Captainslarty
regular
Reged: 12/08/2007
Posts: 1947
Loc: Currently La Coruna Spain
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As a long standing radio ham, I have tried most radio ralted aspects of the hobby..
One that I played with a few years ago that is now paying dividends is the recpetion of satellite photos (Colour) of the actuall weather systems and cloud cover over the area you are currently in.
CHeck out www.rig.org.uk - a ham radio radio imaging group website.
Using their RX2 receiver kit, and a homemade quadrifilar helix antenna - made from copper central heating pipe and simple to make - you can receive up to the minute images of the atmosphere around your area.
One piece of software tracks the satellites, another decodes the images. simply superb.
On top of a synoptic chart.. it really gives you all you need.
It seems complex to the non radio enthusiast, but really, it isnt.
world wide reception.. cheap.. reliable. certain scanning receivers can be used (Like the ICOM PCR 1500) but the dedicated RX2 is better due to if filter bandwidth.
another great addition to your self sustaining life.
excellent kit.. now resurrected from 4 years ago.. and a 'not to be without' piece of kit.
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PM me for info re SSB's etc. Bought, sold, repaired, fitted and optimised.
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whipper_snapper
regular
Reged: 09/08/2006
Posts: 1013
Loc: Kenya
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Thanks for that, it looks interesting. I have never got into using sat with amateur radio, but I have often thought about it.
Which design did you use for the quadrifilar antenna?
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Captainslarty
regular
Reged: 12/08/2007
Posts: 1947
Loc: Currently La Coruna Spain
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Hi Whipper.
Quadrifilar helix antenna plans
I use the following shareware software.
WxTrack to track the sats.
WxToImg for the decoding of the signals to images
Unfortunately I didnt pack the antenna when we bacame liveaboards, so need to build a new one. Last time it took around half a day to do, quite straightforward.
Dug out the rx2 receiver - that still works - typical ham, never did box it lol.. so need to build it into a small box.
Joe
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PM me for info re SSB's etc. Bought, sold, repaired, fitted and optimised.
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Rogershaw
regular
Reged: 03/11/2001
Posts: 1192
Loc: Me: Johannesburg South Africa ...
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here is an article from a publication called "silicon chip" for a kit for a dedicated weather satellite picture receiver. The kit is/was available fir "Dick King" in Australia. Haven't set mine up yet but will get to it once my new boat is launched
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whipper_snapper
regular
Reged: 09/08/2006
Posts: 1013
Loc: Kenya
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Thanks. that looks like my next project! With a decent antenna, I should be able to use JVCcomm and the free sat tracking software with my existing Yaesu and PTC-II
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