Go Back   IceInSpace > General Astronomy > Radio Astronomy and Spectroscopy
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 09-01-2016, 09:58 PM
ozskywatcher (Josie)
Registered User

ozskywatcher is offline
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Canberra
Posts: 117
Software defined radio dongle & antenna ideas

Hi,

I have just started on my journey in radio astronomy with the purchase of a RTL-SDR software defined radio dongle (http://www.rtl-sdr.com/). I have successfully tested it on a spare laptop running 'KB1010 Andy's Ham Radio Linux' (http://sourceforge.net/projects/kb1oiq-andysham/) using the small antenna that came with the dongle.

I am now after ideas for an observing project which doesn't require that complicated an antenna.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Regards,

Paul Floyd.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-01-2016, 09:38 AM
algwat (Alan)
Registered User

algwat is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Melbourne, west
Posts: 286
Quote:
Originally Posted by ozskywatcher View Post
I am now after ideas for an observing project which doesn't require that complicated an antenna.

Paul Floyd.
I made this very simple antenna for Radio Meteor listing, needs a good LNA as it collects a lot of power and may cook your SDR dongle if not careful.

Not been very successful finding a good meteor frequency as yet...

http://cometal-comets.blogspot.com.a...er-antena.html
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-01-2016, 01:58 PM
ozskywatcher (Josie)
Registered User

ozskywatcher is offline
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Canberra
Posts: 117
What is a LNA?

Alan,

Thanks for sending that through.

Given I am a total beginner to radio astronomy, could you please elaborate on what a LNA is.

Thanks in advance,

Paul Floyd.



Quote:
Originally Posted by algwat View Post
I made this very simple antenna for Radio Meteor listing, needs a good LNA as it collects a lot of power and may cook your SDR dongle if not careful.

Not been very successful finding a good meteor frequency as yet...

http://cometal-comets.blogspot.com.a...er-antena.html
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-01-2016, 02:05 PM
ozskywatcher (Josie)
Registered User

ozskywatcher is offline
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Canberra
Posts: 117
Hi,

After quite a bit of Googling, I have decided to settle on making a simple radio telescope for listening to the Sun and Jupiter. The equipment seems quite simple (a piece of chicken wire, some copper wire, three 30 cm long dowels etc). There are a couple of versions on the web including one which uses a plastic table.

One link: http://www.ukaranet.org.uk/uk_amateurs/bobgreef/

Regards,

Paul Floyd.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 13-01-2016, 10:10 AM
ozskywatcher (Josie)
Registered User

ozskywatcher is offline
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Canberra
Posts: 117
Update! Made a 21 Mhz Sun/Jupiter radio telescope

Hi,

An update. I have completed my 21 Mhz Sun/Jupiter radio telescope (I will upload image once I have downsized it). Unfortunately I am not sure as yet if it works.

This has come about for two reasons. The first is that the software defined radio dongle's frequency range doesn't quite go down low enough to listen at the required frequency. I plan to buy a frequency changer which will allow it to hear at these frequencies. In the meantime, I purchased a cheap shortwave radio from Jaycar and tested the antenna using that. Pointing the antenna at the Sun didn't produce anything exciting.

This brings me to the second reason. I am not sure if the Sun is active enough for that set-up to detect anything. As for Jupiter, it turns out that you need to know when to listen. Apparently, Io has to be in a particular location in it's orbit to maximise your chance of hearing anything. Interesting article about that here: http://www.reeve.com/Documents/Radio...20Complete.pdf

So patience is going to be required.

Regards,

Paul Floyd.
www.nightskyonline.info

Last edited by ozskywatcher; 13-01-2016 at 10:11 AM. Reason: Change in text needed re. image size
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 10:38 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement