NOAA satellites

[MNwr786]

This is nothing new to many hams, but totally new to me. I am super excited! My first attempt at receiving the NOAA satellite transmissions using a cheap receiver and the wrong antenna actually worked! It came through full of static, had to crank the gain all the way up, but it actually processed (for the most part). Now I can see storms and temperatures without internet at least a few times a day! Some portions of the images didnt come through, again, bad setup, plan to make serious improvements to the receive setup, but here they are. Forgive the big black dots, the map showed my exact location. I cannot wait to set this up properly!!!!

 

[Clyde]

This is nothing new to many hams, but totally new to me. I am super excited! My first attempt at receiving the NOAA satellite transmissions using a cheap receiver and the wrong antenna actually worked! It came through full of static, had to crank the gain all the way up, but it actually processed (for the most part). Now I can see storms and temperatures without internet at least a few times a day! Some portions of the images didnt come through, again, bad setup, plan to make serious improvements to the receive setup, but here they are. Forgive the big black dots, the map showed my exact location. I cannot wait to set this up properly!!!!

View attachment 13203View attachment 13204

This is so cool! What set up are you using? feel free to send a PM if you prefer. I would love to know how to do this. I also need to learn how to set up FT8

 

[MNwr786]

I was using the windows beta version of a program called WXtoIMG available in the downloads tab on this site. In conjunction with that program, I was using the HDSDR Smart (a $20 SDR receiver) connected to an external antenna (at that time, the vertical dipole I use to receive FM music broadcasts). To pipe the audio from the SDR program into the WXtoIMG program (both programs allowing audio source and output to be selected in the options settings), I used a free utility called VB audio cable (a virtual audio cable software available here). There is a youtube tutorial (the one that got me from knowing nothing about it to receiving the images here, which covers everything I just mentioned). There seems to only be 3 satellites currently in use, but there are plenty of passes one can catch. The WXtoIMG program, once installed, has an option to "update keplars" which goes online and loads the satellite pass-over times so you can set the program up to record at the proper time if you are not around when it goes over. I used the wrong antenna and would recommend a circularly polarized antenna with a broad pattern. The frequencies of interest are in the 137MHz VHF range.

As for FT8, I have not used it yet and have no experience with it, however, I have used a program called FLDIGI which is a digital radio program that can use a computer sound card to interface with the radio. I have used that program with a digital mode called hellscriber and also decoding CW (because I am really slow at it), but it contains many modes that are built in (although I don't recall FT8 being in there). All one needs to do is connect the sound card to the radio. Some radios are harder to connect than others, for instance, my Uniden Washington 11m CB. I had to do a bit of level matching so the sound card output didn't over drive the radio's mic jack and that the radio didn't distort the computer's line-in jack. I believe there is an option in the program that can key the radio if you have the interface hardware or soldering iron skills necessary, although I always just held the key when the PC was talking The audio level matching can be done with resistors or audio transformers, but the latter is much cleaner if you have the parts available. I wish I could give you details on getting FT8 set up, unfortunately, the majority of my experience is with AM, SSB, and FM analog, but very little with digital modes. I am a beast at tuning antennas and making electrons wiggle in an antenna from afar, but I am just starting to get my digital toes wet.

When the family that is here visiting leaves on Wednesday, I will watch a few videos and see if I can find some easy to follow tutorials for you and perhaps try it myself.

 

[M0del_31]

I believe there is an option in the program that can key the radio if you have the interface hardware or soldering iron skills necessary, although I always just held the key when the PC was talking The audio level matching can be done with resistors or audio transformers, but the latter is much cleaner if you have the parts available.

There is a thing called a SIGNALINK USB that will do the mic keying for you. It connects to the PC via USB. It is a USB sound card with microphone keying built into it. It has tx and rx volume knobs as well as mic keying delay settings. It can be used with most radios and the company sells the appropriate cables and wiring modules to work with most radios.
I will say that FLDIGI works great with audio coupling alone as well.
http://www.tigertronics.com/slusbmain.htmMy FT-DX3000 has the sound card built into it but I've been eyeing a signalink for my 2m and 70cm rigs.

 

[MNwr786]

There is a thing called a SIGNALINK USB that will do the mic keying for you. It connects to the PC via USB. It is a USB sound card with microphone keying built into it. It has tx and rx volume knobs as well as mic keying delay settings. It can be used with most radios and the company sells the appropriate cables and wiring modules to work with most radios.
I will say that FLDIGI works great with audio coupling alone as well.
http://www.tigertronics.com/slusbmain.htmMy FT-DX3000 has the sound card built into it but I've been eyeing a signalink for my 2m and 70cm rigs.

Thanks, ill be ordering one of those monday!