Automatic Picture Transmission (APT)

Weather Satellite Modes: APT - LRPT - Meteosat WEFAX

Automatic Picture Transmission (APT)

Frequencies	137.1 MHz,137.62 MHz,137.9125 MHz
Frequency Range	137.1 MHz - 137.9125 MHz
Mode	WFM
Modulation	AM
ACF	—
Emission Designator	—
Bandwidth	34 kHz
Location	Worldwide
Short Description	Automatic Picture Transmission (APT), also known as NOAA-GEOSAT, is an analog image transmission mode used by the NOAA weather satellites and some Russian weather satellites to transmit satellite weather photos.
I/Q Raw Recording	Download file
Audio Sample

Automatic Picture Transmission (APT), also known as NOAA-GEOSAT, is an analog image transmission mode used to by the NOAA weather satellites and formerly some Russian weather satellites to transmit satellite weather photos. Currently only 3 active NOAA satellites transmit APT images.

Characteristics

Structure

The broadcast transmission is composed of two image channels, telemetry information, and synchronization data, with the image channels typically referred to as Video A and Video B. All this data is transmitted as a horizontal scan line. A complete line is 2080 pixels long, with each image using 909 pixels and the remainder going to the telemetry and synchronization. Lines are transmitted at 2 per second, which equates to a 4160 words per second, or 4160 baudBaud (unit symbol Bd) is the unit for symbol rate or modulation rate in symbols per second..

Format of Automatic Picture Transmission. We see the two parallel Video streams being transmitted, each at 120 LPM.

Name	Length in pixels	Description
Sync A	39	Bits 000011001100110011001100110011000000000
Space A	47
Image A	909	Image pixels, a higher amplitude results in a brighter pixel
Telemetry A	45
Sync B	39	Bits 000011100111001110011100111001110011100
Space B	47
Image B	909	Image pixels, a higher amplitude results in a brighter pixel
Telemetry B	45
Total	2080 / 0.5 seconds

Images

On NOAA POES system satellites, the two images are 4 km / pixel smoothed 8-bit images derived from two channels of the advanced very-high-resolution radiometer (AVHRR) sensor. The images are corrected for nearly constant geometric resolution prior to being broadcast; as such, the images are free of distortion caused by the curvature of the Earth.

Of the two images, one is typically long-wave infrared (10.8 micrometers) with the second switching between near-visible (0.86 micrometers) and mid-wave infrared (3.75 micrometers) depending on whether the ground is illuminated by sunlight. However, NOAA can configure the satellite to transmit any two of the AVHRR's image channels.

Synchronization and telemetry

Included in the transmission are a series of synchronization pulses, minute markers, and telemetry information.

The synchronization information, transmitted at the start of each video channel, allows the receiving software to align its sampling with the baudBaud (unit symbol Bd) is the unit for symbol rate or modulation rate in symbols per second. rate of the signal, which can vary slightly over time. The minute markers are four lines of alternating black then white lines which repeat every 60 seconds (120 lines).

The telemetry section is composed of sixteen blocks, each 8 lines long, which are used as reference values to decode the image channels. The first eight blocks, called "wedges," begin at 1/8 max intensity and successively increase by 1/8 to full intensity in the eighth wedge, with the ninth being zero intensity. Blocks ten through fifteen each encode a calibration value for the sensor. The sixteenth block identifies which sensor channel was used for the preceding image channel by matching the intensity of one of the wedges one through six. Video channel A typically matches either wedge two or three, channel B matches wedge four.

The first fourteen blocks should be identical for both channels. The sixteen telemetry blocks repeat every 128 lines, and these 128 lines are referred to as a frame.

Broadcast signal

The signal itself is a 256-level amplitude modulated 2400Hz subcarrier, which is then frequency modulated onto the 137 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz-band RFRadio Frequency carrier. Maximum subcarrier modulation is 87% (±5%), and overall RFRadio Frequency bandwidth is 34 kHzKiloHertz (kHz) 10^3 Hz. On NOAA POES vehicles, the signal is broadcast at approximately 37dBm (5 watts) effective radiated power.

Frequencies

NOAA 15 - 137.620 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz

NOAA 18 - 137.9125 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz

NOAA 19 - 137.100 MHzMegaHertz (MHz) 10^6 Hz

Decoding Software

Hobby Level Software

• SatDump
• MultiPSK
• apt-decoder
• noaa-apt
• SatSignal
• SDRangel
• aptdec (formerly atpdec)
• WxtoImg (Abandonware)

Encoding Software

• apt-encoder

Decoding Tutorials

• Guide to easily receive NOAA POES weather satellites.

Antennas

The NOAA satellites that downlink APT signals transmit with a right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) quadrifilar helical antenna (QFH). Using an RHCP QFH to receive these signals is a good idea, as the polarization will be the same and the antenna has a very wide beamwidth. Other popular choices that are circularly polarized are the turnstile and double cross dipole antenna.

Another option is a v-dipole. Though it is linearly polarized, the polarization mismatch loss is typically insignificant and easily ignored. This antenna uses two legs roughly 54cm long spread 120° apart at the feed point. This forms a 'V' shape, with the feed point (where the coaxial cable connects) at the bottom corner where both legs meet. This v-dipole is more directional than the previously mentioned antennas so it must be positioned properly. Point the antenna so that the legs are parallel to the ground, and a line bisecting the angle between the legs points North or South, it doesn't matter which. The height above the ground matters for this antenna. Heights that are multiples of half the wavelength should be avoided, so ~1m, ~2m, ~3m, etc due to nulls directly overhead. The best height is somewhere between 0.4m and 0.8m, anything higher will introduce nulls and dips in the radiation pattern. If the antenna needs to be placed higher, say above a tree line or buildings, then a reflector may be placed 0.4-0.8m below it for the same benefit. A reflector can be as simple as another v-dipole with slightly longer legs.

Permanent ground stations may wish to opt for the QFH or turnstile so that lower-elevation passes can be received. For single-pass captures or for mobile ground stations, v-dipoles are very good options as they are portable and offer more gain on high elevation passes.

Video Examples

• How to take NOAA satellite pictures using RTL-SDR for under 50$
• RTL-SDR 2832U A RECEBER NOAA-18 EM 20SET2012 14H UTC CT1ETK
• Receiving NOAA weather satellite using SDR# and WXtoImg
• RECEIVING NOAA 19 RTL-SDR APT DECODE, SDRSHARP, WXTOIMG, ORBITRON, AUTO-DOPPLER
• Weather Satellite NOAA 18 received with RTL2832, SDR# and WXtoimg

Additional Links

• RadioScanner.RU NOAA APT
• Wikipedia Automatic Picture Transmission
• WAVECOM Database: NOAA Geosat (APT)

Additional Images

FMFrequency Modulation Demodulated signal, showing the carrier and the sidebands.