Weather satellites

Following a visit by Norbert VK5MQ and checking his RTL-SDR dongle out I thought it might be fun to experiment with receiving the NOAA weather satellites. There are three of them circling the globe, NOAAs 15,18 and 19. They operate in the 137MHz area so can be heard on most 2M antennas.

Although I have tracking antennas, the satellites can be heard very easily. They’ve been up there for years and are quite big e.g. NOAA18 weighs 2.3 tonne was launched in 2005 and is in an orbit about 850km up. All these satellites are in polar orbit which means their path is north/south (mornings) or south/north (afternoons). Being nearly sun synchronous they appear more or less at the same time each day.

To receive the satellites you need a receiver that has a reasonably wide bandwidth, about 35kHz does the trick nicely so a software defined radio is probably best as you can adjust the bandwidth easily. I use a RTL-SDR.com Blog V3 dongle bought from South Eastern Communications in Frankston. I paid $44 which included the adaptor.

There are plenty of sites that show you how to get this going with SDR Sharp a software program that does the decoding to audio.

Use Orbitron (or one of a number of web based programs) to calculate when the satellites are going to be in view at your QTH. Orbitron is free and works well.

SDR Sharp running in the background showing the received signal and the waterfall. To the lower left is Orbitron working so I can keep and eye on where the satellite is currently located while centre is my program sending tracking data to my beam controller.
This is my main screen. In the meantime on the invisible monitor to the left, the program WXtoIMG (weather to image) is drawing the picture. This was a N/S pass so it would have drawn from the top down.

Once you have Sharp SDR working you have the audio available for decoding with WXtoIMG software. Download the Beta version of WXtoIMG from here:
https://wxtoimgrestored.xyz/downloads/
I use Windows 10.

You’ll need to enter your details in the setup of WXtoIMG. Your Lat/Long is important for the program.

Because WXtoIMG must access the sound coming out of SDRsharp program you need to install a virtual cable (not a real cable) program so it listens inside the computer. I got mine from:
https://vb-audio.com/Cable/
Download and install VBCABLE_Driver_Pack43.zip

Last job, go into your sound settings (right click on the speaker icon in the bottom right hand corner) and set your incoming and outgoing audio to the Output choose Cable input and Input device choose Cable output.

That’s it. All things being equal you should be able to receive pictures. By the way WXtoIMG does not start drawing the picture until the satellite is in view and then it starts automatically. It stops when it decides that the pass is over which is why your computer clock should be accurate.

Image received 9 Jan 2021 at 11.30AM. Note the program colours the water and land and puts in the border but you can turn these off
Image from NOAA19 on 9 Jan 2021 at 7:25PM

Have a go, it’s fun and later you can use SDR Sharp and your dongle to decode weather satellites or the balloons from AREG.

John VK5DJ

New power supply at VK5RMG

On Sunday 8th November Norbert VK5MQ installed a new power supply and batteries at the Bluff. In addition he installed cable trays for the antenna cables to tidy the installation outside the building.

The new power supply is very capable, it monitors battery voltage/current, mains 13.8V volts and current and indicates charge rate. Another feature is a built in low voltage detect so we can stop worrying about damage to batteries in the event of a sustained 230V power failure.

Lots of meters and LEDs, Wayne VK5ZX (SK) an ex president would have been thrilled.
VK5RMG 2M on left with links to VK5RNC, VK5RBT and VK3RSW. To the right the main power switching, the new power supply, the Dick Smith power supply unused but as an emergency and the TAIT power supply that powers the UHF equipment. Next below is the UHF repeater and its receiver cavity.

Moved antenna at VK5RMG

Recently SERG was advised that its 2m repeater antenna at The Bluff would need to be relocated to the adjacent tower as a result of an Axicom requirement. An unused antenna that already existed on the new tower was made available for SERG to use and a test proved the SWR was acceptable for our frequencies. Unfortunately, after our main antenna was removed and the repeater recabled to the alternate tower, the coverage was extremely poor.After several days, an interim strategy was to install a temporary antenna to restore our repeater acceptable coverage, even if not quite a good as before. This has been achieved by the generous support of the rigging team of Dylan and Brodie from Gambier Electronics.Plans are now underway to refurbish our old antenna and reinstall it in the coming weeks when tower space becomes available. 

Peter
Club President

The Gambier electronics Tower to the left, Axicom tower to its right
Clearer view of our antenna at it’s temporary low height with Brodie nearby
Brodie connecting the tail to the 550 Heliax

Rally report -August

Over the week-end of August 15/16th, SEAC hosted the 1st Round of the SA Rally Championship in and around the forests near SEAC Park, just west of Mount Gambier. Again, SERG received a request to provide all the communications to enable safe management of the event.

Sunday was a long day, with many arriving at their points at 7am, and not leaving until nearly 5pm. It was a huge dedicated commitment by all from SERG, where a large team was deployed to man every start & finish stage control, plus an intermediate point of each stage. Our members were able to quickly report the whereabouts of all cars, plus report back to the scoring team at Race Control all of the competitors Stage start & finish times to enable rapid compilation of results. Some points were even delegated the task of reporting any car making contact with a barrier which was then applied as a penalty to the drivers score.

All messages were relayed over our 2m repeater nearby on The Bluff which provided excellent radio coverage over the entire area of the event.  Radio traffic was constant & relentless, yet our repeater performed faultlessly.

I would like to thank the following SERG members for an outstanding job.

  • Tom VK5EE
  • Colin VK5DK
  • Tim VK5AV
  • Norbert VK5MQ
  • Owen VK5HOS
  • Greg VK5ZGY & Gabi
  • Hans VK5PHS
  • Phil VK5PCL
  • Phil VK5BVC
  • Andrew VK5VKC
  • Deanna VK5FDCS

Your contribution made my sometimes difficult job in Race Control so much easier.

Peter VK5BE

Rally Coordinator

Phil VK5BVC knows how to make a long day comfortable
Who needs a road

New power supply tray

On Sunday 10/8/20 Peter VK5BE installed the new power supply tray for VK5RMG. As always, a really professional looking job. The VK5RMG/VK5ROH gear is something for our club to feel really proud about.

The setup at The Bluff. Left cabinet from bottom. Cavities for 2M, PRF1520 2M repeater, Main controller and VK5RNC link, Sub controller and links to Mt Benson and Mt Eckersley, three uhf cavities for links
Right cabinet from bottom. 2M system backup battery, UHF filter in RX, PRF1520 UHF repeater, power supply for two metres, battery charger controller for UHF and power supply UHF, DC switching panel
Close up of new power supply panel/tray and VK5ROH

Club Awards 2020

S.E.R.G. ANNUAL AWARDS

Roy Goodwin Award

This is awarded annually to a Foundation Licence holder who has made a significant contribution to SERG, and this year it goes to Kate, VK5FKLY, for her outstanding work in recent years for the video switching at the Lakes Hillclimb.

Kate works quietly behind the scenes, rarely seen or heard, but does such an awesome job presenting the camera pictures on the TV screens that we all take for granted.

Congratulations Kate

A picture containing person, person, holding, indoor

Description automatically generated

President’s Shield

This is awarded annually by the SERG President to anyone that has made a significant contribution to SERG. This year, in recognition of the great work behind the scenes throughout the year, the award goes to our Welfare Officer, David VK5HDW.

Each month, David has made countless phone calls to our members ensuring they are not forgotten when they are unable to attend meetings or if feeling less than 100%. His very detailed monthly reports are always well received and most appreciated.

Congratulations, David, on being awarded the President’s Shield for 2020.

A person and person posing for a picture

Description automatically generated

SERG helps out at Border Crossing

SERG ASSISTS WITH COMMS AT SA/VIC BORDER CLOSURE

Today, July 24th, SERG received a request from our state’s emergency services for logistical support.  The request was to assist with improving the phone and data service at the Princes Highway road block at GLENBURNIE, on the SA/Vic border.  A recent announcement that SA residents may soon be refused entry back into SA, phone and data is a valuable asset to emergency services at the site. The location, unfortunately, has unreliable or little phone and data service due to being nestled amongst a pine forest.  SERG has an emergency communications trailer, which is fitted with a large pump up mast.

SERG members, Andrew VK5MAS, Tim VK5AV, and Peter VK5BE quickly mobilised the SERG Comms trailer to the road block location.  They set up a portable phone cell utilising a temporary antenna attached to the top of the trailer mounted pump up mast. It is all powered from the battery & mains charger in the trailer and provides a no-break cell for all the workers on site at the road block.

The emergency service workers at the road block were extremely thankful for the logistical support from SERG, as they can now do their border task more effectively.

Princes’ Highway border crossing with comms trailer in background
The trailer in action
The SERG Team: President Peter (VK5BE), Andrew (VK5MAS), Tim (VK5AV)

WIA President’s Commendation

Congratulations to Tony VK5ZAI on receiving the President’s Commendation Award at this year’s WIA AGM.

It was for his excellent contribution to Amateur Radio through his involvement in the ARISS Program. The members of SERG are proud to have Tony as one of our members and join with the President of the WIA in congratulating Tony.

Bluff repeater now ready for Portland

On Sunday 5 July 2020 The Bluff repeater was upgraded with an improved power distribution system and the link to Mt Eckersley near Heywood was installed.

The working bee was attended by Norbert VK5MQ (the new power distribution system), Peter VK5BE (temporary antenna and spanner operator) and John VK5DJ (installation of the new link system).

A temporary antenna on 449.875MHz was installed on a fence post but it is anticipated that the yagi will be installed in a week or two about half way up the Gambier Electronics tower. Testing through 449.875MHz simplex is invited. If you operate on the simplex frequency you’ll be heard on the 2M repeater, Mt Benson, Naracoorte and Willalooka. You’ll be able to hear the action come back on 449.875MHz.

A big thanks to Brian VK5VI who did the TAIT chassis build and preparation of the transmitters and his help with the design of the sub controller.

The Mt Eckersley end is held up by weather and general conditions at the Heywood end. The hill is quite steep and wet so work is restricted to preparing the hut. Spring will bring better weather and drier hillside for the move to the top of the hill, construction of a fence and installation of the tower.

From top: UHF cavities for the three links, next the links to Mt Eckersley and Mt Benson with the sub controller in between, below this is the main controller and Naracoorte links, then the PRF1520 2M repeater and finally the 6 cavities for the repeater.

The second cabinet has the new power distribution system at the top and the battery at the bottom. The 70cm repeater is temporarily moved to the VK5DJ shack for new wiring and controller.

President Peter VK5BE and Norbert VK5MQ relax after a hard day’s working bee.