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WEATHER SATELLITES
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APT STATUS REPORT -- 30th September 2002.
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Satellite Frequency (MHz) Status Image Quality
NOAA 12 137.500 on good
NOAA 14 137.620 off
NOAA 15 137.500 on good
NOAA 17 137.620 on good
Meteor 3-5 137.300 on see note 3.
Meteor 2-21 137.400 off
CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT
NOAA 17's APT channels changed 24th September '02
See note 4.
Change to Note 3 re Meteor 3-5
THIS WEEK'S POSSIBLE EVENTS.
None expected.
NOTES.
1. NOAA 9 was permanently deactivated some years ago and is tumbling
freely. Unfortunately it now has a sporadic carrier on 137.500 (varies
quickly according to orientation) and can cause interference to NOAA 12 &
15.
2. NOAA 16's APT transmission system failed a few months after launch.
3. Although now over 11 years old Meteor 3-5 still produces usable imagery.
There are several problems which degrade image quality. Serious 'tearing'
or 'slippage' of image lines can be seen on one side of the image. From
time to time an audible tone appears on the carrier producing faint moiré
patterns (can be filtered out). Those are more noticeable on the dark areas
of the image.
Meteor 3-5's orbit is approaching the terminator in the next few weeks and
will be switched off. It is unlikely to be much earlier than the 14/15th
October. It will remain off until it's descending orbit precesses into
better illumination probably about mid-November.
Even if meteor 2-21 is still operational (doubtful) it is unlikely to take
over from Meteor 3-5 as it too is in an orbit with poor ground illumination.
Watch this space for updates.
4. NOAA 17's APT now has the more familiar channel arrangement
Daytime :- channels 2 (visible) and 4 (IR).
Night-time :- channels 3B (IR) and 4 (IR).
LAUNCHES.
The next known satellite launch with APT is NOAA N scheduled for NET 20th
July 2003, (according to Kennedy Space Centre) and June 2004 (according to
NOAASIS).
Sich-1M late 2003 ? (very approximate).
Douglas Deans.
Dunblane.
Scotland.
Digital Polar WXSAT status valid from 30th September 2002
========================================
CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
None
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS.
None expected.
REPORT.
Name Frequency Mode Remarks
NOAA 12 1698.0 MHz HRPT Good signal
NOAA 14 1707.0 MHz HRPT Good signal (synch. problems,
imagery unusable)
NOAA 15 1702.5 MHz HRPT* Backup channel, weaker signal
NOAA 16 1698.0 MHz HRPT* Strong signal
NOAA 17 1707.0 MHz HRPT* Very strong signal !
FengYun 1C 1700.4 MHz CHRPT~ Weak signal, use dish 90cm
Has imager problems. Not known if it can/will be fixed.
FengYun 1D 1700.4 MHz CHRPT~ Good signal.
Seastar 1702.5 MHz SeaWifs Encrypted but signal OK
If you have a good LNA and analogue decoder (Timestep for example)
all sat's with "Good signal" or better can already be received using
a 1.5M helicalbeam (RIG Journal 64) or a small dish (60 to 80cm) with
helical feed.
* These sat's have channel 3A/B which allows the composition of
almost true-colour images of daylight passes using R3G2B1
colour scheme. For more info on colouring see RIG Journal 69.
~ 10 Channel imager, use colour scheme R1G9B7 or R1G2B7 for
daylight passes to get near true colour images.
Arne van Belle, WERKGROEP KUNSTMANEN
Co-ordinator Radio Observers (www.kunstmanen.nl)
Douglas Deans.
Geostationary WEFAX Status valid from 30th September 2002
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CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT
None
THIS WEEK'S EVENTS
none expected.
Goes West (W America)Wefax 1691.0 Mhz 135 W
Goes East (E America)Wefax 1691.0 Mhz 75 W
Meteosat 7 (Europe) Wefax 1691.0 & 1694.5 Mhz 0 W
Meteosat 5 (India) Wefax 1691.0 Mhz (shared usage) 63 E inclined +/- 4.4
degrees
INSAT (India) 2599.225 Mhz WEFAX 74 E ?
GMS (Japan/Australia) Wefax 1691.0 Mhz (120 Khz deviation) 140 E
For updates/additions or errors (in this section) reply to
Dave Cawley Information@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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