Automatic picture transmission receivers for weather satellite images: a brief introduction and survey of some commercially-available equipment

Abstract

The Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) signal is broadcast from several polar-orbiting weather

satellites and provides a means of generating images of meteorological and oceanic features in realtime

on relatively inexpensive equipment. Following a brief description of the APT signal content, and a discussion of the requirements of an APT receiving station, a number of commercially-available systems are described. A list of manufacturers of APT receiving stations is appended (but it is not intended to be exhaustive).