The solution is to build an antenna that is properly polarized in all directions, hence the QFH antenna.

When you have a satellite orbiting the earth, even if the antenna is pointed straight down, its polarization to you on earth will change as it goes from horizon to horizon.

Why such a bizarre-looking construct? Here is a simple explanation- Antennas perform best when they are properly polarized, or the antennas are pointed in the same direction in three-dimensional space. See my system diagram here.įor an antenna, I have found that this antenna, which is called a QFH (Quadrifilar Helix Antenna) antenna, which you can build yourself with plumbing parts, is suitable and works great. I also use a Nooelec Sawbird+ LNA for NOAA APT (LNA Low Noise Amplifier, in this case, tuned to 137 Mhz). (Note the RTL-SDR Blog site is overflowing with useful information). In fact, I control the whole computer system remotely from either my main desktop computer or my smartphone utilizing Google Remote Desktopįor Hardware I am running an older desktop computer, running Windows 10 64bit with a 3.20 GHz processor and 4GB ram with a UPS battery backup, and the following USB RTL-SDR dongles and accessories:įor APT and LRPT Imagery hardware, I use a Nooelec SmarteeXTR dongle and/or a RTL-SDR Blog V3 dongle. It only takes minimal effort to check the system from time to time. I have my system up and running 24/7, and have both Meteor captures and NOAA captures all set to run automatically with the hardware and software listed below. Currently, I receive from these Polar-Orbiting Satellites, US NOAA 15,18, and 19, and Russian Meteor M-2 and M2-2 Transmits via LRPT (Low Rate Picture Transmission) and HRPT (High Rate Picture Transmission) NOTE M2-2 is currently experiencing an anomaly, and is not transmitting on APT frequencies (a possible micrometeorite strike). A user station anywhere in the world can receive local data at least twice a day from each satellite as it passes nearly overhead. It was introduced in the 1960s and over five decades has provided image data to relatively low-cost user stations at locations in most countries of the world. The Automatic Picture Transmission ( APT) system is an analog image transmission system developed for use on weather satellites. Building Wide Area Composites with WXtoImg.

Orbitron satellite