In the event that a Digital Video Broadcasting card is installed on your computer, and you also have close at hand a cable, LNB, and standard domestic satellite antenna, you can freely access and process files from Meteosat-8/9/10.

All you need is a software utility such as MSG Data Manager, which should cater to the needs of both scientists and novices, what with its approachable GUI that should make the interaction with it a breeze.

First of all, it should be pointed out that MSG Data Manager can handle not only data sent by Meteosat-8/9/10 but also files received from the EUMETSAT FTP service. What the software utility does with said information is process and turn it into images while also letting you remove irrelevant content.

You can choose from 12 different channels when processing your images, and during the operation, keeping some raw data is possible.

What is also worth mentioning is that the application can run either on the computer that handles data reception or on a different PC from the network. Either way, it can constantly keep an eye on the reception PC in order to spot and copy new files.

In terms of data types it can process, users may want to know that support for both LRIT and HRIT Meteosat SEVIRI data is provided along with Meteosat-5 and Meteosat-7 files. What’s more, MDD, MPEF, GTS, and DCP data can be read by the app.

It is also relevant to bring into discussion the fact that data decompression and reduction should raise no difficulty, as is the case of gamma-correction temperature calibration and histogram equalization.

Other features worth mentioning are email alerts, priority drop, graphical display detailing the scan progress, and many others.

On an ending note, MSG Data Manager is an all-encompassing software utility whose purpose is to collect image data from various weather satellites. The program comes with an extensive set of features any enthusiast could benefit from, and a well put-together user manual is integrated for those who want to minimize the trial and error stage.