antenna direction calibration
You'd think I would have this figured out by now. I never paid very close attention to exact antenna direction until now. I mean the satellite was always within the beam pattern. I tried the SuM part of Satpc32. I am thinking of trying some EME, and I looked up the boom of the yagi' and I was about 8* high and maybe 10* to the right of the moon, still probably within the half power point of the beams. This is where the obsessive part comes along, should I use the moon as the "grand phooba" of calibration? Or compass true/mag. I mean the moon is "pretty" consistent. As always the collective thoughts of this bb are never wrong. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle
The sun is probably even better...
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob- W7LRD" w7lrd@comcast.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 10:29 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna direction calibration
You'd think I would have this figured out by now. I never paid very close attention to exact antenna direction until now. I mean the satellite was always within the beam pattern. I tried the SuM part of Satpc32. I am thinking of trying some EME, and I looked up the boom of the yagi' and I was about 8* high and maybe 10* to the right of the moon, still probably within the half power point of the beams. This is where the obsessive part comes along, should I use the moon as the "grand phooba" of calibration? Or compass true/mag. I mean the moon is "pretty" consistent. As always the collective thoughts of this bb are never wrong. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle
Only if your program is accurate and operating correctly. The Sun is not a smooth mover, at say Noon, it is not due south in AZ all the time.
Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 7/14/2013 11:06 PM, George Henry wrote:
The sun is probably even better...
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob- W7LRD" w7lrd@comcast.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 10:29 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna direction calibration
You'd think I would have this figured out by now. I never paid very close attention to exact antenna direction until now. I mean the satellite was always within the beam pattern. I tried the SuM part of Satpc32. I am thinking of trying some EME, and I looked up the boom of the yagi' and I was about 8* high and maybe 10* to the right of the moon, still probably within the half power point of the beams. This is where the obsessive part comes along, should I use the moon as the "grand phooba" of calibration? Or compass true/mag. I mean the moon is "pretty" consistent. As always the collective thoughts of this bb are never wrong. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle
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
There's also the Heavens Above website, which will tell you exactly when local Noon is. The Sun will be at 180 degrees Az at that time. The disadvantage of this is that it will also be high in the sky, reducing accuracy. Unless you're at a high latitude... Bob wins on this one. Greg KO6TH
Joe nss@mwt.net wrote:
Only if your program is accurate and operating correctly. The Sun is not a smooth mover, at say Noon, it is not due south in AZ all the time.
Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 7/14/2013 11:06 PM, George Henry wrote:
The sun is probably even better...
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob- W7LRD" w7lrd@comcast.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 10:29 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna direction calibration
You'd think I would have this figured out by now. I never paid very close attention to exact antenna direction until now. I mean the satellite was always within the beam pattern. I tried the SuM part
of
Satpc32. I am thinking of trying some EME, and I looked up the boom of the yagi' and I was about 8* high and maybe 10* to the right of the moon, still probably within the half power point of the beams. This is where the obsessive part comes along, should I use the moon as the "grand phooba" of calibration? Or compass true/mag. I mean
the
moon is "pretty" consistent. As always the collective thoughts of this bb are never wrong. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle
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
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
Hi Bob, I use the Sun, late in the afternoon. The satellite program tells me where the Sun should be, and I aim the rotor to match. Then up on the roof I go, to align the rotor mount so the shadow runs down the beam. Worked quite well for aiming at AO-40. Of course in the Pacific Cloudy West, you may have to wait awhile for a clear day... Greg KO6TH
Bob- W7LRD w7lrd@comcast.net wrote:
You'd think I would have this figured out by now. I never paid very close attention to exact antenna direction until now. I mean the satellite was always within the beam pattern. I tried the SuM part of Satpc32. I am thinking of trying some EME, and I looked up the boom of the yagi' and I was about 8* high and maybe 10* to the right of the moon, still probably within the half power point of the beams. This is where the obsessive part comes along, should I use the moon as the "grand phooba" of calibration? Or compass true/mag. I mean the moon is "pretty" consistent. As always the collective thoughts of this bb are never wrong. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle _______________________________________________ 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 (4)
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Bob- W7LRD -
George Henry -
Greg Dolkas -
Joe