SDRplay Community Forum

Hi ..
I recently purchased an RSP2pro unit ...and am wondering about using plugins (various)
previously I had and cheap RTL dongle which I used with SDR# ..
using this with my QFH antenna I could receive the NOAA sats and create weather images ..
One of the advantages of SDR# was the ability to use a plugin which allowed frequencies to be controlled with Orbitron..
..thus doppler compensating.
Can I use such plugins with SDRuno ?
..and if so I can use the superior capabilities of the RSP2 and dispense with the RTL stick and SDR#..
advice on how this might be done would help greatly.
rgds
VS

No plugin support.

But you can use wxtoimg with SDRUno to capture NOAA images.

Details here: https://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewt ... img#p10239

Thanks for the link Mike..
I had intended to use wxtoimg ..just as I did with the RTL dongle..
As to Orbitron...
previously my setup had used Orbitron tracking data to frequency control the SDR ..so applying doppler shift compensation.
I guess that will no longer be possible if I use SDRuno

I guess my next question is the choice of radio sofware.
Can SDR# be used with my RSP2pro ?

The registered version of Wxtoimg can provide doppler correction to SDRUno. A virtual comm port is required.
There was a discussion on the RTL-SDR blog about the authors releasing the registered version to the public.
Info here: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/tag/wxtoimg/

The SDRPlay receivers will work with old versions of SDR# only. A search of this forum will yield several discussion on this matter.

Thanks Mike..
After doing some reading online...it would appear the next step for me would be the XHRPT decoder ..
As I believe it hadles both NOAA and METOP.
Thing is I'm chasing round in circles trying to find out the Operating System requirements and where to obtain it ?
I tried sending an email from US satcoms web site ..but that doesn't appear to work ?
I assume I have to buy the software which is fine if it isn't super expensive..
Can you or anyone else help me with this
Obviously I cant access GOES satellites here in the UK but polar sats are doable such as METOP.
I use windows 7 or windows 10
any help appreciated.
rgds

I'm not familiar with the XHRPT program. I believe it is used for HRPT (High Resolution Picture Transmission) processing only. These images are transmitted in the L-Band, around 1.6 to 1.7 GHz. Optimal signal reception requires a tracking antenna for polar orbiting satellites operating at these frequencies.
APT (NOAA fax transmissions) and LRPT (Meteor) operate in the VHF region, (137 to 138 Mhz). These satellites are much easier to receive. They can be received quite well with low cost home built stationary antennas.
Each of these systems have their own unique hardware and software requirements.

References:
LRPT/APT: https://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewt ... f=5&t=2529
HRPT: https://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewt ... f=5&t=2624

Yes indeed Mike ..
I have successfully located an identified meteor sats in the past with my QFH antenna...but the data requires processing ..which I believe XHRPT can do with the latest revisions.
Hence the reason for my interest.
The Lband signals would require tracking hardware and possibly only available from geostationary sats ...for fixed antenna systems.
rgds

Hi Vipersan,

My understanding is that SDRplay is planning on plugin support for an upcoming version of SDRuno using a new upcoming API; refer to article here: https://www.sdrplay.com/?s=plugin+support . As Mike2459 pointed out, there are a few articles available on the weather satellite image reception topic. All of the questions that you have asked regarding APT reception and more have been answered in these articles, including Doppler control of the RSP for APT reception.

This article describes building an exceptional APT receiving antenna, where to find WXtoIMG and sites discussing key information, how to set up SDRuno and WXtoIMG to communicate for doppler control of the RSP, and gain settings, among other topics. But you have to read to the end of the threads to get all the information, since it has been updated over time for the latest information.
1) https://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewt ... f=5&t=2529
With respect to HRPT, the following article describes building a low cost tracker from a Meade telescope mount, plus how to build an exceptional receiving antenna that is light enough to be used with the mount. The same hardware can be reused for HRIT/LRIT reception as well at different L-Band frequencies as controlled by the RSP. A list of current HRPT capable low earth orbit satellites are provided in the article threads.
2) https://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewt ... f=5&t=2624
The below article shows use of the same hardware and tracking antenna mount as described in item 2, but used with HRIT/LRIT reception from GOES geostationary satellites:
3) https://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewt ... f=5&t=2674
The article below describes a comparatively low cost GOES HRIT/LRIT geostationary satellite image receiver:
https://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewt ... f=5&t=3262

Some dramatic improvements in price, performance, and functionality for L-Band LNAs for receiving GOES HRIT/LRIT/GRB and HRPT images have occurred in the past year. NooElec has come out with some innovative LNAs with built-in filters for the bands needed at very reasonable pricing: https://www.nooelec.com/store/ . NooElec has versions of their LNAs that draw only 30mA to 40mA so they can be powered from the Bias-T supply on the SDRplay RSP. The innovative SDRplay RSP and NooElec LNAs plus low-cost antennas have opened the door to new applications and capabilities for hobbyists, students, and amateurs that were previously too expensive for many in the past. While users can develop their own software for decoding images, USA-Satcom has already done this and is at this time making available decoding software for HRIT/LRIT and HRPT at very reasonable prices. Contact USA-Satcom for pricing of the software as well as for operating requirements for PCs and operating systems. The SDRplay RSPs are exceptionally capable and can be used in a very wide variety of applications.

Grateful thanks RSP2-user.
Tried again today to email USA-satcom.
Sadly still the email form on their contact page is broken.
emails will not send
Is that I'm not USA based ?
is the link/webpage form broken ?
Since you have to contact them before the decoder software can be obtained...I guess I'm out of luck.
Is there a representative from USA-satcom active on this group perhaps ?
Obviously others are using the software..so perhaps they might be able to help ?

Broken web pages with broken contact forms can't be good for business..
cest la vie
VS

Vipersan,

That question has been answered many times in this article: https://www.sdrplay.com/community/viewt ... f=5&t=3262