Messing With HRPT Satellite Signals

In addition to the VHF signals I've looked at before, many weather satellites also use something called HRPT (High Resolution Picture Transmission) on a microwave frequency. This is a little more challenging to detect, and requires tracking low orbit satellites as they pass by.

After a LOT of struggling and failures, I was finally able to record and decode some of these higher-res satellite images. Ironically, the antenna feed that worked best was something made from coathangers and putty!

I may try to follow up on this in a future video, since there are many more satellites that use this system, not just NOAA 19 which I used here.

Some possibly-helpful links:

Satellite pass calculator: https://www.n2yo.com/
Nano VNA V2: https://www.ebay.com/itm/353177205291
Calibrating and using the VNA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ti218ZUgaE
Mini QFH Antenna kit (kinda sucks): https://www.ebay.com/itm/384774467100
Mini QFH antenna info: https://www.dd1us.de/Downloads/QFH-Antenna-Kit%20for%20L-band%20rev1.pdf
QFH Antenna calculator: https://www.jcoppens.com/ant/qfh/calc.en.php
Ground Plane antenna design (worked better!): https://m0ukd.com/calculators/quarter-wave-ground-plane-antenna-calculator/

Satdump software: https://github.com/SatDump/SatDump
SDR++ Software: https://www.sdrpp.org/

Possible source for folding satellite dish: https://sub-lunar.com/products

The following affiliate links give me a commission if you buy from them!

RTL-SDR Blog V3 Software Defined Radio: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMKB3L47?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzgabeemer-20&creativeASIN=B0BMKB3L47&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.155I0QIXWTB54&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin&th=1

SAWbird+GOES LNA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1M39H4?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzgabeemer-20&creativeASIN=B07K1M39H4&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.155I0QIXWTB54&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

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