 AM

I wrote a page here : Hamradio Experiments

Best
Stephane

N1SQB · #6 (**permalink**) 07-05-2009, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F1TJJ

I wrote a page here : Hamradio Experiments

Best
Stephane

I see that! Very nice pictures by the way!

Manny

F1TJJ · #7 (**permalink**) 07-06-2009, 04:21 AM

Thanks,

These images are received just with a discone antenna, no preamp and AR5000...
With the discone, the "good" pass is when the site is not too high, typically between 10 and 50°.
A preamp would probably improve a lot as well as an other antenna !

I'm planning to try some HRPT images on 1.7GHz.... I've a small 3ft dish with homemade L-band (inmarsat) and a minikit preamp. Probably it should work for HRPT without modification. Just neet to track the correct sat... I will test soon !

Best
Stephane