OnAirSatellite & navigation · Experimental
Decode GOES HRIT with an SDR
OnAir receives GOES HRIT. GOES-16 / 18 / 19 HRIT on 1694.1 MHz (BPSK 927 ksym/s, Viterbi, Reed-Solomon, CCSDS packets, LRIT files): full disk and mesoscale images (Rice, plain or JPEG) grow as their lines arrive, EMWIN weather text and admin messages, saved to a folder. Needs a dish (about 1 m, or a grid) with an LNA at the feed.
What GOES HRIT is
GOES geostationary weather satellites broadcast full-disk and regional pictures, plus text products, on 1694.1 MHz (HRIT / LRIT).
Frequencies and where it is used
GOES-16 / 18 / 19 HRIT on 1694.1 MHz: BPSK 927 ksym/s, K = 7 Viterbi, Reed-Solomon (255,223) x 4, CCSDS VCDU / M_PDU / CP_PDU, LRIT / HRIT files with Rice (CCSDS 121), plain and JPEG images.
In OnAir the tuning shortcut is Weather images, 1694 MHz; you can enter any frequency your radio reaches.
What OnAir shows for GOES HRIT
A product list (full disk, mesoscale, CONUS and relayed images, EMWIN text, admin messages) with an image viewer that grows as the lines arrive, EMWIN ZIP files unpacked, everything saved to a folder. Needs a dish (about 1 m, or a grid antenna) with an LNA and filter at the feed.
This receiver is built from the published specification and checked end to end on simulated signals. It has had little or no testing on real transmissions yet, so reports and recordings on Discord are welcome.
Which radio you need
This mode sits at a high frequency, so check that your radio tunes it: a HackRF covers 1 MHz to 6 GHz, and RTL-SDR stops near 1.7 GHz. Some modes at these frequencies also need a fast radio (10 to 20 Msps) or a dish and an LNB.
Questions about GOES HRIT
Can I decode GOES HRIT with an RTL-SDR?
Probably not: an RTL-SDR tunes up to about 1.7 GHz. A HackRF (1 MHz to 6 GHz) or another wideband radio is the usual choice for this frequency range.
Is it legal to receive GOES HRIT?
Receiving satellite downlinks is generally legal. Encrypted or spread content is not decoded, and voice codecs that are patented are not shipped with OnAir.
Can I try GOES HRIT in OnAir without a radio?
Yes. Most modes include a built-in synthetic test signal, so you can open the screen and try the controls before you own a radio.
Try it without a radio
OnAir includes built-in synthetic test signals for most modes, so you can open this screen, see the layout and try the controls before you own a radio. The Tour button walks you through the app.