Open Hardware Weather Radar

Explore the fascinating world of open hardware weather radar in this 34-minute conference talk from linux.conf.au 2022. Delve into the history of radar meteorology and learn about the hardware required to build a modern solid-state X-band phased array radar. Discover how to use RX/TX SDR (LimeSDR) to observe moisture in the air and precipitation using microwave frequencies in ISM bands. Gain insights into advanced topics such as radar polarisation, radar cross section based on precipitation density and drop shape, and Doppler-based retrieval of precipitation motion and wind information. Understand the community and social benefits of increased weather observability, including a case study of radar deployment in Africa. The talk covers various aspects of radar design, including frequency doublers, power amplifiers, antennas, and funding challenges, providing a comprehensive overview of open hardware weather radar technology.