Posted: 1/12/2009 7:17:24 AM EDT
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Has anyone done any reception of weather fax? I was just wondering what was involved. Is it worth it?
Best Wishes.. Neez |
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Yes.
For HF: You'll need a stable, general-coverage receiver that is capable of receiving single-channel USB transmissions -or- a ham/marine transceiver which has a general-coverage receiver. You'll also need a demodulator and appropriate processing software. Back in the day I used a PK232 and a Kam Plus (with accompanying WeFAX software) but today's sound card-based multimode communication programs (like MixW) may offer this functionality "right out of the box". For the GOES stuff at 1681 MHz: In addition to the demodulator and image-processing software you'll need a gain antenna, LNA and downconverter and a suitable rig to act as an IF processing stage. If the feedline run is short enough, you can hook some low-loss coax (Heliax or similar) to the LNA and directly feed a rig that's capable of receiving signals in the 1680-MHz region. (Many of use use the Icom R7000, R7100 and R8500 in this role; there are a number of rigs besides these which would work.) The Satellite Experimenter's Handbook - (Taggart; ARRL) describes a GOES setup. If you're interested in pursuing either of the approaches, I'll post more info... |
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a few years ago, i used my VHF radio and jpole and WXtoIMG software. I plugged in several freq's of the GOES and when I heard the chirping I'd put the comp mic up to the speaker and It worked pretty good most of the t ime,
sometimes I'd only get part of the image, but it was fun. nothing fancy needed. I guess to do it right, I would put up an circular polorized antenna, but for what I did, it worked. |
I did alot of wefax recieving back in the early 90's and have recently gotten back into it using a program called "seatty" and my sound card. I have been able to recieve great maps of the west coast/pacific area (Arizona included). I can hear the Pt. Reyes Marine Base on 4.346.0 USB at times, and am searching for other stations as well.
The station will send a string of maps, followed by some RTTY, then a tone, then back to maps... The software is MUCH easier to operate than the "old fasioned" TNC type of decoding. The software will synchronize itself to the signal so your maps won't be slanted or need to mess with the TNC clock settings to compensate. And the tuning indicator is easy to interpret. Try it out! It gives you a reason for another reciever in the shack! 
ETA––correct freq. ETA–– freq link here |
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KB7DX, question... are the UTC's linked to above the ONLY times that these stations transmit? for example, i'm in the NYC area. it's 03:20 UTC. do i need to wait 11 hours until 1400 Boston, MA (NMF) (NIK) (NMF-7) U.S. Coast Guard 12750 kHz UNITED STATES - Atlantic and Gulf Weather FAX*; 120/576 note that the following is only selected months, not operating now. 0438 Boston, MA (NMF) (NIK) (NMF-7) U.S. Coast Guard 4235, 6340.5, 9110 kHz UNITED STATES - Atlantic and Gulf Ice FAX; 120/576 (Feb. - Aug.) ar-jedi |
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Possibly. I'm not sure how recent this list is, and I'm sure there is some type of coordination amongst stations. Being in NY, you may want to try CFH out of Halifax Canada. When I lived back east, Ohio, I decoded them with regularity on 10.536 mhz.
BTW––my 30 day trial of Sea TTY just expired  Going to have to pony-up some $$ or find some truly free software.
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Quoted:
Yes. For HF: You'll need a stable, general-coverage receiver that is capable of receiving single-channel USB transmissions -or- a ham/marine transceiver which has a general-coverage receiver. You'll also need a demodulator and appropriate processing software. Back in the day I used a PK232 and a Kam Plus (with accompanying WeFAX software) but today's sound card-based multimode communication programs (like MixW) may offer this functionality "right out of the box". For the GOES stuff at 1681 MHz: In addition to the demodulator and image-processing software you'll need a gain antenna, LNA and downconverter and a suitable rig to act as an IF processing stage. If the feedline run is short enough, you can hook some low-loss coax (Heliax or similar) to the LNA and directly feed a rig that's capable of receiving signals in the 1680-MHz region. (Many of use use the Icom R7000, R7100 and R8500 in this role; there are a number of rigs besides these which would work.) The Satellite Experimenter's Handbook - (Taggart; ARRL) describes a GOES setup. If you're interested in pursuing either of the approaches, I'll post more info... Hey AK, I'm impressed! 
While you are up there set up your downconverter, LNA and IF to monitor around 1560 mc and listen to Inmarsat traffic. 
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