Meteor M2 decoding software

[bobruzzo]

View attachment 196452

OK I will try again with your settings!

 

[KJ4DHF]

That zero like 02:38pm has something to do with the time format they use to make it easier I think.. It makes it hard if you use to military time or the standard 2:38 pm.

 

[RichM]

OK Frustrated again with Orbitron so I deleted it. I saw the satellite in both Orbitron and on the N2YO website for Meteor M2-3 in same exact spot, but still not corresponding with the TIME! I downloaded Satdump and it looks like I set things up correctly. But not sure how to use it. Do i have to get the audio from satellite and save it as a .wav file then feed it into the program? Or does it track satellite in real time and render an image? Not sure if I need SDR Sharp? I hate farting around with local time, UTC etc...too confusing. At least using the N2YO site. No matter what I set the time formats for it never works. I am trying to track Meteor M2-3.......not sure if this is the best one? M3-4 seems to only pass by here at super early morning hours when I am not awake. OK in "Offline processing" I have it set to "METEOR M2-x LRPT 72k" And under "Recording" I see my RTL-SDR dongle, I dont know what to choose in "Processing", So thats about it.

Satdump will track and decode in real-time within the program using your SDR, no external programs such as SDR# needed. It can also record and decode wav files if you prefer to do it that way.

Go to the “about” tab and click on“basic usage”. It will open a tutorial link in your browser that will walk you through the settings and usage.

It is not hard to use once you understand it. It expands on the old way of doing things so if you were successful before you will be able to do this. It is worth the effort to learn it.

 

[RichM]

Also regarding the Meteor sats - M2-3 had an antenna deployment issue after launch so the polarization will change during the pass. This can cause a bit of signal drop during the pass. I use an Arrow yagi which I can twist by hand durning the pass to compensate for polarization. M2-4 does not have this issue so it will give better decodes if you’re using a fixed antenna. The pass times and elevation can be a challenge with M2-4 but with persistence you will eventually have some usable passes.

I should add that this pertains to the LRPT transmissions, I believe the HRPT antenna is fine, I can’t confirm this as I never attempted HRPT reception with the Meteor sats.

 

[bobruzzo]

Also regarding the Meteor sats - M2-3 had an antenna deployment issue after launch so the polarization will change during the pass. This can cause a bit of signal drop during the pass. I use an Arrow yagi which I can twist by hand durning the pass to compensate for polarization. M2-4 does not have this issue so it will give better decodes if you’re using a fixed antenna. The pass times and elevation can be a challenge with M2-4 but with persistence you will eventually have some usable passes.

I should add that this pertains to the LRPT transmissions, I believe the HRPT antenna is fine, I can’t confirm this as I never attempted HRPT reception with the Meteor sats.

Yeah I am having absolutely no luck with both Orbitron (the GIS Suite) and Satdump. Either the satellites are way out of range or the times are all mixed up. Cause I have been referring to N2YO for the times for passes. I did read the satdump beginners guide but I still cant figure out a few things. I will try the M2-4 satellite. I am DONE with Orbitron because it doesnt keep my lat/long and grid square settings no matter what I do. I dont like using N2YO cause of reasons I complained about before. I simply need to know when the satellite will be in my general area without having to click thru am/pm, local time, utc.....I cant seem to get a REAL correct time. I think if I know the satellite will be near me at a definite time, I think I can get Satdump to work.

 

[KJ4DHF]

I emailed you a time schedule for M2-4

 

[bobruzzo]

I emailed you a time schedule for M2-4

OK Thank you! Sorry for sounding like a dummy being so confused with the times.

 

[KJ4DHF]

No problem. Hopefully with the time notated in am/pm you can make sense looking at the webpage and the pdf I sent you.
Still do not know what you doing wrong to why Orbitron will not save your location info. I was able to add you into mine no problem. I can c;ose/open Orbitron and it saves my settings just fine.

 

[bobruzzo]

No problem. Hopefully with the time notated in am/pm you can make sense looking at the webpage and the pdf I sent you.
Still do not know what you doing wrong to why Orbitron will not save your location info. I was able to add you into mine no problem. I can c;ose/open Orbitron and it saves my settings just fine.

I think I found a possible reason.....When I first open the Orbitron program, I notice my lat/long and grid square settings are off...so I clicked on my preset location, then "choose" and it reverts back to what I want. I didnt know that you had to do this every time. I will try again with the data you sent. The M2-3 and 4 satellites seem to favor super early morning passes! So I might have to get up extra early to try to catch one.

 

[bobruzzo]

I started the satdump program but signal lousey, but showing something on 137.900. I guess satellite has to be much closer.

 

[KJ4DHF]

At El of 56 should be a fair signal for you to decode and get image. What antenna type you using? I have had good luck with my DIY QFH and a V dipole when I played with the Wx sats.

 

[bobruzzo]

At El of 56 should be a fair signal for you to decode and get image. What antenna type you using? I have had good luck with my DIY QFH and a V dipole when I played with the Wx sats.

Yep. Its my antenna! I need to build a "V" cause right now I am using a 2m/440 vertical so thats probably no good. When I used to decode the NOAA satellites I used same antenna and got good results.

 

[KJ4DHF]

I would look at the lobe pattern for the vertical. You might have better luck decoding on lower altitude passes that are closer to horizon. Just trial and error until you can get it dialed in.

 

[RichM]

I started the satdump program but signal lousey, but showing something on 137.900. I guess satellite has to be much closer.

That is a good start. SatDump automatically updates the Keplerian elements each time it’s opened so no more worrying about that.

What sort of antenna are you using? The Meteor sats don’t have as strong of a signal as the old NOAA sats. A good antenna that matches their frequency is a necessity for good decodes.

 

[bobruzzo]

That is a good start. SatDump automatically updates the Keplerian elements each time it’s opened so no more worrying about that.

What sort of antenna are you using? The Meteor sats don’t have as strong of a signal as the old NOAA sats. A good antenna that matches their frequency is a necessity for good decodes.

In the Spring when weather gets warmer I am going to build a "V" antenna then look into a circular polarized antenna. I dont have a clear shot to the horizon here. Big hills to east and west. I will have to do a lot of experimenting.