[PCR-1000] Using the PCR-1000 for Satellite

[Tobbe]

Hi Mike and group,

I use for satellite monitoring the PCR-1000 (of course...) Satscape for 
tracking of all satellites and Wxsat for decoding. Antenna is a Dressler 
ARA-2000 and it is mounted on the roof 17 m over ground.

Satscape website               www.satscape.co.uk
Wxsat website                   http://www.hffax.de/html/hauptteil_wxsat.htm
A Dressler dealer website  http://www.thiecom.de/ara.htm (they sell the 
antenna, it's in german)

I set bandwidth to 50 kHz and NBFM mode and use the speaker out to line in 
on computer.

Usually I have to set level in the mixer every time I use wxsat because 
different software have different levels, I decode cw, rtty, ale and some 
other modes from shortwave but from another receiver. But when level is set 
I can get rather good pictures. The good thing with wxsat is live decoding 
and you can choose how picture will display if satellite is coming from 
north or south.

One funny thing with Satscape when I run tracking is that when the satellite 
footprint edge passes my position I usually start to hear the signal. One 
thing to remember is to update Kepler elements, another is to set home 
position in the program.

Hope this helps!!

Best regards

Torbjorn in Nykoping, Sweden




>I am glad to see the list getting some activity.
> I have a question for the group.
> Is anyone out there using the PCR for Satellite reception?
> I have just built a quadrifilar helix antenna, and I have been playing
> around with receiving some of the pictures coming down from the NOAA 
> birds.
> I am getting pictures, but the quality is poor.
> Is anyone out there using the PCR-1000, and if you are do you have any 
> tips
> for doing it.
> I have been using wxtrack to track the NOAA satellites, and recording 
> using
> TalkPCR to a .wav file.  Then I am importing the wav file into wxtoimg.
> Wxtoimg maskes a picture out of the recording and can understand the pass
> signature in the file fine, but as I said the quality is pretty poor.  I
> have the receiver set to NBFM and 50kHz filter, and I have tried recording
> from both the speaker output and the packet output.  From everything I 
> have
> read this should be the correct settings.
> If anyone out there is using their PCR-1000 for Satellite reception I 
> would
> love to hear from you.
> Thanks!
>
> http://www.wxtoimg.com/
> http://www.david-taylor.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/software/wxtrack.htm