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Simple APT decoder

A simple decoder for NOAA weather satellite images implemented in the GNU Radio Companion.

The recorded 11025 Hz audio is filtered then re-sampled to 9.6 kHz. At this rate the 2.4 kHz sub-carrier will have 4 samples / period, in other words the samples will come with 90 degrees phase difference. This allows measuring the instantaneous amplitude of the 2.4 kHz sub-carrier at a rate of 4.8 kHz using 2 consecutive samples (with 90 degree phase difference):

A = sqrt(s1*s1 + s2*s2)

Finally, the amplitude stream is re-sampled from 4.8 ksps to 4.16 ksps, which happens to be the symbol rate.

 

The resulting data file can be converted to PNG image using ImageMagick:

convert -size 2080x1500 -depth 8 gray:NOAA19-2010.10.17.14.54.20.dat NOAA19-2010.10.17.14.54.20-e.png

see flic.kr/p/9FncjL

 

[Note: there is no sqrt function in GRC which is why I convert to complex]

 

Details about the NOAA APT format:

www2.ncdc.noaa.gov/docs/klm/html/c4/sec4-2.htm

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Uploaded on May 7, 2011