SatSignal

• "Thanks for a fine piece of software!" - Ralph E. Taggart, Professor and Chair, Geological Sciences, MSU.
  

SatSignal download
SatSignal registration - help support continued development!

What is SatSignal?

SatSignal is a program to demodulate NOAA APT, Okean, Meteor 3-5 and Resurs signals.  It can be automatically driven by SatBatch, and has a detailed technical description.  Want to to see some images decoded with SatSignal? - take a look at my sample results, or Craig's, Jim's pages or WTOC-TV (Patrick Prokop).  Dale Hardy has MTSAT-1R images decoded by SatSignal and processed by GeoSatSignal.  SatSignal is intended to work from pre-recorded .WAV files or 2-channel images, and requires a proper full-bandwidth IF receiver signal (38KHz or more).  Signals that sound like alternating tone and noise will not work.  See here for programs that will automatically record wave files.  Les Hamilton has written a Guide to processing APT weather satellite images using SatSignal.

Cloud-top temperature mode using overlays

Classic false-colour mode - note that the colours are accurately related to the brightness temperature and a superb level of land detail is retained - more so than in competing programs. Click for a full-scale image section

SatSignal is very fast - decoding a typical pass in under 10 seconds on today's 2GHz processors.  This program is not a WXSat replacement, I have great respect for that program!  You can read more about SatSignal, its operation and algorithms if you wish.  There is a group  you can join at https://groups.io/g/SatSignal where other users of the software can be contacted and ideas for updates are discussed.  SatSignal 6 with EasyOverlay Background Mode released! Thanks to a great team of beta testers, SatSignal 6 has now been released, combining the ease of image processing and high-quality false-colour image production of SatSignal with a new EasyOverlay Background Mode facility, which allows you to make night-time passes look as good as daylight passes!  Your existing registration code will not work on SatSignal5, as this is a new program with substantially expanded facilities. Related stuff I am very grateful to the late Ferran Alegret for providing a Spanish language version of the help file, which may be obtained directly from his Web site.  The cloud-top temperature algorithm and its usage were described at the late Trevor Cousens' Web site.  The NOAA KLM User's Guide is the official NOAA document describing the satellites and their sensors.

EasyOverlay - Background Mode - night into day!

Here is an example of the new Background Overlay mode.  By skilfully blending the temperature information derived from the thermal channel with the recently released Blue Marble Next Generation images of the earth, night-time images can be presented looking as if they were daytime ones, with an attractive blue sea background and naturally coloured land areas. You have full control of what background images are used, so you are not restricted to the Blue Marble data.  You also have full control over the blending process, so you can show colder clouds as light (as in the example here) or dark for a more dramatic presentation.  Files to get you started are provided.
	Channel B - thermal image with conventional display. Click for larger image	False colour Background Mode with Blue Marble background image. Click for larger image

Can I register, and what do I get?

Users have asked to support this software by registering, so I have now provided this facility.  There are a number of extras for registered users including map overlays, input from bitmap (.BMP) image files, and the direct display of apparent temperature.   These are available upon registration.  I would also like those who use the program as a regular part of automated signal reception to consider registering, hence the toolbar and batch operation are included in the registered program.  Click here for more information about registering SatSignal. 

• Registration provides
  • Faster operation through toolbar icons
  • Access to apparent temperature display in ºF or ºC
  • Access to overlay display of countries, states & grid-lines
  • Access to the EasyOverlay facility
  • Access to Background Mode - turning night passes into day
  • Access to image input options
  • Access to command-line parameters for fully automated operation
  • Ability to add your text to the image
  • Technical support

Please note that SatSignal 6 requires a new licence code.

If you get error messages about missing DLLs when you try to run SatSignal, please consult the library notes page.  

• Register SatSignal - help support continued developments.
• Currently, you need WXtrack to get your location data into SatSignal, and it also is a convenient way to get the Kepler and country boundary data.
• System requirements
  • Display: 800 x 600 resolution or better, 15-, 16- 24- or 32-bit colour recommended.  Be sure to calibrate your monitor
  • Windows -7 and later supported, earlier Windows may also work but are not supported
  • Memory: 128 MB or better.  256 MB highly recommended
  • Processor: Pentium 500 MHz or better
• Runtime Library Bundle (if you don't already have it).
• Got a question?  Check the FAQ!
• If you collect your own data, be sure your PC is keeping accurate time.
• Want to ask a question - ask the self help group: https://groups.io/g/SatSignal
• If installing on Windows Vista, you may need the Microsoft WinHelp update.

Convert your SatSignal images to standard map projections with the GroundMap program

Download SatSignal V6.0.0  
(1,638,741 bytes; 2015-Apr-07;  MD5 signature: 2FF629D29757DEDFB7086D14AAE7D71B)

Beta version: Check here for the latest update.

Windows-7 and later information please read this is you have problems with the program's Help function.

• Please note that this download includes a 30-day trial of the full SatSignal-6.  If you don't register within 30 days, it will stop working.
• Register SatSignal - help support continued developments
• Country boundary data (required for Easy Overlay if you don't have WXtrack, but you really should install WXtrack as an easy way to keep the Kepler data up-to-date)
• Colour lookup table - two CLUTs, one as used on Milan Konecny's weather satellite images, the other showing cloud-top temperatures overlaying the standard false-colour image
• Colour Lookup Tables (CLUTs)
    TonLindemann-CLUTs.zip (1.8MB) - stepped and smooth CLUTs from Dutch weather expert Ton Lindemann.  (The file also includes land-sea LUTs for use with GeoSatSignal).  They look for cold cloud tops allowing easier recognition of possible rainfall and severe weather.  The readme is also updated with more information about meteorological use of enhancement of IR-satellite imagery.  You can also refer to Ton's Web site (only in Dutch)
• Les Hamilton's Guide to processing APT weather satellite images using SatSignal.
• German language Read Me file for V4.0.0 (many thanks to Stefan and Robert Suffa)
• Spanish language readme file for V4.0.6 (many thanks to Enrique Carmenates Gonzalez)
• Spanish language Help file from Ferran Alegret's site => Descarga
• Be sure to calibrate your monitor correctly for best results
• Visit the SatSignal self-help group to discuss this software with other users.

If you like this software, you can rate it at the DXZone web site that lists related programs.  Rate this Software @ The DXZone.  Be sure to register SatSignal and support continued development.

A self-help group is available for this software here:

 

Copyright © David Taylor, Edinburgh

@gm8arv on Twitter

Last modified: 2019 Apr 18 at 11:54