imagery, like the APT direct-broadcast imagery, is
received unprocessed and ungridded. Many user-
operated satellite receiver systems are unable to
receive and process I-IRPT imagery. The IMOSS
satellite module cannot receive or process HRPT,
while the AN/SMQ-11 is able to receive and process
the signal.
High-resolution imagery may also be stored
aboard the satellite, downloaded to a Command Data
Acquisition (CDA) station on command, and sent to
NESDIS in Suitland, Maryland. NESDIS processes
the imagery, adds gridding, and forwards the
processed signal to other imagery services. NESDIS
operates two CDA stations for both the NOAA and
GOES satellites:
Wallops Island, Virginia, and
Fairbanks, Alaska.
The Department of Defense
operates its own CDA stations for the DMSP satellites.
WEFAX SERVICE
Another method for receiving satellite imagery at
your ship or station is to copy a WEFAX (weather
facsimile) broadcast from a geostationary satellite.
WEFAX is the retransmission of low-resolution
infrared and visible satellite imagery from U.S. GOES
satellites to any receiver capable of copying the signal.
WEFAX transmissions are also available via
METEOSAT, GMS, and other foreign satellites.
The U.S. GOES WEFAX service provides visual
and infrared sectors as well as full disk imagery. The
service also includes selected meteorological and
oceanographic charts, TBUS bulletins, and
operational messages. You can check the NOAASIS
web site for information on active WEFAX broadcasts,
broadcast content, and frequencies. Information
concerning GOES schedules is also available via the
Internet. Detailed information on WEFAX services is
provided in the WEFAX Users Guide issued by
NOAA/NESDIS.
Each GOES satellite provides high-resolution
imagery that is transmitted on a high-frequency signal
to the CDAs and processed at NESDIS. NEDSIS
processes
t h e s i g n a l t o
add gridding
(latitude/longitude), geographical boundaries, borders
for land and water masses, and enhancement. The
CDAs then retransmit the processed signal back to the
satellite for WEFAX transmission. In turn, the satellite
retransmits the WEFAX signal back to earth on a lower
frequency signal for reception by user-operated
satellite receivers. The service is generally provided at
frequencies near 1691 MHz.
The WEFAX signal is much weaker than the APT
or HRPT signal from polar-orbiting satellites.
Normally, a directional antenna with antenna polarity
control circuits is necessary to copy the WEFAX
signal. The AN/SMQ-11 is fully capable of capturing
the WEFAX signal. The IMOSS satellite module can
also receive and process the WEFAX signal by using a
special directional antenna specifically designed to
copy the broadcast.
Directional antennas should be aimed at the
broadcasting geostationary satellite for the best
WEFAX reception.
Instructions for aiming the
IMOSS WEFAX antenna are available in the Interim
Mobile Oceanography Support System (IMOSS)
Users Guide. Appendix C of the guide contains
diagrams for calculating elevation and azimuth angles
for different geostationary satellites.
Be aware that although international agreements
call for five operational geostationary satellites,
problems occasionally arise that require satellites to be
moved temporarily to slightly different locations.
WEFAX may also be broadcast from older
geostationary satellites that have been moved out of
the primary position.
Figure 1-23 is a diagram
frequently used to calculate the azimuth (degrees true)
and elevation angles needed to find any geostationary
satellite located over the equator.
To use the diagram, the user subtracts the
longitude of the receiver location (site longitude) from
the longitude of the satellite to find delta
(D),
(ignore
the sign). Using the value of
D
(scale on the left side of
the diagram with 80 degrees at the bottom and
3 degrees at the top), follow parallel to the drawn lines
sloping downward toward the right. Using the receiver
station latitude (site latitude) on the
G
scale (right side
of the diagram), follow parallel to the lines sloping
downward toward the left to the intersection of the
D
value. The antenna elevation angle (look elevation) is
found by drawing a horizontal line toward the left to
the look elevation scale. The antenna azimuth is found
by drawing a vertical line downward to the look
azimuth scale. The four azimuth scales are used as
follows:
SW - When receiver is south of the equator and
west of the satellites position
SE - When the receiver is south of the equator
and east of the satellites position
NE - When the receiver is north of the equator
and east of the satellites position
1-25