WxTrack software is used to find out which satellites areĭue to pass and at what time, hence the blue radio controlled digital clock Horizon, from just over North Africa to southern Greenland, so the imagesĬonsist of a tall narrow strip of the earth's surface visible to the satellite Visible light (in the daytime) and an infra red image, and are black and white,īut the WxToImg software can create false colour images like those shown below. The images sent down from the satellites consist of a The audio output goes into a computer for decoding and image (the box sitting on top of the receiver with the red plug on top) into the receiver itself. The signal picked up by the QFH is fed via a pre-amplifier On a length of black plastic downpipe in my loft space (see photo). I made my QFH using small bore central heating pipe, and it is supported Polarisation, and two types often used are turnstile and QFH (quadrifilar The aerial has to be able to receive signals with circular A meter displays signal strength and switches control whether the audio It scans the satellite channels in the 137MHzīand in turn and locks onto an active channel for the duration of the satellite I built my RX2 receiver from a kit, and it is housed in aīlack plastic case (see photo). Best results will be obtained with a receiver with aīandwidth matching that of the signal, and specially designed receivers areĪvailable from GEO. Received with any receiver which covers 137MHz FM, although the bandwidth isĪround 25kHz, which is too wide to pick up well on a narrow band FM amateurĬommunications receiver, but too narrow to pick up well on a wide bandwidthīroadcast receiver. The signals transmitted are quite strong, and can be Of the earth relative to the satellite's orbit. Passing roughly north to south or south to north depending on where the position
The satellite will only be above the horizon for about 12 minutes or Where the elevation is high in the sky, clear of obstructions like other housesĪnd trees, and it follows that the UK will be fairly central on the image Occur at different angles of elevation above the horizon, as the satellite isįollowing a different path each time (because the earth is spinning), so the best images will come from passes I can receive weather satellite images from the NOAA15,ġ7, 18 and 19 low earth orbiting satellites which pass over the UK several timesĪ day transmitting in the 137MHz satellite band.