Thomas Cholakov (radio call N1SPY) tests if an old TV antenna found in the garage is capable of receiving NOAA Weather satellite images. Great student project in space and science!
I love the use of the BNC to binding post adapter. It's my favorite feed point. Here are some simple mods I like to make to my adapters. I run some thin cordage vertically through the binding posts and tie knots on on the ends so you end up with a loop of cordage on top to hang the feed point from. I run a key ring through each of the horizontal holes. I put spade connectors on the ends of the antenna wire. I wrap the wire a couple of times around the key ring and connect the spade connector to the binding post. That keeps the spade connector from coming loose.
Very good tutorial! Kept it simple. I like it. Would it be possible for you to post a link to a more detailed photo of the old-school "flat 300-ohm antenna wire to 50-ohm coax" converter that I see at ~2:12 in your video? It looks like you got creative and I'd like to potentially duplicate your make-shift converter.
Hey Thomas, I'm late in commenting but I was wondering how to wire up the antenna to the SDR? My SDR has a belling-lee connector and I was wondering how the two cables of the TV antenna should connect to that? My signal seems to be best when one or both of them are touching the center pin of the SDR connector
Nice video. But those rabbit ears, or others like them, were probably used within the last 4 to 5 years. Its only been that long since television switched from analog to digital. Also, you might try adjusting your rabbit ears to about 30 degrees above the horizontal plane from the ground surface. The satellite send its signal in right handed circular pattern. A QFA or turnstile antenna would be a better choice for reception and either one easily built from materials obtainable from your local hardware store. I am wondering what source gave you information that the satellite transmits its information at 800 watts. That might be an acceptable output for a deep space vehicle but not an earth orbiting vehicle. The stat's for this satellite show that transmit power is up to 14 watts output.
I had a pansonic color TV, 13 inch that used exactly those. They fit in a hole in the top of the TV and came with it. I saw them in stores as well. I bought it in 1975.
I have this antennas in my home, i want to fabricate an helix antenna for my new sdr rtl dongle, but firts i want probe with this dipole antenna, good video.
once the weather is downloaded you can use software to overlay land/sea outlines and border outlines. You can also add land/sea coloration for better clarity of the final image
Solomon, if the transmit and receive antennas have different polarization you will still receive it, just a little less efficiently. NOAA signals are pretty strong compared to other satellites and the V dipole provides some approximation for circularly polarized signals. No problem at all receiving the signal.
@@ahmadbro8051 an antenna has different impedance than the feedline (coax). You can insert a small coil to match the impedance or ignore it and you will have a small loss of signal due to mismatch.
