HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

General discussions
RSP2user
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2017 7:11 am

Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by RSP2user » Mon Nov 12, 2018 12:00 am

USA-Satcom has just released v2.1.0.0 of the XRIT Decoder. Along with enhancements for the XRIT Decoder, a new RSP Streamer X has been released and is operable with the RSP1A, RSP2, and RSPduo - new features include operation with two streams simultaneously (provided that the PC being used has sufficient processing power and an RSPduo or more than one compatible RSP are being used). Also new is the XRIT File manager which allows for improved operation with both LRIT and HRIT files, improved LUT for excellent false color images, user-selectable automated black filling of the white background on full disk visual and false color HRIT images, and country as well as state map overlays.

The new color enhancements are excellent:
GOES 16 Earth Full Disk LR.JPG
GOES 16 Earth Full Disk LR.JPG (92.35 KiB) Viewed 45166 times

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RSP2user
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2017 7:11 am

Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by RSP2user » Sat Nov 17, 2018 7:45 pm

Now that GOES 17 is transmitting images, you can get an even better view. (Note: GOES 17 is not yet in full service at this time.) The HRIT images from both GOES 16 and GOES 17 provide a nice view of the Earth via the SDRplay RSP2 (or RSP1A or RSPduo), NOAA GOES Satellites, NooElec SAWbird GOES LNA (5v 30mA version), and USA-Satcom XRIT software. Very nice Earth images.
GOES 16 Full Disk 11-17-2018.JPG
GOES 16 Full Disk 11-17-2018.JPG (181.05 KiB) Viewed 44862 times
GOES 17 Full Disk 11-17-2018.JPG
GOES 17 Full Disk 11-17-2018.JPG (219.66 KiB) Viewed 44862 times

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RSP2user
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Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by RSP2user » Sun Nov 18, 2018 9:33 pm

The new country and state boundary feature of the USA-Satcom GOES XRIT File Manager allows determining where weather phenomena are occurring by state more easily.
GOES 16 Full Disk Image With New State and Country Overlay 11-18-2018.JPG
GOES 16 Full Disk Image With New State and Country Overlay 11-18-2018.JPG (158.44 KiB) Viewed 44806 times

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RSP2user
Posts: 108
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Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by RSP2user » Fri Dec 28, 2018 6:06 pm

USA-Satcom has continued improvement efforts on RSP Streamer X, the XRIT Demodulator, XRIT Ingestor, and now added an XRIT File Manager. New features include mapping overlays, improved file management, and improved automated false color capabilities. The software is operable with GOES 15, GOES 16, and GOES 17 satellites in the United States. Contact USA-Satcom for operability with other satellites. GOES 17 is not officially in full service yet.
G16 - 28DEC2018.JPG
G16 - 28DEC2018.JPG (242.16 KiB) Viewed 43762 times
G17 - 28DEC2018.JPG
G17 - 28DEC2018.JPG (196.73 KiB) Viewed 43762 times

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RSP2user
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2017 7:11 am

Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by RSP2user » Sun Feb 17, 2019 11:11 pm

USA- Satcom has just released version 1.4.6985 of the XRIT Decoder software package. New features include:

1) Improved image clarity.
2) An antenna Align Mode feature.
3) And a Viterbi and Eb/No (Energy per Bit to Noise Power Spectral Density Ratio aka normalized SNR) graph over time feature.

The improved image clarity reduces image artifacts at the Earth-space boundary of the image and improves the overall aesthetics of the colorization of the full disk images. The images are quite amazing. The resolution is far better than what can be shown here due to image size limitations for this site. Below is a full disk GOES 16 image from February 17, 2019 and a corresponding zoomed in portion to get an idea of the resolution and clarity (the actual full disk images are approximately 40MB PNG images each which are much greater resolution than the below image):

GOES 16 Full Earth Image:
GOES 16 - 02-17-2019 FD.JPG
GOES 16 - 02-17-2019 FD.JPG (218.29 KiB) Viewed 42447 times
Zoom-In on Galapagos Islands:
Zoom-In on Galapagos Islands.JPG
Zoom-In on Galapagos Islands.JPG (61.66 KiB) Viewed 42447 times
The antenna Align Mode is a great new feature that allows users to view the Signal Quality, Viterbi FEC, and Eb/No from a distance using large numeric values. This mode enables users to better view these values when fine tuning adjustments to GOES receiving antennas. The Eb/No and Viterbi graphing enables users to see how well their receiving system is doing throughout the day (e.g., over temperature and while the sun is in alignment with the receiving path). Here is an example of each:
Align Mode and EbNo and Viterbi Graphing.JPG
Align Mode and EbNo and Viterbi Graphing.JPG (102.17 KiB) Viewed 42447 times

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RSP2user
Posts: 108
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Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by RSP2user » Mon Feb 18, 2019 11:42 pm

More updates from USA-Satcom to the XRIT Decoder software with a new patch from today. The XRIT file manager now provides IR image enhancements for GOES Bands 8 and 13. Here are some examples:

Band 13:
G16 CH13 Enhancements 02-18-2019.JPG
G16 CH13 Enhancements 02-18-2019.JPG (163.38 KiB) Viewed 42384 times
Band 8:
G16 Band8 Enhancements 02-18-2019.JPG
G16 Band8 Enhancements 02-18-2019.JPG (169.21 KiB) Viewed 42384 times
The IR enhancements are also available for mesoscale images:
G16-Mesoscale-IR(10.3)-38.463490N-75.000000W-201902182254-enhancement.png
G16-Mesoscale-IR(10.3)-38.463490N-75.000000W-201902182254-enhancement.png (109.09 KiB) Viewed 42384 times

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k4shf
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Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 6:59 am

Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by k4shf » Wed Feb 20, 2019 7:05 am

Is there an advantage of placing the SDR outdoors and running the powered USB cable?
I was planning on having the antenna and LNA outdoors, then run good quality RG-6....the length of my coax should be less than 50 feet (have to figure out where the antenna will be mounted)

Also, the SDR, is the RSP2 the best for this? Or will the RTL-SDR work okay as well? (Just curious, I have both)
Last edited by k4shf on Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am, edited 0 times in total.
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RSP2user
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2017 7:11 am

Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by RSP2user » Thu Feb 21, 2019 12:03 am

The advantage to extending the signal the distance from the antenna to the PC using a USB2.0 extender cable and locating the SDR at the antenna is that it can usually be done at a comparatively low cost and there is less signal loss before the RF signal to digital conversion and with the right USB 2.0 extender cable, there is no or very little loss or error. However, the disadvantage is that locating an SDR outdoors subjects it to widely variant temperature conditions and the additional weatherproof housing needed to put the SDR in must ensure that the SDR is adequately protected from the elements. The widely varying temperature conditions, particularly in areas with ambient summer temperatures exceeding 100 degrees F can be problematic for an SDR in an enclosed case where the temperatures may exceed 140 F in direct sunshine on a very hot day. Excessive heat can cause poor reception using an SDR. It is also hard to find 50 foot USB 2.0 extender cables that work well without errors. If you are extending a signal in the 1.69 GHz range over a distance of 50+ feet, you will need some exceptional cable, such as LMR-600, which is also very costly. RG-6/U has a loss of around 15dB per 50 feet at 1.69 GHz, so unless you amplify the signal significantly first, you will not have a usable signal by the time it gets to your SDR depending on the distance. Also, RG-6/U is 75 ohm impedance cable and if your SDR input impedance is 50 ohms, the mismatch will further reduce the usable signal received by your SDR.

SDRs that have been tested to work well with the USA-Satcom XRIT Decoder software include the SDRplay RSP1A, RSP2, and RSPduo. Check with USA-Satcom directly as to compatibility with any other SDRs. You can contact USA-Satcom here: https://usa-satcom.com/contact_form/

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k4shf
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Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by k4shf » Sat Feb 23, 2019 6:20 am

can I get details as far as modifying the feed for the antenna to improve performance at the just under 1700 MHz frequency compared to the default 2400 MHz?
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RSP2user
Posts: 108
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2017 7:11 am

Re: HRIT and LRIT Low-Cost System

Post by RSP2user » Sat Feb 23, 2019 4:59 pm

Please review the discussion at the top of p. 3 of this set of posts. If you are using a Premiertek ANT-GRID-24DBI antenna, then simply flipping over the secondary reflector provides significant improvement at 1.69GHz (closely review images of the setup as well). There have been other discussions on the Internet when using different, but similar antennas regarding adjusting the secondary reflector distance from the receiving element for improvements as well. The size of the receiving antenna is dependent upon your distance from the satellite. A 1m grid dish antenna can be made to work reasonably well in many areas extending across much of the continental United States for GOES 16, for example. Far away areas may require a larger parabolic dish antenna.

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