HFU HF Underground

Technical Topics => Equipment => Topic started by: PeteThePlayer on July 31, 2018, 0134 UTC

Title: Im new, need hardwere help.
Post by: PeteThePlayer on July 31, 2018, 0134 UTC

Hello, I'm starting to get into this hobby after I literally saw people pull an image from a satellite! I'm willing to tho ~400$ into this, I need help tho, can someone send me a link to a receiver and antenna.
Thanks,
Pete

Title: Re: Im new, need hardwere help.
Post by: Josh on July 31, 2018, 1717 UTC

https://www.rtl-sdr.com/rtl-sdr-tutorial-receiving-noaa-weather-satellite-images/

Title: Re: Im new, need hardwere help.
Post by: R4002 on July 31, 2018, 1833 UTC

Are you only trying to pull images from satellites?  Or are you trying to listen to shortwave radio (including shortwave pirates)?  Because there's a lot more to radio than satcom monitoring.  SDRs are the future, and with $400 you can get yourself a very respectable setup.  Don't spend all your money on your receiver though.  The antenna is key, especially with shortwave (HF) listening. 

Title: Re: Im new, need hardwere help.
Post by: ChrisSmolinski on July 31, 2018, 1925 UTC

Get yourself an AirSpyHF+ for $199, it does HF as well as most of VHF (including the APT satellite band). Then as R4002 said, get a good antenna, or two in this case, one for HF and one for VHF (a discone is an easy and cheap VHF/UHF antenna).

Title: Re: Im new, need hardwere help.
Post by: PeteThePlayer on August 01, 2018, 0922 UTC

Thank you, everyone, for the help. I may need more assistance but I think I got it covered.

Title: Re: Im new, need hardwere help.
Post by: R4002 on August 01, 2018, 1825 UTC

How much space to have to set up an antenna?  Do you have a backyard or do you live in an apartment or condo type location? 

There are limitless things you can listen to with a good receiver and decent antenna.  As Chris mentioned, if you have the capability to, set up a discone antenna for VHF/UHF monitoring.  A quality discone will allow you to receive 25-1300 MHz or a similar range.  Combine that with a wire antenna (or wire antennas) for lower frequencies (up to 30 MHz) and, presuming your receivers can cover those frequency ranges, you have a whole world of listening capability at your fingertips. 

If you can provide us with more information about what kind of space you have to set up an antenna and other particulars, we will be a better position to help you.  Radio is a fascinating hobby and can be very rewarding if you're willing to put in the effort to absorb as much information as you can.  It sounds like you're heading in that direction.  HFUnderground is a great community and there's a lot of technical and practical knowledge and experience available to you on this forum.