The typical hardware for Meteor Radio Echo Detection consists of the following elements:
- Antenna
- Low noise amplifier (not required but recommended)
- Receiver
- Computer
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| Typical Meteor Echo Detection Setup |
The best antenna is a purpose built (meaning designed for the specific frequency you are monitoring) Yagi. This type of antenna has good gain and directionality and thus can be pointed at the common volume of sky between the transmitter being monitored and the receiving station. My Yagi was built from scratch using aluminum channels from the hardware store. Another type of antenna is a simple dipole. This was my first antenna. Dipoles are less sensitive for this type of work and typically only receive radio reflections from very strong meteor. They will also require a Balun for impedance matching between the antenna and next stage equipment (radio or SDR.)
Low Noise Amplifier
Though not absolute necessity, a low noise amplifier (LNA) is helpful in boosting the signal received by the antenna. A quality LNA will provide the best results.
Receiver
A good quality receiver is must as the majority of meteor radio echoes typically are low level signals barely above the noise floor, and for good signal-to-noise ration (SNR.) Obviously the frequency of coverage must include the frequency being monitored. It can either be a tradional type radio or a software defined radio (SDR.) Since tradional radios primarily convert radio signals into audio signals, additional equipment is needed to visualize the meteor echoes for spectral and waterfall displays of the signal. For SDRs the software running the device includes these features.
Computer
Whether using a tradional receiver or an SDR, the meteor echoes are visualized using a computer running some software as explained in the software section. Note some software packages require relatively powerful computers to process data without choking.