Alt-Az telescope mount for Antenna
Hello all, I'm new to the boards here and was browsing through and saw a post a few weeks ago about using an Alt az Telescope mount as an antenna rotor.
I didn't see a response so I'll add my .0661 Malaysan Ringgits based on my experience as an Amateur Astronomer.
First I have to presume that the OP already has the mount in question as a purpose made rotor could be had for a lot less money.
First I'd think wind load on a typical antenna wouldn't be that much, but I would mount the antenna with it's center of gravity as close as possible to the elevation axis. Since a telescope would be mounted with its CG ON the Elevation axis, you'd want to keep the Antennas CG as close as possible to minimize and torque loads on the gears. I'd also use a sturdy dovetail mount, though that being said it looks like the mount in question is more than capable of handling the weight.
Also make sure that the antenna will clear all aprt of the mount though it's entire range travel.
As for tracking, I'm not sure if it will track fast enough. I couldn't find any specs in that regard. I know the Meade Autostar can accept Keplarian elements and track sats. Quite frankly it looks like a pain to upload them and I've never tried it, though I've been tempted.
Since I've gotten interested in working the birds (Still have yet to make a QSO, Building an antenna and amassing the needed equipment), I've been looking at my Orion EQ1 German mount as a possible rotor. It's a basic Mount and I've figured if I mount the antenna with the beam paralell to the Dec shaft, alI have to do is set the lattitude comlimentary to the Max elevation (90 Deg - Max El) and point the RA shaft opposite the Max Elevation Azimuth, it will track the path of the sat. It won't track using the Clock drive, but I should be able to keep up using the slow motion controls. That being said, substututing a faster motor shouldn't be too difficult for a later project.
Hope this helps.
Now if someone could show me how to reply to thread on the archives......
73
Rick K7TEJ DM33vq
Hello all,
I have a little description on using a Celestron Alt-Az mount for small microwave antennas. You can find it on my website at www.dd1us.de in the section ham downloads. It is presently only in German but as there are pictures included you should understand the concept. The name is "Die NexStar GT Montierung als Präzisionsrotor für Mikrowellenantennen".
The speed of the mount should be sufficient to also track LEOs as it is used for the same purpose for tracking satellites with the telescope itself.
There is a freeware program called satellite tracker which does this.
One problem is that the mount has a clutch and if the torque (like Rick explained below) gets to high it will slip.
Best regards
Matthias DD1US
www.dd1us.de
-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] Im Auftrag von saguaroastro@cox.net Gesendet: Mittwoch, 2. Juni 2010 01:58 An: amsat-bb@amsat.org Betreff: [amsat-bb] Alt-Az telescope mount for Antenna
Hello all, I'm new to the boards here and was browsing through and saw a post a few weeks ago about using an Alt az Telescope mount as an antenna rotor.
I didn't see a response so I'll add my .0661 Malaysan Ringgits based on my experience as an Amateur Astronomer.
First I have to presume that the OP already has the mount in question as a purpose made rotor could be had for a lot less money.
First I'd think wind load on a typical antenna wouldn't be that much, but I would mount the antenna with it's center of gravity as close as possible to the elevation axis. Since a telescope would be mounted with its CG ON the Elevation axis, you'd want to keep the Antennas CG as close as possible to minimize and torque loads on the gears. I'd also use a sturdy dovetail mount, though that being said it looks like the mount in question is more than capable of handling the weight.
Also make sure that the antenna will clear all aprt of the mount though it's entire range travel.
As for tracking, I'm not sure if it will track fast enough. I couldn't find any specs in that regard. I know the Meade Autostar can accept Keplarian elements and track sats. Quite frankly it looks like a pain to upload them and I've never tried it, though I've been tempted.
Since I've gotten interested in working the birds (Still have yet to make a QSO, Building an antenna and amassing the needed equipment), I've been looking at my Orion EQ1 German mount as a possible rotor. It's a basic Mount and I've figured if I mount the antenna with the beam paralell to the Dec shaft, alI have to do is set the lattitude comlimentary to the Max elevation (90 Deg - Max El) and point the RA shaft opposite the Max Elevation Azimuth, it will track the path of the sat. It won't track using the Clock drive, but I should be able to keep up using the slow motion controls. That being said, substututing a faster motor shouldn't be too difficult for a later project.
Hope this helps.
Now if someone could show me how to reply to thread on the archives......
73
Rick K7TEJ DM33vq
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (2)
-
Matthias Bopp -
saguaroastro＠cox.net