A 35-DOLLAR USB RADIO PULLS PHOTOS FROM A SATELLITE
A USB radio dongle (RTL-SDR Blog V3, 34.95–39.95 dollars), a simple antenna and a Raspberry Pi can pull weather photos straight from Russia's Meteor-M satellites, which are still transmitting.
by jekhokie (raspberry-noaa-v2), based on raspberry-noaa by Nico Rey (reynico)
ScienceOpen-hardware
Built withRaspberry Pi
- difficulty
- ●●●○○
- time
- not stated
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE651 stars
●●●○○ · not stated · GPL-3.0 · 651 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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COMPAREE VERDICT
This is not a single build but software that turns a Raspberry Pi (or a 64-bit Debian Bookworm PC) into an automated weather satellite ground station. You supply an RTL-SDR dongle (the RTL-SDR Blog V3 costs 34.95–39.95 dollars, 44.95–49.95 dollars with a dipole kit) and an antenna such as a V-dipole, turnstile or QFH. The software schedules recordings of satellite passes with cron/at, decodes them with SatDump and shows the images in a local web panel. Meteor-M LRPT images are about 1 km per pixel; night passes give no visible image. The American NOAA satellites were switched off in summer 2025, so Meteor-M is what you can still catch this way. The antenna and gain settings are where results are won or lost. You do not have to automate it: Gabe Emerson (saveitforparts), whose footage we used, did his capture of Meteor M2-3 manually.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —GPL-3.0 licence.
- —No BOM, CAD or circuit files: the hardware is a commercial RTL-SDR dongle plus an antenna you build or buy.
- —The repository is the scheduling, decoding and web panel software for a Raspberry Pi 3/4/5 or a 64-bit Debian Bookworm PC.
- —Detailed README with migration guide, troubleshooting docs and a verification tool; last push 16 May 2026.
- —Pre-built SD card images exist (VE3ELB, DC9DD, MihajloPi) but are not always current.
- —NOAA-18, 19 and 15 were decommissioned in June–August 2025; Meteor-M N2-3 (launched 27 June 2023) is still receivable.
Parts to buy
2 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
Downloading Images from Russian Satellite
Video by Gabe Emerson (saveitforparts). Not an official video of the repository.
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Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Set locale and timezone(Run sudo raspi-config and set locale and timezone to match your location, as the README recommends before installing.)
- 2.Clone the repository and edit settings.yml (Clone the repository and edit config/settings.yml with your station's location, gain and other settings.)
- 3.Run the install script(./install_and_upgrade.sh performs the install. Read the WXtoImg licence first: the install accepts it automatically.)
- 4.Connect the RTL-SDR and antenna(Connect the RTL-SDR and antenna. If a capture fails, check /var/log/raspberry-noaa-v2/output.log and the troubleshooting document.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- The README stresses that the antenna matters; it links a guide on using a cheap rabbit-ears TV antenna as a dipole as the cheapest start. A bad antenna setup means no image, and software cannot fix that.
- Gain is set in settings.yml and has to match your station.
- NOAA-18, 19 and 15 are switched off (6 June, 13 August and 19 August 2025). Meteor-M is what remains.
- Night passes give no visible image. The README credits an addition that automatically discards Meteor M2-3 night passes.
- The install automatically accepts the licence terms of WXtoImg, a third-party program. The README says you must read that licence before installing; if you disagree, do not install.
- The pre-built SD card images (VE3ELB, DC9DD, MihajloPi) are not always up to date with the repository.
- Debian Bullseye support was sunset on 31 July 2024. New SatDump-related updates are only for 64-bit Bookworm.
- The README asks for an install account name of 9 characters or less, because of a limit in the predict scheduling tool.
- Set the timezone and locale with raspi-config before installing, as the README recommends.
Which Raspberry Pi does it run on?
The README says it works on Pi 3, Pi 4 and Pi 5 and their variants, with 64-bit Raspberry OS Bookworm.
What is the difference between this and the original raspberry-noaa?
raspberry-noaa-v2 is a major refactor by jekhokie of Nico Rey's (reynico) original raspberry-noaa, done with his permission. It adds a one-command install script and a reworked, mobile-friendly web panel. Recording and demodulation now run through SatDump instead of RTL-FM and GNU Radio. The original commits are preserved.
Can I run this on a regular PC instead of a Pi?
Yes. The README says it runs on 64-bit computers with a Debian Bookworm-based distro, and recommends plain Debian Bookworm for PCs.
Can I still receive the American NOAA satellites?
No. NOAA-18, NOAA-19 and NOAA-15 were decommissioned on 6 June, 13 August and 19 August 2025. Meteor-M is what remains to receive this way.
Community builds
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Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
With the NOAA satellites switched off in 2025, Meteor-M is what is left to catch with a cheap dongle. Have you received a satellite image yourself, and with what antenna?
jekhokie (raspberry-noaa-v2), based on raspberry-noaa by Nico Rey (reynico)
raspberry-noaa-v2 is a spinoff of Nico Rey's raspberry-noaa, refactored by jekhokie with his permission, with all original commits preserved. The README credits many community contributors, including MihajloPi (SatDump integration), Richard AI4Y (Bookworm support, verification tool), Dom Robinson (Meteor enhancements) and Vince VE3ELB (pre-built images). Decoding uses SatDump. Video footage: Gabe Emerson (saveitforparts).
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM7d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the repository was last pushed on 16 May 2026 and is GPL-3.0. The README includes a verification tool (scripts/tools/verification_tool/) for checking an install, a troubleshooting document, and a migration guide that keeps your captures from the original raspberry-noaa. Recording and demodulation now run through SatDump. The pre-built SD card images are handy but not always up to date, so building from source gets you the latest. Note that the install automatically accepts the WXtoImg licence, which belongs to a separate program.