Radio Telescopes 101

Kevin Lloyd describes how to build an inexpensive working radio telescope -- no degree in engineering required.
Links discussed throughout the meeting:
List of SDRs www.rtl-sdr.com/big-list-rtl-...
List of Dongles www.rtl-sdr.com/buy-rtl-sdr-d...
Radio Sky Pipe www.radiosky.com/skypipeishere...
Radio Sky Pipe on Arduino cygnusa.blogspot.com/2014/09/a...
Virtual Cable software vb-audio.com/Cable/
RTL Bridge cygnusa.blogspot.com/2014/07/...
Radio-Skypipe Developer website radiosky.com/softwarehome.html Radio Eyes is particularly interesting.
Wavelength calculator www.omnicalculator.com/physic...
Basic Antenna theory www.digikey.com/en/articles/u...
Intro to Radio Astronomy booklet www.radio-astronomy.org/pdf/s...
Basic Build Instructions to Hear Meteors www.rasc.ca/sites/default/fil...
Example of Hearing Meteors • 2021 March 15 - Meteor...

[@garypaulson5202]

Very informative! I have dabbled a bit using and SDR and an outdoor FM antenna for meteor detection. Also got a Nooelec small parabolic dish and the Sawbird H1 LNA and hydrogen line filter. That isn't set up yet but you got me a lot closer with the Radio SkyPipe idea. There is also a Radio Sky Spectrograph and bridge software that is compatible with the rtl_tcp program i want to use on an R Pi. Fun stuff to experiment with, thanks for the video

[@migalito1955]

Thanks, guys and gals.
I am 68 and retired and while some may say I have too many hobbies radio telescopes are a good fit for one of my hobbies which is amature radio. Hence, I do expect to give this form of observing what's beyond our blue dot a go.
Like many, I assumed it took a lot of expensive equipment to have an effective tool & indeed it does not.....

[@mhaa]

Absolutely correct, especially with how good and how cheap technology has gotten in the past 20 years. I strongly suggest reaching out to your local astronomy related hobby groups and associations to find some peers, as well. Peers in these very technical hobbies can accelerate your growth and reduce potential frustrations a ton!

[@qzorn4440]

wow people need to watch this video? Most people just want a backyard good-to-go SDR radio telescope kit learning course to get started without going to garage sales. 😎 thanks.