Receiving weather satellite pictures
Polar-orbiting weather satellites pass about 800 km overhead several times a day, transmitting pictures of the ground beneath them as they go. Anyone can receive them: the transmissions are broadcast for public use, and all you need is an RTL-SDR or similar USB radio, a simple antenna outdoors with a clear view of the sky, and free software. SatDump is the most popular decoder, and it turns a recording of a pass into a picture with country outlines and colour.
The American NOAA satellites, which sent the easy-to-decode analogue APT pictures that most people started with, were switched off in 2025. The Russian Meteor-M satellites still transmit digital LRPT pictures on 137.900 MHz, which need a cleaner signal but give much sharper results. A good pass, above about 30°, gives a strip of picture around 2,800 km wide covering the UK and much of Europe.
The antenna
The V-dipole is the easiest antenna to start with: two quarter-wave rods in a horizontal V with 120° between them, fed with coax, with the arms pointing north and south. It favours the overhead parts of a pass and rejects low-level interference. A QFH (quadrifilar helix) or turnstile antenna gives better coverage near the horizon and is the next step. Mount the antenna outdoors, as high and clear as you can, and keep the coax short. An FM broadcast filter helps a lot near transmitters, as 88–108 MHz signals can overload a cheap SDR.
Is it legal?
Yes. Weather satellite pictures are transmitted for anyone to receive, and receiving them with your own equipment is legal in the UK and most countries. This page only predicts when the satellites pass over, using openly published orbit data. Not every satellite signal is public, though: in the UK it's an offence to decode and use messages not intended for you, such as satellite phone traffic, so stick to weather, amateur and broadcast signals.
Questions
Can I still receive NOAA weather satellites?
No. NOAA 15, 18 and 19 were switched off in 2025. The Meteor-M satellites on 137.900 MHz are the main option for 137 MHz pictures now.
What do I need to receive weather satellite pictures?
An RTL-SDR or similar receiver, a V-dipole or QFH antenna outdoors, and decoding software such as SatDump.
How long is each leg of a 137 MHz V-dipole?
About 53 cm, with 120° between the legs.
Is it legal to receive weather satellite images?
Yes. They're broadcast for public use and receiving them is legal in the UK and most countries.