Hi Kyle,
I have an ST2 myself and use an old Cornell Doublier for azimuth, and an Alliance type U100 for elevation.
I put the control interface with a seperate PSU into a 2U cabinet that was used for other equipment, along with the transformers/phasing capacitors for each rotator - I used relays for switching the motors/directions with some diodes to stop reverse spikes from the relays getting back to the interface transistors.
I had no problems at all using this with a small dual band 2m/70cm yagi from Sandpiper, last year I upgraded my antennas and found a few issues with the controller not wanting to play.
I found if I disconnected my radio from the antennas, I had control of the rotators - re-installed the original antenna, and finding everything working again, I worked out I had some sort of earth loop weirdness going on.
My Sandpiper dual bander has a dipole feed for each band, isolated from the antenna boom, the new larger yagis for each band both have a gamma match, and grounded booms - this was what caused my issue with my controller.
Switching from an aluminium pole, to fiberglass for the elevation boom fixed my problem - not sure if this would possibly help with your scenario, it may be worth looking at.
I would also check to make sure you have run through the calibration procedure for the interface.
I've successfully used the tracker with various bits of software (HRD rotator software, SDR V.1 console and others).
If I was to buy another, I would go for Howards LVB version from Amsat.
Good luck with getting it up and running.
Matty MD0MAN
Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2013 12:19:01 -0600 From: "K&R Yoksh" [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Fw: Foxdelta ST-2 / LVB Tracker Message-ID: 156EAB2B86C041DE8991016DDFEFDEE0@main2 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=response
Hello Howard,
Thanks for the reply. I have posted on the FoxDelta email group, but haven't received a reply. I should mention that I don't think that the ST-2 is malfunctioning, nor do I think that your code has a problem. I just have a different type of rotator than the typical Yaesu. It would certainly make things easier if I did, but it would be quite an ordeal to change the rotator in my situation.
I did not know the background of the Foxdelta vs. the LVB. I do understand that Amsat gets a donation with every LVB, and my intention was / is to donate again to Amsat when I can.
I can certainly see where you're coming from re: the IP. I guess if nothing else, the ham satellite community as a whole benefits from your public domain IP, which helps generate more interest in satellites and satellite operation.
As far as the hardware and software goes, I'll look at the grounding, but I am thinking that the issue lies in the fact that CDE uses a 12 volt feedback POT.. I built a simple resistor voltage divider back when I first got my Kansas City Tracker, so that the KCT would see 0-5v instead. This approach gives the KCT (or LVB) the correct voltage range, but I believe it may lower the resolution of the feedback system?
I'll also try some ferrites on the leads from the CDE rotator box, in case transients are to blame.
I'm certainly no programmer, but the software seems to stop the rotator immediately when the ADC sample value equals the target azimuth value. Once the antennas stop moving, the final location is different by 20 degrees or so. Once the rotator stops moving, however, the software doesn't recheck to see if the rotator is actually where it needs to be.
My idea was to either change the ADC sample rate, or perhaps add a pause after the rotator stops, and repeat the routine to "fine tune" position. This is why I have been trying to recompile your source.. I've already got PICs programmed with your 0.7 and 0.9 HEX files..
73, many thanks.
Kyle K0KN