20020930: Weekly APT, Wefax and Digital Status Reports (fwd)

• To: nws-changes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
• Subject: 20020930: Weekly APT, Wefax and Digital Status Reports (fwd)
• From: Linda Miller <lmiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
• Date: Monday, September 30, 2002 2:41 AM -0400

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           WEATHER SATELLITES
             ================
APT  STATUS  REPORT -- 30th September 2002.
   ===============================

 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
 =========================================
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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