Weather satellite ground station - Home project yields high-quality cloud photos

The automatic picture transmission (APT) system for low-cost polar-orbiting weather satellite receiving ground stations is described in detail. The station receives direct transmissions from weather satellites in both visual and infrared around thc clock. The satellite transmission system, ground station receiving antenna and tracking pedestal, VHF receiving equipment, and satellite orbital predictions and tracking are covered. The ground station control and monitoring system (motor control, synchronization, baseband filtering) and image display techniques (photofacsimile, photo-oscilloscopic recording, drum phasing) are discussed. Typical daytime and nighttime infrared and visual photographs of satellite-monitored weather patterns are displayed.