Portsdown MeteorView - Revision history

G8GKQ: /* Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming */

2024-07-30T16:35:47Z

Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming

G8GKQ: /* Streaming Data to a Central Server */

2023-11-03T20:47:34Z

Streaming Data to a Central Server

G8GKQ: /* Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming */

2023-10-20T09:54:19Z

Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming

G8GKQ: /* Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming */

2023-10-20T09:23:13Z

Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming

G8GKQ: /* Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming */

2023-10-20T09:18:23Z

Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming

G8GKQ: /* Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming */

2023-10-05T18:01:53Z

Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming

G8GKQ: /* Streaming Data to a Central Server */

2023-10-05T16:47:43Z

Streaming Data to a Central Server

G8GKQ: /* Receiving Meteor Reflections from GB3MBA */

2023-10-05T16:36:59Z

Receiving Meteor Reflections from GB3MBA

G8GKQ: /* MeteorView Settings */

2023-10-05T16:35:22Z

MeteorView Settings

G8GKQ: /* MeteorView Settings */

2023-10-05T16:14:14Z

MeteorView Settings

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 ===Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming===
-Using a Raspberry Pi 4 with no screen connected, build a new Portsdown 4 SD Card using the instructions here: [https://github.com/BritishAmateurTelevisionClub/portsdown4#installation-for-batc-portsdown-rpi-4-version Portsdown 4 Build Instructions]
+First, disconnect any RSPdx during the build.  Using a Raspberry Pi 4 with no screen connected, build a new Portsdown 4 SD Card using the instructions here: [https://github.com/BritishAmateurTelevisionClub/portsdown4#installation-for-batc-portsdown-rpi-4-version Portsdown 4 Build Instructions]
-If building a card using a Portsdown system with a touchscreen, follow the normal build instructions, but then select "M3" and "Web Control Disabled" which should change to "Web Control Enabled", then select "Exit" and follow the instructions below.
+If building a card using a Portsdown system with a touchscreen, follow the normal build instructions, but then select "M3" and "Web Control Disabled" which should change to "Web Control Enabled", then select "Exit" and follow the instructions below.  Again, do not connect the RSPdx during the build.
 Once the build has finished and the Raspberry Pi has rebooted, connect the SDRPlay RSPdx to the USB2 socket.  Then:

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:47, 3 November 2023
Line 65:		Line 65:

	It is quite normal for meteor "pings" to be only visible on one stream, but a number are visible on multiple streams. This is the sort of data that will be analysed in later stages of the project.		It is quite normal for meteor "pings" to be only visible on one stream, but a number are visible on multiple streams. This is the sort of data that will be analysed in later stages of the project.
		+
		+	===Timing Reference===
		+
		+	To enable future offline analysis of meteor echoes from disparate receivers, a 1 pps tining reference is coupled into the aerial feed. The original units were designed by And G4JNT and he has described them here. [[:File:GB3MBA_Timing_Module.pdf]]
		+
		+	The block diagram of a complete receiver is shown here:
		+
		+	[[File:MeteorBlock.gif\|800px]]
		+
		+	A re-design of the timing board is underway to make the interconnection of units simpler.

	===Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming===		===Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming===

@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 Using a Raspberry Pi 4 with no screen connected, build a new Portsdown 4 SD Card using the instructions here: [https://github.com/BritishAmateurTelevisionClub/portsdown4#installation-for-batc-portsdown-rpi-4-version Portsdown 4 Build Instructions]
-If building a card using a Portsdown system with a touchscreen, follow the normal build instructions, but then select "M3" and "Web Control Disabled" which should change to "Web Control Enabled", then select "Exit", "M1" and follow the instructions below.
+If building a card using a Portsdown system with a touchscreen, follow the normal build instructions, but then select "M3" and "Web Control Disabled" which should change to "Web Control Enabled", then select "Exit" and follow the instructions below.
 Once the build has finished and the Raspberry Pi has rebooted, connect the SDRPlay RSPdx to the USB2 socket.  Then:

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:23, 20 October 2023
Line 69:		Line 69:

	Using a Raspberry Pi 4 with no screen connected, build a new Portsdown 4 SD Card using the instructions here: [https://github.com/BritishAmateurTelevisionClub/portsdown4#installation-for-batc-portsdown-rpi-4-version Portsdown 4 Build Instructions]		Using a Raspberry Pi 4 with no screen connected, build a new Portsdown 4 SD Card using the instructions here: [https://github.com/BritishAmateurTelevisionClub/portsdown4#installation-for-batc-portsdown-rpi-4-version Portsdown 4 Build Instructions]
		+
		+	If building a card using a Portsdown system with a touchscreen, follow the normal build instructions, but then select "M3" and "Web Control Disabled" which should change to "Web Control Enabled", then select "Exit", "M1" and follow the instructions below.

	Once the build has finished and the Raspberry Pi has rebooted, connect the SDRPlay RSPdx to the USB2 socket. Then:		Once the build has finished and the Raspberry Pi has rebooted, connect the SDRPlay RSPdx to the USB2 socket. Then:

@@ Line 85: / Line 85: @@
-* On restart, the MeteorViewer display should show a waterfall in "local" mode.
+* On restart, (after waiting for the Leo Bodnar GPS to stabilise) the MeteorViewer display should show a waterfall in "local" mode.
 * Click "System" and then "Streaming Menu".
 * Click "Set Client Number".  A keyboard will appear.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:47, 5 October 2023
Line 57:		Line 57:

	In this mode, MeteorView does not require a touchscreen display and can run totally headless.		In this mode, MeteorView does not require a touchscreen display and can run totally headless.
		+
		+	The streaming settings are accessed from System", "Streaming Menu". The "Server IP" and "Server Port" are set with the correct default values and should not be changed.
		+
		+	The "Client Number" determines which panel on the 6-panel web display at http://95.154.252.125:7682/ the stream is displayed on. Client numbers 3 and 5 should be used for ad hoc testing. Permanent assignemnt of client numbers should be discussed with G4NNS or G8GKQ. Once the client number has been correctly set, touch the "Local Display" button and the streaming should commence. You should see the waterfall appear on the web page within a few seconds.
		+
		+	The RF and IF gains for the stream are set from the "Settings", "Gain" menu. The "Streaming RF Gain" and "Streaming IF Gain" should be set with reference to the web page. AGC should be off.
		+
		+	It is quite normal for meteor "pings" to be only visible on one stream, but a number are visible on multiple streams. This is the sort of data that will be analysed in later stages of the project.

	===Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming===		===Building an SD Card for Unattended MeteorView Streaming===

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 The SDRplay RSPdx is particularly suited to receiving reflections of GB3MBA from meteors, because it includes a preamp for 50 MHz which (in the specific driver used by Portsdown) is enabled at frequencies above 50.0 MHz.  The preamp is sensitive enough to receive local noise, and the positioning of the aerial needs to be carefully considered to maximise the reception of reflections whilst minimising local noise pickup.
-As the most common altitude for meteor reflections is about 100 km, and the GB3MBA beacon points vertically upwards, aerials should be aomed at that volume in the sky for the striongets echoes.  This table lists the optimum elevation angle depending on your distance from the beacon (which is near Mansfield at at 53d 06m 51s N 1d 13m 20s W IO93JC).
+As the most common altitude for meteor reflections is about 100 km, and the GB3MBA beacon points vertically upwards, aerials should be aimed at that volume in the sky for the strongest echoes.  This table lists the optimum elevation angle depending on your distance from the beacon (which is near Mansfield at 53d 06m 51s N 1d 13m 20s W IO93JC).
 {| class="wikitable"
 ! Distance !! Elevation

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 "Set Wfall Timespan" on the "More Wfall Config" Menu should always be set to 0.
-None of these settings have any effect when the siftware is set to stream to the central server.
+None of these settings have any effect when the software is set to stream to the central server.
 ===Streaming Data to a Central Server===

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
-Span widths of 5 kHz and 2.5 kHz are also available.  The image above shows 5 kHz span width with 1 second timing pulses (hardware generated in the official beacon network receivers) at 50.4065 MHz and a meteor reflection at 50.408 MHz.
+Span widths of 5 kHz and 2.5 kHz are also available.  The image above shows 5 kHz span width with 1 second timing pulses (hardware generated in the official beacon network receivers) at 50.406 MHz and a meteor reflection at 50.408 MHz.
 The other waterfall configuration settings (accessed from the Waterfall Config menu) are more complex.
 "Set Wfall Base Level" sets the signal level (in the range 0 to - 80 dB) where the waterfall displays black.  "Set Wfall Range" adds to the base level and sets the muber of dBs above the base level that displays white.  These should be set so that all the signals to be displayed on the waterfall come within the range.  A colour scale is displayed alongside the classic spectrum view to make this adjustment easier.
 ===Streaming Data to a Central Server===