I was on the air a few weeks ago and was talking on 20 meter Olivia 8-250 to Craig, VE1JMA/VA1CM in Nova Scotia and he was telling me about the weather satellites that broadcast on the 137-138 Mhz satellite band. The mode of transmission is APT automatic picture transmission on FM. It is similar to the FAX transmissions on HF that the NOAA broadcasts via the US Coast Guard. The satellites do not store the images but rather transmit the images as they pass overhead. These birds are not geostationary but are low earth Polar Orbit which yields several passes each day.
Here are some images I have captured.
Whats Needed:
A radio that can receive 137-138 Mhz FM
A computer
An interface like a signal link
Software:
WxtoImg. This software is free to use and can track the satellites, control the radio, and decode the image transmissions.
WXtoImg
This software runs on PC, Mac, and Linux....
A word about antennas... These images were received using a 2mtr/440 vertical antenna. What is recommended is a QFH antenna.
This antenna can be built using coax...see the link below.
Homebrew QFH Antennatos1.en.php
