On Twitter user @uhf_satcom has been using a HackRF software defined radio together with GNU Radio, a tracking L-Band antenna and this HRPT decoding software to receive and decode HRPT weather satellite images. He used GNU Radio to output to a .RAW16 file, which the HRPT decoding software was then able to use to produce an image.

Finally! HRPT via SDR; http://t.co/MvLWcByZfB – hackRF + GNUradio + tracking L-Band antenna, and HRPT decoder tool = great images 😉

— UHF Satcom (@uhf_satcom) August 12, 2013

 

HackRF + GNU radio HRPT demod output as .RAW16 feeding David Taylors HRPT decoder; http://t.co/0TbWxpFulM – Roll on the next pass 😉

— UHF Satcom (@uhf_satcom) August 12, 2013

 

HRPT is a picture transmission protocol which stands for High Resolution Picture Transmission. There are multiple satellites which broadcast weather images in this format including the NOAA, GOES, Metop-A and Feng Yun satellites. These satellites transmit HRPT at about 1.7 GHz.

@uhf_satcom also tried to receive these images with the RTL-SDR, but was unsuccessful. But you can still receive the lower resolution APT weather satellite images using the RTL-SDR.

Below are some examples of the images he was able to receive.

Update: This is an image of the L-band antenna he used.