The project aims to create a satellite receiver system to obtain images from NOAA weather satellites. The goals are for the system to be self-sustaining, remotely controlled, and able to receive NOAA APT images. The key components include an antenna, low-noise amplifier (LNA), software-defined radio (RTL-SDR), microcontroller, power system, and cooling system. Team members will work on different subsystems - the antenna, LNA, microcontroller, and power system. A schedule is outlined with milestones for the antenna, LNA, and power system designs. Risks include component failures, delays, and cost overruns. Contingency plans will be made to mitigate these risks.

2. 1. Project Objective and Purpose
Background:
The purpose of the project is to make a satellite receiver to gather NOAA APT
images from several NOAA satellites. NOAA stands for the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration. They have several satellites orbiting the earth
at any time imaging weather around the earth from space. These images are
used by meteorologists to predict weather patterns and as a forewarning of
severe weather.
Objective:
The goals of this project are to make a self sustaining satellite receiver system
that can be placed near buildings, be remote controlled, and be used to obtain
NOAA APT images from NOAA satellites. The objectives of the team will be to
design, simulate, implement, and test a working ground based NOAA Satellite
Radio Station.

3. 2. Outline of the Approach:
Figure 1: SRS Block Diagram

4. Requirements and Design Constraints:
• Power systems should power the device for a 24 hour period
• LNA has little phase change over the channel bandwidth
• LNA has high enough SNR that the APT images are clear and complete
• LNA increases the gain of the signal enough to go through the attenuation of
the SMA cable and detectable from the R820T2 RTL-SDR
• Cooling Systems such as fans and heat sinks should cool all electronics
enough to maintain operability and prevent damage
• Microcomputer/Microcontroller should be able to run all programs necessary
to obtain satellite imaging
• The SRS should be able to be accessed remotely through WIFI
• WIFI antenna should be high enough gain to connect to nearby WIFI sources
• SRS structure should be stable and maintain processing of signals through
operational timeframes
• Antenna must be able to receive signals with frequency range of 137-138
MHz

5. Functions and I/O Interface:
The antenna absorbs the signal and is connected to the LNA through
connectors. The LNA amplifies acquired signal with low noise amplification then
is connected to the SMA cable through SMA connectors. The SMA cable
propagates signal into the RTL-SDR (R820T2) and connected through SMA
connectors. The RTL-SDR (R820T2) demodulates the signal and performs all
signal processing. It is connected to the microcontroller through USB. The
microcontroller runs software programs to lock onto different signals, find
satellites, gathers APT imaging, and then sends them onto the internet through
extended range WIFI antenna into a WIFI modem. The microprocessor is
controlled through external devices connected to the internet. The LNA, RTL-
SDR, cooling systems, and microcontroller are powered by power systems which
connected through wiring. Cooling systems will cool electronics to prevent
overheating.

6. 3. Implementation of the Systems and Sub-
Systems:
Antenna (QHA):
The antenna will be a Quadrifilar Helix Antenna
(QHA) design. This is due to is omnidirectional
cardioid radiation pattern which will absorb the
signal from the satellite. The QHA is designed
through software like HFSS and calculated
manually. The QHA will then be implemented
using PVC piping as support for copper wiring
which will serve as the antenna. The QHA is then
soldered to copper (or metal) plate. The plate is
soldered to a female connecter which can be
connected to a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) through
a male connector.

7. 3. Implementation of the various systems and sub-
systems:
Low Noise Amplifier (LNA):
The male connector inputs the signal into a input
matched network. It then goes to an LNA amplifier
which is connected to a output matching network.
That signal is connected through an SMA
connector to a SMA cable. Power will be provided
to the LNA from the power systems to provide
appropriate bias voltages for the LNA IC. To make
the low noise amplifier a low noise amplifier IC,
electrical/electronic components, connectors, and
PCB will be used. Software tools like ADS and
PCB editor will be used to design and simulate the
low noise amplifier. Manual calculations will be
done as well.

8. SMA Cable
Low Loss SMA cable will be bought and attached
the R820T2 dongle and LNA through SMA
connectors. The 50Ω SMA is coiled in order to
raise the characteristic impedance to match the
load impedance . Matching prevents signal errors
caused by reflection and reduces loss from
reflection.
RTL-SDR (R820T2)
The R820T2 dongle is a software defined radio
(SDR) which handles the signal processing and
demodulation of the signal. The R820T2 dongle is
attached to the SMA cable through it’s SMA
connector and the Microcontroller through the
USB.

9. Microcontroller (MC):
The microcontroller/microcomputer (MC) will the
Raspberry PI 2 Model B. The MC stores all the
programs needed through a Micro SD card. The
MC obtains power from power systems through
wire that has a micro USB connector and a fuse
for extra protection. Another USB connection is
made with the long range WIFI antenna in order to
connect to the internet and output APT Images as
well as be remotely controlled through external
devices. Additionally the MC is connected to the
power systems through wires attached to GPIO
and a resistive model in order to obtain information
about the battery charge.

10. Long Range WIFI Antenna:
A long range WIFI antenna will be attached to the
microcontroller through a USB connection. The
WIFI antenna will send and receive information to
a remote WIFI Modem. Through the internet
external devices can be used to control the SRS
system or view APT images.

11. Power Systems:
The sun will provide energy to solar cells that will be
used to charge a battery. To prevent current from
the battery flowing through the solar cells, a current
flow regulator/diode will be used. The acid or lithium
ion battery is continuously discharged by the
electrical/electronic systems in the SRS. In order to
reach the appropriate current and voltage levels, a
converter will be used to raise or lower the current
and voltage levels as needed. From there a voltage
regulator such as a Zener diode will be used to
maintain constant voltage that which is fed into
several switching power supplies that have
adjustable current and voltages levels. Several
LM2596 DC-DC switching power supply modules
with adjustable current and voltage levels will be
used.

12. Power Systems (Cont.):
Wiring will be used to attach to the output of each
module feeding into the LNA, MC, and Cooling
Systems fans. The MC will have a fuse attached to
it’s power supply in order to protect it. Additionally
it is connected to the MC GPIO through a fuse and
resistive network to monitor the battery.
Cooling Systems
Fans powered by power systems along with heat
sinks will be used to keep the electrical/electronic
systems cool. Keeping the electrical/electronic
systems cool is important to maintain performance
and prevent damage from overheating. The power
systems are connected to the fans through power
wiring.

13. 4. Division of Labor and Responsibilities:
Programming
Software Functioning
Cooling of Microcontroller
Wifi Network
Design and Simulate in HFSS
Anechoic Chamber Test
Construction of Antenna
Design and Simulate in ADS
PCB Layout and Implementation
Testing
Familiarize with Software
Running and testing RTL-SDR
Charging and Discharing Testing
Implementation of Power Systems
Power Systems Testing
Calculations for Power Systems
Calculations and Simulation of
Transmission Lines
EMC and EMI Protection
Implementation of Power Systems
Thermal and Electrical Protection
Shuxiang Wu
Lianyu Li
Zack Lyman
Microcontroller
Antenna
LNA
RTL-SDR (R820T2)
Power Systems
Transmission Lines, Cooling
Systems and Protection

14. Zack Lyman will work on the Antenna and Microcontroller. Zack will design,
simulate, and test the antenna. He must make sure that the antenna works at the
appropriate frequencies and has decent overall reception. He also must program
and add software that will be needed for the SRS system. He will program sending
data through WIFI connections as well as monitoring the output of the battery. He
will make sure the microcontroller will be able to handle all the appropriate
programs. He is also the team leader and will plan, schedule, and make sure tasks
are carried out in appropriate manners in respect to time and priority.
Lianyu Li will work on the LNA and RTL-SDR. He is responsible for design,
simulation, implementation and testing of the LNA. He must understand the
concepts how an LNA works. He will test for noise, amplification, distortion, phase,
signal integrity, and more for the LNA. He will implement the LNA on the PCB
board and will choose the appropriate components that need to be ordered. He is
also in charge of the RTL-SDR R820T2 dongle and functioning of it. He must
understand how the software works with the RTL-SDR and be able to use it.

15. Shuxiang Wu will work on the Power Systems, Cooling Systems, Protection, and
Transmission Lines. He will figure out the appropriate power needs for all the
electrical/electronic devices in the SRS. He must work on design, implementation,
and functionality of the power systems. He must also protect and maintain the
functionality between different systems of all the electrical/electronic circuits
through various components and systems such as cooling systems, fuses, and
more. He must deal with SC, OV, EMC, EMI, ESD, and etc.

16. 5. Schedule:
Antenna
For the milestone 1, using High Frequency Structural Simulator (HFSS) for antenna
design, and the design of complex RF electronic circuit elements including filters,
transmission lines, and packaging. Test the antenna in the Anechoic Chamber Lab
after its implementation.
LNA & Power System
For the milestone 2, design and do the calculation for the low noise amplifier (LNA),
then simulate it in the Advanced Design System (ADS), use EAGLE for the PCB
design as well.
Measure the voltage at the panel and battery pack and calculate the power needed
in order to power up all the electrical devices in this project. Also, design voltage
regulator and switching part for LNA and Raspberry Pi in good efficiency.

17. Schedule:

18. 6. Risks and Contingency Plans:
Power Systems
Some of the issues with the power systems could be the power systems don’t
provide enough energy, accurately or can’t self sustain itself. If the power
systems can’t provide enough energy another alternative would be to buy a
power supplies that hooks directly into AC power source. Additionally we could
borrow a lab power supplies and run SMA down to a nearby location with a lab
power supplies in order to power the devices.
Cable Matching
If coiling the cable doesn’t work, the other alternative is to add a impedance
that is relative distance from the load or to add additional line that is
approximately a quarter of the wavelength. The RTL-SDR (R820T2) has very
little reflection loss, so we may not do anything as long as it doesn’t cause
errors.

19. Programming/ SW Issues
Some of the programming issues could be unable to make the information work
over the internet. The alternative is to have a direct connection to the
Raspberry PI or the R820T2 dongle into a computer.
WIFI Antenna
The WIFI antenna may not reach far enough distance or have good penetration
through walls. In order to recover from this one way is to use a Ethernet cable
and directly plug it into a internet source.
LNA Discrepancies
If an LNA doesn’t function properly, one way to fix this is to do redesign. The
other alternative is to buy a LNA. Instead of designing the LNA, we would
design the power systems completely from scratch in order to complete the
requirements for circuit design.

20. Antenna
The QHA antenna is not easy to build, the other alternative would be to build a
turnstile antenna due to it’s simplicity. However, the reception of this antenna is
not as good as the QHA antenna.
Project Cost
Cost may be a huge issue in this project, one way to fix this is to cut certain
things out of it such as a battery and solar panel but instead use a electrical AC
powered system. We could also buy less expensive components and simplify
the system.

21. Thank You!