Build a DIY Weather Satellite Dish: And Try Your Hand at Radio Astronomy

The U.S. government recommends that everyone have a disaster kit that includes a weather radio. These radios tune to a nationwide network run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Communications Commission that provides alerts about hazardous weather and other major emergencies. Such broadcasts can be a lifeline when other communication systems go out. But what if you could step it up and get not just audio information but also images, charts, and written reports, even while completely off the grid?