Beautiful images received from NOAA19 weather satellite with experimental V dipole antenna
Location – Krishnagiri, Tamilnadu, India
Receiving Hardware – RTL SDR with experimental v dipole antenna.
Receiving NOAA-19 Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) signals presents an exciting opportunity for radio enthusiasts to explore satellite communications while experimenting with antenna designs. The V-dipole antenna configuration offers a practical and effective approach for capturing the 137 MHz weather satellite transmissions, combining simplicity with surprisingly good performance.
The NOAA-19 satellite, part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) program, transmits continuous weather imagery on 137.100 MHz using the APT format. This analog signal contains visible and infrared Earth imagery that can be decoded using readily available software, making it an ideal target for amateur satellite reception experiments.
The experimental V-dipole antenna design represents a departure from the traditional turnstile or QFH (Quadrifilar Helix) antennas commonly used for weather satellite reception. By positioning two dipole elements at an angle to form a “V” shape, this configuration creates a broader reception pattern that can effectively capture signals from satellites at various elevation angles during their passes.
Construction of the V-dipole involves creating two half-wave dipole elements, each approximately 53 centimeters long for the 137 MHz frequency. The elements are typically positioned at angles between 90 to 120 degrees, with the optimal angle depending on local terrain and desired coverage pattern.
Video – NOAA19 weather satellite reception with experimental V dipole antenna