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[Rocketman]

I finally got me a new toy to incorporate with my satellite activities.



Now I can listen to satellites during the daytime or when visibility is poor. I guess I've always had a strange liking for weird assortments of sounds.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Grady,

What is it that you are listening to...what kind of sounds?

[Rocketman]

Satellite transmissions as they pass overhead.

For example, a satellite name MAROC-TUBSAT transmits morse code on 144.100 MHz.

Listen here: www.svengrahn.pp.se/sounds/MAROCTUBSAT.rm

I know real media sucks, but that's the only file format available for this particular transmission.

Anyway, I need an outdoor antenna. I'm pretty sure this will be a bit more difficult than actually seeing one go overhead. I've been monitoring a couple frequencies, but I haven't heard anything yet. I aim to record some of the in the near future.

[marscreeper]

Cool scanner and i am now a member of the club......

[Rocketman]

Welcome aboard wild Bill

[marscreeper]

Thanks for the welcome ;D

[Rocketman]

Well I think I may have heard my first satellite. I made a half wave dipole cut for 142MHZ (so I could monitor 137 to 148MHZ)

Earlier today, while searching for satellite frequencies, I found an article on Orbcomm interference.

www3.sympatico.ca/konecny/orbcomm.htm

I figured I'd give them a shot since I did add them to my loading configuration the day before.

I noticed on Orbitron that Orbcomm FM4 was making an overhead pass. It transmits on 137.6875 I quickly programmed in 137.690 MHZ because my scanner does not allow me to go in between frequencies (That's lamer shack products for ya) .

In the static I heard something, so I placed my microphone by the scanner, and started recording. The signal did get stronger, and faded away, uniformly with the satellite on the radar. The resulting audio was ran through a spectrum analyzer. Here is a picture of the sound.




Awhile later, Orbcomm FM11 was making an overhead pass, and I did the same thing as I did before. Both recordings sound the same, and I know from memory that it too was uniform with what I saw on the radar.

I'm pretty sure that's what the "locust" sound was, but I'd like to make a better recording.

I will be making a better dipole antenna in the near future.


Radioastronomy anyone?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

As I saw your audio graphic, I pressed my nose against the screen and muttered...." [shadow=red,left,300]T h e r e h e r e[/shadow].."

But I think it's cool to hear them buzzing, clicking and beeping away. When I was a kid, I used to scan the frequencies between the regular tv channels. I used to pick up emergency cross talk, but I also picked up beeps, tones, rhythmic static and warbles. I think that they could have been sats.

Good job there.

[Rocketman]

Hi Grady,

> Can you tell me if this is Orbcomm FM4 please?

I can't identify which Orbcomm it is, they all sound the same, but it certainly sounds like one!

Best regards,
Milan

[Rocketman]

I'm in the process of constructing the following antenna.

www.rocob.plus.com/picofqfh.gif

This antenna, along with a preamp, and a receiver such as a scanner, will allow me to receive pictures from NOAA satellites on my computer. There are receivers specifically designed for receiving NOAA APT imagery. I've read that a scanner will work, but the images will show noise. That will be fine for the time being :-)

APT is short for Automatic Picture Transmission. APT is transmitted by Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) on 137 MHZ. Current satellites include the American NOAA series, and the Russian Meteor or Sich series. These tend to be sun-synchronous, with two orbits passing at or near overhead at the same times each day, 12 hours apart. APT resolution is about 4km per pixel and two channels are usually transmitted, Visible and Infra Red. Orbcomm satellites also transmit on 137 MHZ, and have been said to cause interference with NOAA APT.

The seven steps to receiving APT Images: www.amateurweather.com/apt.htm

Lastly this post would not be complete without nice pictures decoded from NOAA APT transmissions!

www3.sympatico.ca/konecny/weather.htm

[Credit: Milan Konecny]

More here:

www.dd1us.de/images/N142103.jpg
www.dd1us.de/images/N142802.jpg
www.dd1us.de/images/M351104.jpg
www.dd1us.de/images/N150808.jpg

[Credit: Matthias Bopp]

How's that for eye candy?

[Rocketman]

Not exactly a good first image, but then again I was only using a scanner with the stock antenna, and the external speaker was not plugged into the line in jack of my PC as recommended in the WXSAT documentation.

I need to finish my antenna today. I think this should inspire me to do so.



_{The initial size of the image was 2080 x 68. The above is a portion of that. The image has been cropped to fit the page neatly.}

Satellite: NOAA 12
Time: September 7, 2005. 6:20 AM
Frequency: 137.500 MHZ
Recording duration: 1 minute, 30 seconds. (post edit)

The only bad thing about NOAA Automatic Picture Transmissions is the twelve hour wait. Currently for us that means in the morning, and the evening. Not all passes are directly overhead. I think it's "quite cool" to be able to receive images from the NOAA satellites, provided that you have the proper equipment.



Note: Quite cool is a registered trademark of Chicago Astronomer Joe Enterprises, and may not be reused without the express written consent of Chicago Astronomer Joe.

[Rocketman]

Well I have almost finished my QFH antenna. I decided give it a go since I was eager to see if it would work. The copper pipe has a habit of springing out of the elbows so I taped them in place. I haven't sweated the copper yet, but I will today.

I peeled back the coax, and poked it into my scanner's antenna hole, I need to get a BNC connector soon. I taped the coax to the scanner so that I wouldn't have to hold it in place. I go to 137.500, and I hear NOAA 12 at about 3 degrees over the NNW horizon. So I quickly scramble around, knocking junk off my desk. I started the recorder, fired up a smoke, and sat back.

Now this isn't great, but it sure makes me feel like a little kid on christmas morning. It was around 6 AM, and when I seen the panhadle of Florida I yelled, "THAT'S FLORIDA!!!. My exclamation was quickly followed by, "Shut up I have to get some sleep!".

Anyway, here it is.



Yep that's Hurricane Opheila!



Grady, the sathingyching weatherman at your service!

[Rocketman]

From NOAA 15 not too long ago.



This was a pass over 45° West, so I'm guessing somewhere along the line between Amarillo, Texas down to "Ole El Mehico".

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Grady,

I am constantly amazed and pleasantly surprised in your contributions and skill here at the Chicago Astronomer... ;D

I think I'm goning to start wearing my aluminum hat again...lest you start picking up my brain waves.

Quite cool!

[Rocketman]

From NOAA 17.



I was outside holding the antenna mast as high in the air as I could ;D

[Rocketman]

NOAA 12 over Mexico.




You can see the Baja peninsula, and two islands.

[Rocketman]

Thanks Joe. I like to keep my mind active :-)

[Al Degutis]

Those ARE some cool images! Great job. What does a set up like that cost?

[Rocketman]

Well it's better to have a receiver specifically designed for NOAA APT. I don't remember the exact price for such a unit at the moment, but I do remember that they were proud of it.

A scanner will work, but as you've seen above, the images will contain noise. However I must say that the noise in my pictures is because my arms were getting tired from holding the antenna. I should finish it, but I don't have any propane for my torch. I think I can achieve a somewhat decent picture when I find a good spot to put the antenna. I'm tickled that I've been able to get what I have.

As for the price. I've only spent about $20 for antenna supplies. Twenty bucks of gas wont get you very far nowadays, but it'll build you a good NOAA APT antenna!

The hardest part of the antenna construction is the bending of the four verticle elements. I tried using my head, literally, but I found a spare tire to be most satisfactory. I'm a "symmetrical" perfectionists so I made sure to bend them all uniformly.

You can clearly see me standing out in the yard moving around this wacko looking antenna on a twenty foot mast. Try that on a unicycle!





Also I'd like to point out just how "good" these images are even though the look a bit hairy.

Things that I haven't done yet.

1) Sweat the copper.

I have taped mine... I'm impatient!

2) Connect the receiver to the computer by connecting the external speaker jack of the receiver to line in jack of the computer.

I've been using a microphone placed under the speaker of the scanner... I'm impatient!

3) Use a proper connector!

I don't have a female BNC connector at the moment so I've got the bare coax wedged in the back, and taped so it can't slide out... I'm impatient!

4) Find a good spot for the antenna.

If you walk around the yard with the antenna your neighbors will think you're on crack... ;D

[Rocketman]

The following is a list for the current status of NOAA satellites.

NOAA 9 Non-operational. NOAA 9 is transmitting a sporadic carrier on 137.500 MHz which is known to interfere with NOAA 12, and 15 automatic picture transmissions (APT).

NOAA 10 Non-operational?

NOAA 11 Non-operational?

NOAA 12 STATUS: Operational. NOAA 12 serves as a backup to NOAA-15. BEACON: 136.770 DOWNLINK: 137.500* (APT) DOWNLINK: 1698.00 (HRPT)

NOAA 13 Non-operational?

NOAA 14 STATUS: Semi-operational. HRPT only, APT is inactive. BEACON: 137.770* DOWNLINK: 137.620 APT (OFF) DOWNLINK: 1707.000 HRPT NOTE: NOAA 14 replaced NOAA 11 whose cloud cover imaging instrument had failed. Besides an imaging radiometer, it carries optical sounders to monitor temperature.

NOAA 15 STATUS: Operational. BEACON: 137.350* DOWNLINK: 137.500* APT DOWNLINK: 1702.500 HRPT

NOAA 16 STATUS: Semi-operational. HRPT only, APT is inactive. DNLINK: 137.620 NFM (APT-OFF) DNLINK: 1698.000 (HRPT) NOTES: NOAA 16's APT transmissiter failed a few months after launch.

NOAA 17 STATUS: Operational. BEACON: 137.770* DOWNLINK: 137.620* (APT) DOWNLINK: 1707.000 (HRPT) NOTES: This is the NOAA M satellite. It has eight instruments to serve the science community. It also has two instruments that act as SARSAT radio relays.

NOAA 18 STATUS: Operational/NEW BEACON: 137.770* DOWNLINK: 137.9125* (APT) DOWNLINK: 0000.000? (HRPT) NOTES: This is the NOAA N satellite.

Tiros-N, NOAA 6, and automatic picture transmissions when their footprints overlap.

[Rocketman]

Well folks, heres the latest picture. I wasn't paying attention, and missed a lot of the pass.


_{The Gulf Of Mexico 09/15/2005/11:45AM}

I have the finished the antenna, but I think there may be a problem somewhere. I've noticed that when an Orbcoom satellite approaches straight overhead the signal becomes "staticy", and for breif moments completely noisy. I assume that it could be one or a multiple, if not all, of the following.

• The verticle elements are not at optimum shape.
  
• The coax isn't any good. (It's old)
  
• [glow=white,2,300]Cloudy weather [/glow]
  

Also I've read that people use preamplifiers with the receiver. This doesn't seem to be a vital part to add to my setup right now, but it may become so later. I'm completely fine with black, and white images from my scanner at the moment. As for the problem of nulls from overhead I'll have to figure out a test.

"Move it some more mama!". She likes helping me with my projects.

My QFH (quadrafilar helical) antenna.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Grady,

That is just too cool and I'm impressed in your skill in crafting inert metal into a collector that shows us continents from space.

Now, if you can only improve my local broadcast channels.

(Mom has helped on one or two projects as well... )

[Rocketman]

Yet another noisy picture.




I had two chance yesterday to get a shot of up north (The Great Lakes would've been nice), but I didn't suceed on either. There was a third north pass. I'm aggravated now so I didn't bother taking note of which NOAA it was.

Rest assured, I will not stop until I can get decent black, and white pictures at least. Some people think of me as a man of many talents. It just so happens that I love electronics, and may turn to the idea of incorporating a preamplifier sooner than I first thought. However, the better I get the antenna without a preamp, the even better it will be with one. I've got so many things going at once that it keeps me busy.

[Rocketman]

This will be the last embedded image due to the increased load time resulting from the numerous images posted in this thread. I myself am modern (1536/512 DSL), and do not have any problem whatsoever. This however is in consideration for those still living in the dark ages (using 56K).

This is the best one so far. NOAA 18 seems to be stronger than it's predecessors.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Grady,

Now that's pretty cool...as not only is Chicago there under the cloud cover, but one can see all the way to the gulf.

I will anticipate your next images when the next Hurricane makes it appearance.

[Rocketman]

The link below will take you to a flash animation consisting of five second sound samples from satellites.

I could not control the size. The animation maximizes, but does not overtake your screen. It's only 95KB.

img.photobucket.com/albums/v624/MetalheadRocketeer/TheSoundsOfSatellites.swf

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Grady,

Again you amaze me... ;D

That is quite cool, not only the sounds of the satellites, but the serious webdesign you created to show all of us.

Kudos!...

[Rocketman]

I'm always piddling with something... got to keep my mind busy...

[Rocketman]

I couldn't resist

This is what good, and bad APT signal looks like.



This is NOAA 18 post repairs. Somehow I managed to put the vertical elements on clockwise. They need to be counter clockwise.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Grady,

I can't believe you are getting these cool pics by grabbing them with your homemade antenna!... ;D

From this last shot...we can see both Chicago and your part of Texas!

(Waving to Grady)...