WXSat proof of concept

[Analoguesat]

Best image yet - on the mk2. I can confidently predict the weather is going to be crap across most of the UK this evening!

 

[Lazarus]

Is the cross the target for the Chinese space-junk ?

 

[Analoguesat]

Yeah - its on top of my workplace

 

[Analoguesat]

This is the mk 2 antenna which I built today. Nothing fancy - theres a standard "chocbloc" connector under the blue plastic bag. The bag is just there for some waterproofing as rain is coming. The pics Ive posted today are from the stock system - no amps, no filters

 

[Terryl]

In your receiver setting option you can raise the recording threshold as to what elevation it will start recording the signals, this can eliminate the speckle mess at the top and bottom of the photo.

I did that and it cleaned up the mess a bit, still waiting on the post for the new stuff I ordered, if I still lived in the SF bay area I could just drive down to my local Fry's store and pick it up.

You talk about rain, we had a big gully washer pull through last month, I had 4 inches of water in my garage, (emergency drain was plugged with leaves) good thing my gun room was 8 inches above grade, and my gun safe is another 8 inches above that, a friend down the road had 28 inches go through his garage, and someone down on the other side of my place had his house float off the foundation and get pushed 20 feet down the creek.

We are not in any type of flood plain so they were not covered by insurance, I'm going over this week to help my friend replace the sheet rock in the garage, and help him rebuild the lower tool cabinets.

The guy that had is house moved does not know what to do.

This is the story on it.

http://www.modbee.com/news/article206915974.html

 

[Lazarus]

Ouch

 

[Analoguesat]

In your receiver setting option you can raise the recording threshold as to what elevation it will start recording the signals, this can eliminate the speckle mess at the top and bottom of the photo.

Yes Ive been playing with that. Im leaving it at the basic setting for now so I can compare antenna performance as I change things.

 

[Terryl]

Try a 1/2 wave antenna (just add two more radials) it seems to work better then just a 1/4 wave.

 

[Analoguesat]

Try a 1/2 wave antenna (just add two more radials) it seems to work better then just a 1/4 wave.

That will have to wait for a better day - its snowing gently here and its far too chilly to start playing with antenna mods.

 

[Analoguesat]

Is there enough interest to do a proper "how to" for this??

 

[gsteigwiler]

Hi AS,
I would certainly be interested if there was a detailed " how to "
regards

 

[Analoguesat]

Hi AS,
I would certainly be interested if there was a detailed " how to "
regards

OK I'll see what I can knock up. Its not particularly difficult to get going, but the settings in SDR# can be daunting on first view. (Fortunately you can leave most of them alone)

 

[Analoguesat]

Here we go

Basic setup guide to wxsat reception (using a windows computer)


If ther are any problems with it let me know & I'l fix the issue.

 

[gsteigwiler]

Hi AS,
Many thanks for the tutorial, I will have a try when I have got the dump1900/mlat/virtual radar working 100%
Regards

 

[Analoguesat]

Its finally stopped raining so Ive added a second set of radials facing northish as suggested by @Terryl . Ive re-designated the antenna as Mk 2b

So lets see what happens on the next pass.

 

[Analoguesat]

So heres the Mk 2b antenna. Ive bent the radials up & down a bit to emulate the circular polarisarion. Will it do any good?? No idea - but it cant do much harm

The ends of the radials are just twisted together in the further set of chocbloc holes.

 

[Analoguesat]

And this just came through. (MEL 81W / 4W) Is it any better?? Debatable. Id say the house was in the way for the weak bar affecting northern Shetland, but I will move the antenna when Ive got time next week. I shall also invest in a 137MHz amplifier.

 

[Terryl]

Yah a pre-amp may do the trick, looks like your getting as much as you can out of that antenna...

The higher the better, you may need to totally clear the house before you get rid of the speckles to the North.

I'm still awaiting on parts in the post before I can go any further on the best setup for the antenna.

As to the amp, get one with a saw filter setup for this band.

This one looks interesting, but has a type "N" input connection, you would need a type "N" to "SO-239" adapter.

https://www.wraase.de/e_kd137.htm#AA137

SO-239 (female) and PL-239 (male)are standard 50 ohm coax connections, you can get pre-made coax assembly's with these connections at most radio and ham suppliers.

 

[Terryl]

If you have a welding supply shop near you see if they have some stainless steel welding rods, these work very good for outdoor antenna radials.

However you can't solder to them,(unless someone knows how) you would have to use the blocks you have on the antenna your using now, or some crimp on lugs to make the coax connections.

 

[Analoguesat]

If you have a welding supply shop near you see if they have some stainless steel welding rods, these work very good for outdoor antenna radials.

However you can't solder to them,(unless someone knows how) you would have to use the blocks you have on the antenna your using now, or some crimp on lugs to make the coax connections.

TBH theres not a lot round here - the towns are tiny (maximum pop ~16,000). However Ive got a few ideas