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Introduction to the WSR-ANT Kit
Receiving a weather satellite is not as easy as it seems. There are
many factors involved in getting a clear picture during the whole
length of the transmission. The primary problem is that the
satellites do not transmit very strong signals, and the signals are
polarized as well. In many cases people will use a directional
antenna and point it directly at the satellite as it passes overhead
using computer software to help guide them.
There are several different antenna types used to receive
satellites. Many satellites are received using dishes such as what
you use for television transmissions. We can't do that in our case
due to the frequency of the transmission from the satellite.
There are several considerations when deciding what antenna to
use with your WSR-1. As with almost everything there are some
sacrifices to be made with each gain. Here are a few ideas, pros
and cons that you can go by when choosing a suitable antenna.
The crossed Yagi antenna is a popular form of antenna for polar
orbiting satellite reception. This antenna is about the size of a TV
antenna, has greater gain, yields stronger signals, and must be
aimed towards the satellite as it passes. This requires two
rotators, such as TV antenna rotators, to move the antenna in both
elevation (altitude) and azimuth (bearing).
The satellite tracking software used for timing the rise and set of
the satellites will also give you the information you need to track
the satellite in azimuth (from 0 to 360 degrees) and elevation (0 to
90 degrees). The antenna is often "pointed" manually using the
rotator controls located near the receiver. This means that
automatic, unattended recording cannot be done without
additional equipment. More sophisticated systems use a computer
to track the satellite with software and a controller interface to the
antenna rotators. The advantage of this type of antenna setup is
that low satellite passes of high image quality can be easily
recorded. Satellites only a few degrees above the horizon can
WSR-ANT • 4
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