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BULLET17
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1991-04-22
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22KB
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436 lines
RECEIVING WEATHER SATELLITE IMAGERY: A BEGINNER'S PRIMER
--------------------------------------------------------
Courtesy Dallas Remote Imaging Group
Datalink RBBS ============> 214-394-7438
Dedicated to satellite tracking, decoding of NOAA/Soviet
meteorological satellite telemetry, and Digital Image
Processing of satellite pictures.
Jeff Wallach, N5ITU, Chairman
John Williams, Co-Chairman
John DuBois, W1HDX, VAS/HRPT Design Engineer
T S Kelso, Air Force/NASA liaison
Ed O'Grady, Soviet Space Program Analyst
Mark Sims, Director Software Development
All aspects of Amateur Radio covered on Datalink RBBS
(IF YOU COPY THIS BULLETIN FOR OTHER SYSTEMS, PLEASE BE KIND ENOUGH
TO LEAVE THIS BANNER AS DUE CREDIT TO THE HARD-WORKING FOLKS WHO
DEVELOPED AND CONTINUALLY UPDATE THIS INFORMATIVE 'HOW-TO'BULLETIN)
Dayton HamVention '91
(rev 14)
Tom Gentry, K5VOU, has been kind enough to help us prepare the
following:
HOW TO RECEIVE APT PICTURES FROM THE NOAA SATELLITES
----------------------------------------------------
So you have decided you want to receive the NOAA and Russian METEOR
orbiters and you have a radio that receives 137.500 MHz and a
computer. So now what do you do? I hope this short dissertation will
steer you in the correct direction.
To display a picture from the orbiting birds you need several things.
First you need to 'acquire' the satellite. This means you need the
program to calculate its position at any time and determine if you can
hear the signals from the 'bird'. The best place to get this program
is probably AMSAT-NA an organization dedicated to AMateur SATellites.
They have several very good tracking programs for the IBM and also for
Commodore and Apple as well. After you have acquired the program and
have it running on your computer, you then need the Keplerian Elements
for the NOAA satellites. These elements as well as some tracking
programs are available from the CELESTIAL RCP/M, run by TS Kelso, at
513-427-0674 (Fairborn,OH) and from the Weather Fax and Remote Imaging
DATALINK BBS run by Dr. Jeff Wallach, N5ITU as bulletins for some 100+
sets of satellite data. Another bulletin also tells you to what the
printed numbers correspond so you can enter them into the computer
program. Use the newest elements you can find as the orbiting
satellites are subject to forces which change their orbits. If you use
Keplerian Elements more than 3 or 4 weeks old, your chances of hearing
the bird are reduced.
Once you are tracking the birds you should hear them on your receiver.
They will be on 137.62(NOAA-9/11), 137.500(NOAA-10), and on 137.850,
137.400, and 137.300 for Soviet Meteorological Satellites/METEOR. The
Chinese satellite Feng Yun transmits on 137.795 when it is
operational. Now comes the first thing different about NOAA orbiters.
The frequency deviation of the FM transmission is about +/-18-20 kHz.
This is 4 times the normal deviation of a police call and 1/3 the
deviation of the FM broadcast band FM signal. If you receive the
signal on the regular communications width of the scanner the light
areas of the picture will be noisy and the signal will sound distorted
and the picture will basically be useless. If you use the FM broadcast
bandwidth (assuming your scanner will let you), the signal will be
weak and there may be too much background noise to see the picture.
So what now ? Well there are two ways to fix the problem, find a
receiver with the proper I.F. bandwidth filter of 50 kHz, or modify
the I.F. of your scanner to about 50-80 kHz. The simplest mod which
has been found to be workable is to remove the narrow communications
I.F. filter and replace it with a 0.01 uFd capacitor. This provides
for good Wefax pictures from GOES and pretty fair NOAA orbiter
pictures - see March 1991, '73 Amateur Radio Today' article for a
description of this procedure. It can of course result in retuning the
radio, voiding the warranty and making the squelch not work properly.
The other characteristic of the NOAA satellite transmissions is THEY
ARE WEAK. To get good pictures over a large area we have found a
pre-amplifier to be essential. A GaAs-FET type can be obtained from
various sources at a reasonable price but still about 50-100 dollars.
You can also build one for about 25 dollars from plans for a pre-amp
for the 2-meter amateur band and tune it to 137.5 easily.
Lastly, but importantly, the antenna can be of an omni directional,
uniform pattern type such as a turnstile antenna similar to those used
in the FM broadcast reception business but of course tuned to 137.5
MHz. Mount the pre-amp at the antenna if possible. Crooked coathangers
on broomsticks have been known to work, and it is not difficult to
build the antenna. Of course 2-meter beams with Az/El tracking will do
the job well.
Now that you have a nice audio signal from the satellite, what happens
next? The audio tone of 2400 HZ which is the carrier tone that is used
to carry the picture information (video), must be detected and the
video data converted from analog to digital and then displayed on the
computer monitor by the software. The hardware and software to do this
is available from several sources with more coming along. Several
stand-alone boxes are also available that produce some form of
computer output either in printed form or on the display. In addition
the people on the DATALINK BBS may also have some data to share with
you regarding this equipment.
One of the best sources for information is the WEATHER SATELLITE
HANDBOOK by Dr. Ralph Taggart. The 4th edition is now available from
the ARRL. A must is THE JOURNAL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL SALELLITE AMATEUR
USERS' GROUP - JESAUG - which is published quarterly. It is available
for $30.00 per year from the editor, Jeff Wallach, PO Box 117088
Carrollton, TX. 75011-7088. Back issues of the JESAUG are also
available.
One good place to start is with the Elmer Schwittek MULTIFAX or the
MULTIFAX MAP software which runs on the IBM PC. The PC interface
hardware is available as printed circuit board alone, board and all
parts, or completely assembled. Additional image processing software
is available online DATALINK.
The units available from David Schwittek, Ralph Taggart, Jerry Dahl,
GTI Electronics and Quorum communications listed under Sources are all
well worth investigating if you are just getting started.
You can obtain directly from DATALINK the MULTIFAX MAP interface
hardware designed by Jim Bartlett and David Schwittek.
'Typical' APT Receiving Station
-------------------------------
[1] ANTENNA
-
[2] PRE-AMP
-
-
-
- [ STAND ALONE UNITS ]
-
[3] RECEIVER -----------------> FAX MACHINE ---> PAPER
- WRASSE UNIT ---> MONITOR
- YU3UMV UNIT ---> MONITOR
- - - - VCR
-
-
-
[4] - VIDEO DETECTOR -
- -
- -
[5] - ANALOG/DIGITAL -
- -
- - [ SCAN CONVERTERS ]
- -
[6] - INTERFACE TO PC - <=======> ROBOT 1200
- - TAGGART'S 1700
- - IMAGEWISE
- -
[7] - SOFTWARE - ** SECOND DISPLAY **
- - for weather images
- -
- -
[8] - GRAPHICS ADAPTOR -
-
-
-
-
[9] PC DISPLAY / MONITOR
Display weather images
(or commands for SCAN CONVERTERS)
-
-
[10] PC PRINTER / DOT MATRIX / LASER
NOTES:
------
[4] VIDEO DETECTOR, [5] ANALOG/DIGITAL CONVERTER, and
[6] INTERFACE TO PC may be in separate hardware units
or all on one circuit board.
Sources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NOAA Data / Keplerian Elements:
DATALINK RBBS, N5ITU, Dr. Jeff Wallach, 214-394-7438,
DALLAS REMOTE IMAGING GROUP ELECTRONIC BULLETIN BOARD
UPDATES ON NOAA BULLETINS, SATELLITE LAUNCHES, FREQUENCIES
DISPLAY PICTURES FROM NOAA SATELLITES ON YOUR OWN P.C.
CELESTIAL RCP/M, TS Kelso, 513-427-0674, NASA Prediction Bulletins
are online and updated several times weekly
Canadian Space Society BBS, 416-458-5907, 2-Line Elements maintained |
by Ted Molczan of 600+ satellite - Visual satellite tracking info |
Satellite Tracking Software:
AMSAT-NA, PO Box 27, Washington, DC 20044, Software Exchange,
phone 301-589-6062 (voice), N4HY - QUIKTRAK, W0SL - ORBITS II,III,IV,
and InstantTrack by Franklin Antonio.
Roy D. Welch, W0SL, 908 Dutch Mill Drive, Manchester, MO 63011,
phone 314-391-1127, ORBITS II-CGA, ORBITS III-EGA, ORBITS IV-VGA
DATALINK BBS, download PASSCHED.ZIP, SEESATxx.ARC, TRKSAT.xxx and others
CELESTIAL RCP/M, TS Kelso, 513-427-0674, PASSCHED.ZIP or SEESATxx.ARC
Astronomical Data Service, Rodger Mansfield, 3922 Leisure Lane,
Colorado Springs, CO 80917-SPACE BIRDS program and Newsletter, $40.
Paul E. Traufler, 111 Emerald Drive, Harvest,AL 35749-TRAKSAT Satellite |
Tracking program-Non - Registered $10.00, Registered Version $25.00. |
Bill Bard, 1732 74th Circle NE, St Petersburg, FL 33702, MACSAT |
tracking program for the Apple Macintosh - $10.00 for disk and manual. |
RPV Astronomy BBS, Dave Ransom, 213-541-7299, STSORBIT Tracking program |
and latest version of TRAKSAT and NASA Prediction Bulletins online. |
Receivers:
Vanguard Labs, 196-23 Jamaica, Hollis, NY 11423,
phone 718-468-2720, BBS Dataline 718-740-3911
Hamtroincs, Inc.,65-D Moul Road, Hilton, NY 14468-9535
phone 716-392-9430
DARTCOMM, Mr. N. Hearn, DARTCOMM Ferndale, Postbridge, Yelverton,
Devon PL20 6SY, Great Britain, UK, phone 011 44 0822 88253
Quorum Communications, 1020 S. Main St. Suite A, Grapevine, TX 76051,
phone 817-488-4861, BBS Dataline 817-421-0228 |
Scanner Modification, See March, 1991 '73 Amateur Radio' Magazine for |
'Weather Satellite Reception' article by John E. Hoot, page 12. |
Crystals:
JAN Crystals, 2400 Crystal Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33906-6017,
phone 1-800-237-3063 or 813-936-2397
Pre-Amps:
Quorum Communications, 1020 S. Main St. Suite A, Grapevine, TX 76051,
Spectrum International,Inc., Box 1084, Concord MA 01742,
phone 508-263-2145
Vanguard Labs, Hamtronics and GLB for Helical RF Filters for intermod
Ehrler-DuBois Very High Performance LNA for 1500-1750 Mhz, contact
Greg Ehrler or John DuBois via DATALINK
Antennas:
ARRL Handbook, 1986, turnstile over ground antenna.
ARRL Satellite Experimenter's Handbook by Martin Davidoff, K2UBC
Modern Electronics, September 1988, Hank Brandli article, page 82,
Receiving Satellite Weather Photos
Hardware Interface to PC:
A&A Engineering, 2521 W. La Palma, Unit K, Anaheim, CA 92801,
phone 714-952-2114 - both AM dectector and A/D converter, input to PC
via game port (4-bits) or parallel I/O Interface (8-bits) - kit is
$50. - assembled and tested unit is $70.
Microcomm, H. Paul Shuch, N6TX, 14908 Sandy Lane, San Jose, CA 95124,
phone 408-377-6137 - FAXBOARD - A Weather Facsimile Display Board for
the IBM PC - Complete documentation to build your own interface
circuit on an IBM PC prototyping board - video and an 8-bit A/D
interface - $6.00, also in QEX, Sep '88.
Video Detectors:
RTM Circuit Boards, 205 Elm St.,Van Horne, IA 52346-0400,
video detector (the 'Wilson Board') see QST Magazine, Jan '86 and
Vince Coppola's article in Oct 1988 73 Magazine
QST Magazine, August 1985, Grant Zehr article, page 27, video detector
circuit
A/D Converter & Parallel I/O Interfaces for the IBM PC:
MetraByte, 440 Myles Standish Blvd., Taunton, MA 02780, Model PIO-12
board for the IBM PC, phone 617-880-3000
John Bell Engineering, Inc, 400 Oxford Way, Beimont, CA 94002,
phone 415-592-8411
Sources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Display Software and Hardware - 'Amateur':
Multifax, David Schwittek, 1659 Waterford Road, Walworth, NY 14568,
phone 315-986-2719, Multifax 5.x and 4.x for VGA, 3.x for EGA on the
IBM-PC. This is the original 16 color system, see Multifax MFMAP.
Clay Abrams Software, 1758 Comstock Lane, San Jose, CA 95124, software
for the ROBOT 1200 - see QST Magazine, Jan '86
Ralph Taggart, 602 S. Jefferson, Mason, MI 48854, Weather Satellite
Handbook Scan Converter - New Model 1700 APT Scan Converter for the
the IBM PC. Order Handbook from the ARRL, Scan Converter from Metsat
Products, 1257 Glen Meadows Ln, East Lansing MI, 48823, phone
517-332-7665. Also see 73 Magazine, Nov '84 and Dec '84,
WSH/Handbook, and WEATHERSAT columns in 73 Magazine from 1987 and
1988. Weather Satellite Handbook BBS, 517-676-0368, Ralph Taggart. |
ImageWise Display/Receiver, Circuit Cellar Inc. - Micromint Inc.,
4 Park Street, Vernon, CT 06066, phone 203-875-2751 - BYTE Magazine,
May, Jun, Jul, Aug 1987. JESAUG 88-2 and Oct 1988 73 Magazine have
information on how to build the video and A/D interface. Ver 2.0
software supports VGA graphics and 640 samples per line at 64 gray
levels. With VGA the ImageWise Display unit is not required. The
software is available for $29.95 from Vince Coppola, N1VC, 6 Bobbin
Road, Terryville, CT 06786
ASAT: An Apple-based Satellite Imaging System by Grant Zehr, WA9TFB -
QEX Magazine, March '88 - has complete information to build an
excellent unit using the APPLE with a Redshift Ltd graphics card
giving 256 * 256 pixels at a full 256 levels of gray.
AMIGA Imaging Software - Dallas Remote Imaging Group
PO Box 117088
Carrollton, TX 75011-7088
Voice 214 394 7325
Uses standard Amiga hardware - no special display
Powerful NASA digital enhancement curves built-in
Digital image processing capabilities
Uses A&A Engineering $49 demodulator
Image saved for use by other graphics programs
Full histogram analysis
Full 8 bit data is stored on diskette or hard disk
Unattended operation
Can be setup in 30 minutes
Call for special pricing
Multifax MFMAP, Elmer and David Schwittek, 1659 Waterford Road, |
Walworth, NY 14568, phone 315-986-2719. MFMAP software for the IBM PC |
and the Jim Bartlett/David Schwittek/DATALINK interface card for |
APT/GOES/FAX. This is a fully functional 8 -bit / 256 color system |
with image data captured directly to disk at 4800 or 3600 samples per |
second. Additional software is available online DATALINK and Kelso's |
CELESTIAL BBS - download APTCAPxx.ZIP and IMDISPxx.ZIP. |
A Weather-Facsimile Package for the IBM PC by Jerry Dahl in April and
May '90 QST describes how to construct a complete FAX system. Notes
at the end of article contain an excellent list of hardware and
software sources. The completed card can be ordered directly from |
Jerry Dahl, OFS Software, 6404 Lakerest Court, Raleigh, NC 27612, |
phone 919-847-4545 |
WeatherFAX-GTI Electronics, 1541 Fritz Valley Rd, Lehighton, PA 18235, |
has a complete line of satellite receiving equipment, |
George Isleib, phone 717-386-4032 |
Complete Systems - Hardware and Software:
Dallas Remote Imaging Group
P.O. Box 117088
Carrollton, Texas 75011-7088
214 394 7325
Complete Earth-Scan AMIGA turnkey system ready to put on air
YU3UMV Digital Storage and Scan Converter for Weather Satellite
Images, described in VHF Communications Magazine, Winter 4/82 and
Spring 1/83 - Modifications are described in the Satellite Users'
Group Journal - JESAUG - available from Jeff Wallach. Back issues of
VHF Communications and the YU3UMV printed circuit boards are
available from Fred Sharp
Loren Johnson, P.O. Box 219, Cleveland, MN 56017, system for the
IBM-PC - $750, phone 507-931-4849
WEATHERTRAC[tm] IBM-PC Based Satellite Image Acquisition and Animation
System - $1885 for EGA - $3495 for VGA, Fred Bartlett, Softworks,
Inc, Allentown, PA, phone 215-395-4441 or George Isleib, Lehighton,
PA, phone 717-386-4032
Quorum Communications, 1020 S. Main St. Suite A, Grapevine, TX 76051,
phone 817-488-4861, BBS Dataline 817-421-0228, offers a fully
integrated systems for the IBM PC including GOES down converter,
GOES/APT receiver, Wefax PC Adapter and software. A demo disk is
available on request or via the Quorum BBS. Quorum also sells the |
AVHRR/HRPT system designed by John DuBois and Ed Murashie. |
Spectrum International,Inc., Box 1084, Concord MA 01742, phone |
508-263-2145, is the U.S. representative for Timestep Weather Systems |
SSC/Software Systems Consulting, 150 Avenida Cabrillo, Suite C, |
San Clemente, CA 92672 - PC HF Facsimile and PC GOES/WEFAX software |
and complete receiving systems, phone 714-498-5784 |
Satellite Meteorology:
Satellite Imagery Interpretation for Forecasters - a 3 volume set
published in 1985 for NOAA now available from the National Weather
Association, 4400 Stamp Road, Room 404, Temple Hills, MD 20748,
301-899-3784, $32 for members, $45 for non-members ( Membership is
$20. )
Bibliography - Online DATALINK Bulletins: (214 394 7438 -- BBS)
NASA Satellite Prediction Bulletins, NASA-PB.xxx
How to use NASA 2-Line Keplerian Elements
AMSAT Bulletins and Weekly Notes / Orbital Elements
NOAA APT NOTES
NOAA User Bibliography
Summary of Soviet Meteorological Satellites by Grant Zehr
How to Build a Weather Satellite Groundstation (This Primer)
Wrasse Dedicated System Review
GOES VAS Imaging System for the IBM PC, John DuBois W1HDX
LNA for WEFAX-VAS-HRPT-GPS, John Dubois and Greg Ehrler
GOES I-M Conference Summary
Ralph Taggart's New APT Scan Converter and Book
Dartcom 137-138 Synthesized Receiver Packaging, John DuBois
Amateur Radio News from Newsline, Bill Pasternack
How to VISUALLY OBSERVE the Space Shuttle, Ted Molczan
AMSAT InstantTrack V1.00 program description, Franklin Antonio
Review DATALINK RBBS bulletins for current information ====> 214 394-7438
DALLAS REMOTE IMAGING GROUP - DRIG Voice: 214 394-7325
Data: 214 394-7438
P.O. Box 117088
Carrollton, TX 75011-7088
ATTENTION: Jeff Wallach, Chairman
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