Everyone knows helix antenna is needed for capturing NOAA satellite images, due to circular polarization of the signal, right?

As I was listening to ISS APRS repeater (with great success!), I noticed NOAA 19 would pass over me shortly. Since the dipole was already set up outside, I decided to give it a go.

Software used:

  • GQRX to capture the audio
  • Gpredict to know when to start the recording, and to compensate for the doppler shift
  • noaa-apt to convert the audio file to an image

Hardware used:

  • RTL-SDR.com branded USB dongle
  • 3 lousy USB extension cords
  • “Bunny ear” retractable dipole antenna that I got in a bundle with one of the SDRs

Now, there is not much to see in the image, but I sure as hell can spot some clouds there, and that’s much more than I actually expected!

  • TheBirdWasHere@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Funny enough, my first NOAA image was using a log periodic TV antenna up on our tower, not at all meant for it but I don’t think it did too badly, still need to try it out using a dipole and see how that does, but I’ve been forgetting to do it and today isn’t that great weather wise. Here’s an image from back in late April from NOAA-18 (iirc) NOAA-18 image