How to track weather balloons with a Raspberry Pi and RTL-SDR

Did you know you could track weather balloons that are sent up by the National Weather Service? In this video, I show you how to install the Radiosonde Auto RX tracking software using a Raspberry Pi and RTL-SDR.

DISCLAIMER
This video is not sponsored. The items in this video were purchased with my own money. Some links in the description are affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission should you buy anything through those links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

SOFTWARE
Radiosonde Auto RX software: https://github.com/projecthorus/radio...
Raspberry Pi OS Lite 64-bit installation: https://www.k9swx.com/raspberry-pi-os...

HARDWARE
Raspberry Pi 4 Kit: https://amzn.to/3XvDkMx
RTL-SDR v3 w/antenna: https://amzn.to/3SmqWeJ
(if v3 is sold out try the v4 model below)
RTL-SDR v4 w/antenna: https://amzn.to/3TCra1T
N9TAX Slim Jim antenna (custom tuned to 403 MHz): https://n9taxlabs.com/shop/ols/produc...

BALLOON TRACKING WEBSITES
Sondehub: https://www.sondehub.org
SQ6KXY Radiosonde Tracker: https://radiosondy.info/

CONNECT
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#k9swx #hamradio #radiosonde

CHAPTERS
00:00 [Intro]
00:10 [Sondehub overview]
02:30 [What is a radiosonde?]
03:09 [Required hardware]
04:10 [N9TAX Slim Jim custom antenna]
06:44 [Raspbian software]
07:40 [Radiosonde_Auto_RX installation]
31:28 [Tracking the balloon on Sondehub]
34:19 [First signal from balloon]
36:12 [Balloon path and predicted landing spot]
38:40 [First attempt to hear signal on HT]
39:33 [Tracking the balloon on SQ6KXY radiosonde tracker]
41:55 [Historical balloon data]
44:40 [Balloon data table]
46:31 [Waiting for others to pick up balloon]
48:26 [Sondehub updated predictions]
49:22 [Hearing radiosonde on HT]
52:02 [Other stations hearing balloon]
53:05 [Where did the balloon go?]
54:15 [Summary]
54:32 [Like and Subscribe!]