Linux software.

wsat is the Linux weathersatellite program. It is compiled under Redhat, gcc v2.7, for Intel PC using GTK

Sources are available; see download section.

Contents.

Short feature overview of version 2010.10:

Read, write and show following formats:
- PGM format (1 and 2 bytes per pixel)
- PPM format
- GIF format (read of pictures with big smooth areas doesn't work properly)
- HRPT1 format
- MHRPT1 format
- CHRPT1 format
- HRI1 format
Record using the FPGA-decoder:
- HRPT1
- CHRPT1
- HRI
- Raw
Linearize (C)HRPT pictures
Despeckle
Temperature mapping
Skip faulty lines
Auto calc. lum thresholds
Add grid (HRI)
Combine channels to get colorized pictures
Align channels of CHRPT pictures
Read and save NORAD 2-lines Kepler data
Auto save Kepler data after record
Add lon/lat lines in (C)HRPT picture
Conversion channels 3-5 into temperature (HRPT)
Batch (non-gui) mode for record
USB interface

Download.

NOTE: Use new page for newer versions.

Version	Type	Download	Download size	Comment
2018.1 beta3	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2018_1_beta3.tgz	150k	tracker used to set decoder
2018.1 beta	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2018_1_beta.tgz	150k	opt. -ts: tracker window separated
2017.6	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2017_6.tgz	150k	Added option to disable read decoder mode
2017.5	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2017_5.tgz	150k	Added reed solomon Separate choices for FY-AB and C
2017.4	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2017_4.tgz	150k	capture usb-data enhanced prepared for ft232h
2017.3b	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2017_3.tgz	150k	'Live' Fengyun during record Fengyun format decoding, translation to C10 format File manager: time-of-files added; sort by time
2017.2a	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2017_2.tgz	140k	Added Fengyun (beta) wait times adapted; all satellites: unit of 1/6 sec metfy3x filename format
2017.1c	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2017_1.tgz	140k	Added write in hpt format Metop: catch callibration bugfix test_min bugfix tracker: limits manual window
2016.7a	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2016_7.tgz	140k	Added write in jpeg Corrected AVHRR extraction; ch 1->2->3->4->5->1
2016.6a	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2016_6.tgz	140k	metop: destrip save colour mapping channels 'save'-bug fixed
2016.5c	wsat compiled with Fedora 14	wsat_2016_5_beta.tgz	138k	enhanced metop support Changed default XY: X/Y=0 -> east/north
2015.03	wsat compiled with Fedora 8	wsat_201503.tgz	132k	Many fixes in tracker
2015.02	wsat compiled with Fedora 8	wsat.tgz	117k	Support Meteor-HRPT n1,n2 Added tracker
2.0	Needed GTK-libs	Is most likely already installed on your Linux OS		GTK
2010	wsat compiled with Fedora 8	wsat_2010.tgz	120k	Support METEOR-HRPT Support 2010 decoder
2015.03b parport	wsat using parallel port instead of USB	wsat_pp.tgz	136k		for 1995 decoder

libftd2xx.so

Installation

Download wsat.tgz
Untar: tar -zxf wsat.tgz
Copy wsat into (e,g.) $HOME/bin.

Download old versions.

Version	Type	Download	Download size	Sources available	Comment
2009.01	wsat compiled with Redhat 9	wsat.gz	117k	see next table	ID NOAA19 added
2005.05	(Previous version) wsat compiled with Redhat 9	wsat_2005.gz	117k	see next table	ID NOAA18 added
1.2 / 0.9.1 1.2 / 0.0.10	Needed GTK-libs	Is most likely already installed on your Linux OS		GTK

Source code

Version	Type	Download	Size
2017.05	wsat code	wsat_src_2017_5.zip	320k
2010.01	wsat code	wsat_src.zip	206k

Installation (old versions)

The program itself:

Download wsat.gz
gunzip wsat
chmod +x wsat

If you want to try wsat without actually recording you can put wsat where you like. However, if you want to record as normal user then wsat needs super-user privilege, to access the parallel port.
The next steps you have to do as super-user (under root):

Copy wsat to e.g. /usr/bin
chmod +s wsat

Now check if wsat runs. If you get an error message like:
wsat: can't load library 'libgtk-1.2.so.0'
you need to install the gtk libraries.

NOTE: It seems that the new gtk-libs don't allow to run programs with super-user privilege by non-root users. Which means that you need to be root to record with wsat. This issue has to be solved in a proper way...

Install libs:

Double-check if you have gtk-libs:

ls /usr/local/lib/libgtk*so*
ls /usr/local/lib/libgdk*so*
ls /usr/local/lib/libgmodule*so*
ls /usr/local/lib/libglib*so*

If they are there you probably need to add /usr/local/lib to the file /etc/ld.so.conf.
Otherwise install the gtk-libraries.

Download gtk_lib.tar.gz (you need to do this as 'root')
gunzip gtk_libs.tar
mv gtk_libs.tar to /usr/local
tar -xf gtk_libs.tar ==> the gtk-libs are now in directory /usr/local/lib
Check /etc/ld.so.conf. If the line: /usr/local/lib isn't present, add it using a text editor. In that case you have to activate it:
- /sbin/ldconfig
(Or reboot your system.)

NOTE:

To make sure that data transfer from the parallel port is reliable (especially for a long time) make sure that:

Power-saving feature of PC is Off
No printer driver is installed for the used parallel port

That's it!

Note on wsat installation.

The way described here to install wsat (with the chmod +s command) is not really nice because normal users have now super-user privilege via wsat. This has to be changed some day (using a driver, it shouldn't be necessary to give wsat super-user privilege).
For single-user systems the 'superuser-wsat' is not a real problem.

Reported bugs:

None (but of course, there are...)

Test version.

This is a test version of wsat.exe. It can be changed any time without notice and can show unexpected behaviour. For normal use download this version!

Version	Type	Download	Download size	Comment
v3g_beta	wsat program	wsat_beta.tgz	192k	Meteor N2: fix in format all fixed now (plot during record still to fix) fixed gamma setting adapted filenaming with 'file save'
	libfile for USB ftd driver	libftd2xx.so

Comments MeteorM-N2:

During record there is no proper channel drawing. (to be fixed).
Reading a MeteorM-N2 data-file is supported for files generated/captured by wsat or other programs.
If wsat is used for capturing a header will be added with length 1024 (=framelength), starting with sign "M2HR".
This sign is used by wsat to recognize the file type. If this header is missing (e.g. because the source of the file is not from wsat) then wsat will still try to detect the file type. Normally a Meteor-HRPT file without the header is recognized by wsat.