Extreme plumbing...

[timo_w2s]

That antenna looks like, um, alien tech. It looks like it'll pick up signals from an orbiting mothership rather than a weather satellite. ;)

 

[Huevos]

Did this 20 years ago, but not lately. Those signals on 137MHz are pretty strong so no problem to receive just using a disc-cone aerial and a scanner, although your aerial should be better. You can hear them on the scanner speaker. 137MHz is pretty boring though because the images are low-resolution. For high-resolution you need aerials for 1.7GHz and motorized tracking. You are looking for NOAA 15/16/18/19 as those are the ones in current service.

 

[pride21]

hi VS its looking very good,i do not get any breakthrough with pagers,when i was with RIG i brought their weather receiver kit which took a couple of hours to make then i upgraded the chip to give me more frequencys which included noaa 19,when you set it up it stops pagers breaking in otherwise you will get interference on the picture.

 

[pride21]

hi VS this a pic of noaa19 just before 3pm today

 

[Vipersan]

..not in the same league as yours Pride ..but at least it proves the QH is working ..
I need to get it sweated up and mounted higher..
currently only 2mtrs high so am lossing signal once the sats drop behind the house..
Also having a few problems getting the WX soft to auto activate when the signal is received ..
Currently I have to be there as the NOAA passes and grab the data manually ..but I assume the Virtual cable pipe _must_ be working to some degree.
I aint giving up now I've come this far.
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

..well ..I never did get WXtoIMG to auto download and process the WX data ..and there have been a few good passes today.
When I went to the software homepage I got a clue as to the reason for this.
It appears to be a pay function ..only available with an upgrade from the free software.
at least ..that's what the ticks indicate in the version list.
Doh..!!
another 70$ ish ..and I ain't exactly flush with cash atm.
c'est la vie

 

[pride21]

thats strange VS i have the free version and that function is working ok for me.

 

[Vipersan]

thats strange VS i have the free version and that function is working ok for me.

Hmm ..curiousor and curiouser
I wonder if it's a recent change then ..or if I have it configured wrong.
What version are you using Pride ?
If it is that it's enabled in an earlier free version ..perhaps you'd let me have a copy.
..assuming it's different of course
Mine is v 2.10.11

 

[pride21]

hi VS i was wondering what version you had its the same as mine 2.10.11,how do you set the software to record the sat?

 

[Vipersan]

Normally just sit here and hit record and process as the sat arives ..but this afternoon I've shifted all software to a dedicated Toshiba laptop I had doing nowt ..
So starting fresh and set to auto ..
We shall see..
NOAA 15 just arrived..
rgds
VS

 

[sonnetpete]

but this afternoon I've shifted all software to a dedicated Toshiba laptop I had doing nowt ..
.........NOAA 15 just arrived......

Hope the laptop didn't come out of the ark VS.....

 

[Vipersan]

Not a happy bunny atm ..BUT I'm glad this ocurred _before_ the QH was mounted on the roof.
Basically I am going to re-design the Top section element's and feed point.
Having followed the original design ..I was happy ..
All worked well for a few days ..
Then the gain/signal began to drop away on successive NOAA passes.
What could it be ?
Then I noticeds that the twist force exerted by the helical curved elements on the top of the antenna particularly had twisted the top single point anchored horizontal elements out of line with the bottom crossed pair ..so ..a re-think and improvement on the design plans downloaded from t'interweb..
I cut 2 stratetic Vs in a length of 8mm pipe such that when the Vs are closed I have one continuous element who's 2 lengths were as the original seperate lengths 182mm ..and 178 mm ..but forming a rigid right angle ..whos connection point inside the mast would replace the pcb type connection shown in the diagram in the photo ..
This was then soldered up ..
I have now to make a second identical element ..and then pot both in a new liquid plastic plug ..
Hopefully this will be rigid enough to counter the natural twist forces of the helix.
rgds
VS

 

[Vipersan]

..and here is the modified top element plug assembly ..
Needs another 24 hours to fully cure I think ..but you get the idea ..and _should_ be much more solid and reliable.
rgds
VS

 

[hdp160]

I haven't used mine for a few years. It is still in position at the bottom of my garden.
Used my AOR AR5000 +3

Made the two helix out of 8 or 10 mm copper pipe and elbows, and where the ends cross put them through (at right angles) some GRP tube.

Not sure what software is available but "BEST" to include the Doppler effect into the equation as the satellite approachs your QTH from your local horizon and leaves.
I had some nice images, I'll try and dig some out.
Some of the satellites went duff...... and after a month of so got a bit bored.
The software I used connected to the AOR and controlled everything.

 

[hdp160]

Just an afterthought, Orbitron was the software .... and make sure that you have enough or the right bandwidth set on you receiver.

 

[Vipersan]

Certainly ..getting there.
QFH now at gutter height ..soon to be moved to chimney stack..
Using Terratec RTL dongle..
Virtual audio cable.
Orbitron with SDR Sharp plugin
SDR Sharp software
wxtoimg
This pass was taken yesterday ..
Not bad for a learner..
lol

Best capture yet for me.

 

[Vipersan]

Just in case anyone fancies a crack at the QFH I built ..
The design I used is basically this one
http://www.askrlc.co.uk/
Designed by Bob Coby and Bill Sykes..
I've been in communication with Bob (Robert) for about a week.
A very nice chap indeed ..
and just in case he reads this thread ..
I'd like to publicly thank him for all his help and patience.

rgds
VS

 

[Lazarus]

And I'd like to thank you for bringing us yet another interesting Project.

 

[Vipersan]

And I'd like to thank you for bringing us yet another interesting Project.

Cheers Boss ..
appreciated muchly

If anyone fancies a go at this relatively cheap project ..
Search Nooelec on ebay for suitable dongles.
You shouldn't need to pay more than £15 or £20
The materials to build the QFH probably another £25

All softwares downloadable for free off t'interweb
Should appeal to all Yorkshiremen..
;)

 

[Piltdownpaul]

I remember trying to catch RTTY signals on a ZX spectrum years ago on a Yaesu SW receiver. When you got great signals, the images were awesome as are yours, must be exciting to see them appear.