NOAA Satellites

Receiving weather images directly from space using simple equipment.

Active Satellites

Satellite	Frequency	Status
NOAA 15	137.6200 MHz	Active since 1998
NOAA 18	137.9125 MHz	Active since 2005
NOAA 19	137.1000 MHz	Active since 2009

Transmitting APT (Automatic Picture Transmission) as they pass overhead. 4-6 good passes daily. The satellites don't care who you are.

Reception Basics

Minimal Setup

RTL-SDR dongle ($30)
V-dipole or QFH antenna
Computer running SDR#
WXtoImg or noaa-apt for decoding

Better Setup

LNA (low noise amplifier)
QFH or turnstile antenna
Raspberry Pi for automated captures
Waterproof enclosure for permanent installation

The Magic

These satellites broadcast continuously. When one passes overhead, you can receive live weather imagery showing hundreds of miles of Earth.

No license needed. No subscription. No API key.

Just you and a satellite that doesn't know you exist, sharing data because that's what it was built to do.

Signal Characteristics

FM modulated
2400 Hz subcarrier
Transmits during entire pass
Strongest when directly overhead
10-15 minute passes
Doppler shift visible as satellite approaches and recedes

Forestpunk Applications

Monitor weather systems approaching your area
Track forest fire smoke plumes
Observe seasonal changes from space
Complete off-grid weather intelligence
Verify (or contradict) official forecasts

Why This Matters

Before satellites, weather prediction required massive infrastructure - balloon launches, ship reports, ground stations. Now a solar-powered Pi with a wire antenna can pull forecasts from orbit.

This is what decentralization actually looks like.

Current Projects

Building weatherproof permanent station
Automated capture and processing pipeline
Machine learning for feature extraction

⚡ Technical
Core	Technical · CLI · Dotfiles · Nvim · SSH · VPS
Tools	Sketchybar · ArchiveBox · ThinkPad Linux
Systems	Automation · Personal APIs · Quantified Self
Reference	Runbooks · New Computer Runbook · Syntax guide