The Aero Thread..

[Vipersan]

If Spacedish or anyone else has info on this SDR topic they would like to share ..
This thread in our newly created SDR sub section is the place .
So ..
We know it can be done using the loop out on a C band setup ..fed to ab SDR ..
But so far that;s as much as I know..
So links to Software ...Tutorials ...Videos...
would be useful at this point.
Assume we know nothing so treat us like newbs on this subject..
I know I am ...and it took me a while to get to grips with APT Polar orbiting Weather Sats.

Found this youtube vid ...showing what to expect ..but nothing about the setup.
best kept secret ?

 

[Vipersan]

Following a PM discussion

some infos:-
It's was pretty straight forward but in a nut shell.

Attach SDR to loop out from sat card
run up your DVB software to power the LNB and select LHC/H
tune SDR Sharp to the IF frequency for the Inmarsat C Band signal. Not sure what your best LOS is but I'll assume you can do 25E so tune Sharp till you have something that looks like my screen grab.
Open up the bandwidth to 10000Hz USB and sit that so the right hand side of the passband lines up with the right hand side of the burst, turn off audio filtering.
Run Jaero and select the SDR audio, (I use VAC and stereo mix to give up to 3 channels), select 10500 burst from the speed options and you should see it start decoding packets.

At this point you'll either need to install Planeplotter or Virtual Radar Server to view the results. I run both but VRS is probably the better bet in my opinion until PP releases a fully supported version. If you get as far as good decodes in Jaero and want info on how to set up either PP or VRS give me a shout.

Jaero is here Release Planes on maps for C-band is here · jontio/JAERO · GitHub

VRS is here http://www.virtualradarserver.co.uk/Preview.aspx (Preview version supports long timeouts required for Jaero)

Planeoplotter is here PlanePlotter from COAA

and is also responsible for the above youtube link

I must stress this is NOT my info ...I have yet to set mine up..

 

[s-band]

Our posts crossed. I just posted this: Inmarsat .. something different

 

[Vipersan]

Our posts crossed. I just posted this: Inmarsat .. something different

No probs sB...
cant have enough info imo
;)

 

[Vipersan]

So ..I thought I might try this setup this afternoon ..
but ..First problem ...is that the TBS6983 doesn't have a loop through ..
I honestly never thought to look..
So ...I still have my TBS6925 which _does_ but Sadly I have no spare pcie slots..
This will require a bit of thinking about ..and possibly another dedicated PC build..
doh!
Life is never simple..

 

[Vipersan]

So ..I'm tempted by this smallish form factor and can be got for about £30 used..

Anyone seen or used one ?
What I'm thinking is a seperate build to take the TBS6925 ...
..and the creation of a totally independant SDR receiver desktop.
That way I'm not tying up my main PC ..which makes sense.

From what I understand this is 64bit architecture (I'll probably only use 32)...has on board graphics and sound...and the all important pci-e slot
expandable up to 4gb.
But before I rush in and plunge...I'd like some feedback on this 'lump'.
..just to make sure I'm not missing something I'll regret later.
DELL Optiplex GX620 Small Form Factor 3ghz ( 64bit )

 

[s-band]

but ..First problem ...is that the TBS6983 doesn't have a loop through ..

I use a 3dB splitter which has DC pass on one port. It's a Technisat 0000/3102 which I found in the shed.

 

[Vipersan]

I use a 3dB splitter which has DC pass on one port. It's a Technisat 0000/3102 which I found in the shed.

Good to know I have options sB...
but tbh ..I have been thinking about having a second dedicated pc just for SDR ...and this will also give me an option to get my TBS6925 back in service..
Anyway ..I have bought the PC above ...since it was a paltry £29.95...
but was collection only..in Liverpool.
Contacted the vendor and explained I didn't drive ..and he agreed to post or deliver it for another tenner..
Comes with 17 inch tft monitor keyboard and mouse...so a bargain really I guess.
rgds
VS

 

[archive10]

DELL Optiplex GX620 Small Form Factor 3ghz ( 64bit )

Nothing wrong with that.
It's a 10 year old design, but will probably serve you well for many more years to come.
Especially if you don't used it for more than one thing (i.e. SDR).
The small form-factor means that it doesn't take up too much space in your den/house/cave.

The Windows XP is probably the biggest problem. I agree that you should stick to 32-bit win XP, don't upgrade before you go to 7 or above.
But regardless of verison, there is no more support for this, and so you need to be wary of software defects that cause all sorts of attacks from the outside.
But if you run the machine on the inside of your router, possbily even on a separate "highly secure" sub-net, you should be okay of you don't do general web-surfing on the machine.

The 80 GB disk is also a bit on the low side, but unless you are downloading videos or similar, it is plentiful.
Do keep a back-up of the drive from some meaningful state (e.g. with all software installed and working).
If the HDD is 10 years old (or even 5 years old), it may work, it may die any day...
Having an image means you can simply stick in a new disk (the cheapest new, or a used one), and roll in a known state of the machine.

Good luck!

 

[Channel Hopper]

From what I understand this is 64bit architecture (I'll probably only use 32)...has on board graphics and sound...and the all important pci-e slot
expandable up to 4gb.
But before I rush in and plunge...I'd like some feedback on this 'lump'.
..just to make sure I'm not missing something I'll regret later.
DELL Optiplex GX620 Small Form Factor 3ghz ( 64bit )

Small form factor desktops will only allow a half height video card to be installed, ones that are specifically designed for this form of chassis. What is the total height of the TS6925 PCB ?

 

[Channel Hopper]

The Windows XP is probably the biggest problem. I agree that you should stick to 32-bit win XP, don't upgrade before you go to 7 or above.
But regardless of verison, there is no more support for this, and so you need to be wary of software defects that cause all sorts of attacks from the outside.
But if you run the machine on the inside of your router, possbily even on a separate "highly secure" sub-net, you should be okay of you don't do general web-surfing on the machine.

Ahem


How to get security updates for Windows XP until April 2019 - gHacks Tech News

 

[archive10]

Ahem


How to get security updates for Windows XP until April 2019 - gHacks Tech News

"I recommend highly that you create a backup before you update the system as there is no guarantee that all updates will work properly on XP PCs. While POSReady 2009 uses the same core, some things are different after all."
Or as the Americans would say: "Your mileage may vary."

...so why stick around, unless you have some software that will-not-work on anything else...

Just hoping the SDR community might move to non-Windows platforms - it's after all more aligned with the sprit of SDR...

 

[Vipersan]

Well ..I was hoping to just remove... image... backup and store the original XP OS ..
Then fit a bigger Hard drive and install win7 pro 32 bit ...
Would this be a problem ?
I'm hoping win7 will recognise the motherboard/hardware ..and just install ?
Is it possible that The Optiplex HAS to be a proprietory version of windoze ?

As to the TBS6925 it has a standard length mounting plate at the back ..
perhaps too long ?
but the actual card pcie is only about 5 inches long x 2.5 inches deep ...so at a pinch could be fitted without the back mounting plate if need be ..
rgds
VS

 

[Channel Hopper]

Is it possible that The Optiplex HAS to be a proprietory version of windoze ?
VS

I've installed non Deĺl (OEM) versions into towers before now.

 

[smoggy07]

I've installed non Deĺl (OEM) versions into towers before now.

I've installed a random downloaded XP onto an old Optiplex desktop in the past and it's worked, the only thing I had problems with was a 3rd party aftermarket soundcard driver and that was fixed after downloading it from the manufacturer website

 

[Vipersan]

Thanks for the advice guys ..
PC + monitor etc is in the post ...should be here by wednesday..
Then the fun will begin..
;)

 

[Vipersan]

Finally I'm ready to try Aero...
but where to begin ..?
I figured the first thing to do was at least point Carl in roughly the right direction ...my Titanium being several degrees offset from focus ..which meant I had to locate a few reference points along the way ..
I have both 14W and 15W written down ...and am currently looking a locked picture from Tele Africa ...and the signal is maxed at around 6.5db from 5W ..
Will this give sufficient signal from Inmar at 15W ??
lap of he gods ..and perhaps not the best day to try as it is constantly raining here ..so I suppose 6.5db is not too bad ..
I have downloaded and installed Jaero v 1.0.4.3
but that's as far as I have got ..
I shall now swing Carl to point at 15W (is this correct for Inmar ?)
Then ??
what next ..
A step by step guide would be most useful ....but failing that perhaps someone who has already done all this could talk me through it a point at a time ?

I select LHCP I assume ? once I get to 15W ?
and patch the loop out of the TBS card to SDRplays antenna in ?
Then what ?
rgds
VS

absolutely nothing as yet ...either on 15W or 25E ..
but of course I may not be on target ..
doh!

 

[Vipersan]

Hmm ..
dropped the sat card loop through idea ...and figured a simple splitter with power pass on the lnb side ..and cap coupled signal pass on t'other fed to SDRplay antenna in ..
Well I got this ...??
does this look like its what I'm looking for ..
?????

 

[Vipersan]

so I'm guessing I am pointing at 15W ...listening to the audio there are pops beeps n squeeks cos if I move the dish about 10 clicks E or W these noises disappear ....but the green 'volume' light on jaero never goes green so I have to assume there simply isn't enough signal being captured.
Funny thing though chnging from LHCP to RHCP makes sod all difference ...
..that has me totally confused ??

 

[scopus]

so I'm guessing I am pointing at 15W ...listening to the audio there are pops beeps n squeeks cos if I move the dish about 10 clicks E or W these noises disappear ....but the green 'volume' light on jaero never goes green so I have to assume there simply isn't enough signal being captured.
Funny thing though chnging from LHCP to RHCP makes sod all difference ...
..that has me totally confused ??

Yes, that screen looks right for 15W. I had to download VB cable as no sound card was showing up in Jaero.
LHCP or RHCP makes not difference for me either.