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At one time you could get facsimile decoder software for the PC that worked by playing the shortwave weather facsimile audio into your sound card. Something interesting to do combining shortwave listening and PCs.
The early weather satellites used a single point sensor that worked by spinning the satellite at the facsimile rate cross-wise to its orbital path. Later satellites had more video detail, but the signal was also converted to facsimile. A couple of short wave stations (I think one in New Orleans and one in Hawaii?) rebroadcast the satellite images plus weather charts. Don't know if they still do, but I should try to resurrect the old software and the shortwave receiver. The guys selling the shortwave converters also sold plans and kits for picking up the satellites directly, but again, I don't know if the current satellites provide the facsimile signal any more.
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