Again, thinking to FD...
- My FT-847 predates bi-directional CAT i.e. no computer assisted Doppler - I may be the only one at the station i.e. no helper to man the antenna (Arrow), so I may need to do everything. - assume the transponder LEO birds
Has anyone tried this?:
1) mount a standard TV antenna horizontal 2) align the horizontal rotor axis 90 deg to the orbit tilt (inclination?) of the intended bird (so if the bird went directly overhead, a beam mounted on the mast would track) 3) but, mount the antenna on the horizontal mast such that it can be set tilted off the mast 0 to 90 degs to the mast axis (from horizon to zenith, and in practice set it to the maximum elevation of the intended pass) 4) operation: set the rotator (in 2) and aim the beam to the AOS point of the pass (in 3), pan the orbit remotely from the operator position. 5) the rotator axis and angle of the beam to mast would have to be set for each pass.
Do-able?
Bill W1PA
Bill, You are mistaken. The FT-847 will work fine with SatPC. I had one and it worked great. I used a G5400 AZ/EL Rotor from Yaesu with the Easy Rotor Tracker module from Germany. I also used the 12v voltage on the coax to power my mast mounted Preamps. I know this doesn't answer your question but trying to do an automated work around to the G5400 or G5500 is going to be a real pain..
73, Craig W1MSG
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Bill (W1PA) Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 10:54 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] a cheap LEO tracker for single op
Again, thinking to FD...
- My FT-847 predates bi-directional CAT i.e. no computer assisted Doppler - I may be the only one at the station i.e. no helper to man the antenna (Arrow), so I may need to do everything. - assume the transponder LEO birds
Has anyone tried this?:
1) mount a standard TV antenna horizontal 2) align the horizontal rotor axis 90 deg to the orbit tilt (inclination?) of the intended bird (so if the bird went directly overhead, a beam mounted on the mast would track) 3) but, mount the antenna on the horizontal mast such that it can be set tilted off the mast 0 to 90 degs to the mast axis (from horizon to zenith, and in practice set it to the maximum elevation of the intended pass) 4) operation: set the rotator (in 2) and aim the beam to the AOS point of the pass (in 3), pan the orbit remotely from the operator position. 5) the rotator axis and angle of the beam to mast would have to be set for each pass.
Do-able?
Bill W1PA
_______________________________________________ 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
FT 847 no computer assisted doppler ? Why ?
My FT 847 happily gets its doppler correction from SatPC32 - all you need is a cable.
Add a cheap tv rotor and a bit of homebrew software and you are all set ! ( http://evolution2enterprises.com/sat/sat.html )
This system works well for me for about 2 years now. Have since upgraded to higher gain antennas, though.
Cheers,
Andreas - VK4TH
________________________________ From: Bill (W1PA) w1pa@hotmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, 29 May 2013 12:54 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] a cheap LEO tracker for single op
Again, thinking to FD...
- My FT-847 predates bi-directional CAT i.e. no computer assisted Doppler - I may be the only one at the station i.e. no helper to man the antenna (Arrow), so I may need to do everything. - assume the transponder LEO birds
Has anyone tried this?:
1) mount a standard TV antenna horizontal 2) align the horizontal rotor axis 90 deg to the orbit tilt (inclination?) of the intended bird (so if the bird went directly overhead, a beam mounted on the mast would track) 3) but, mount the antenna on the horizontal mast such that it can be set tilted off the mast 0 to 90 degs to the mast axis (from horizon to zenith, and in practice set it to the maximum elevation of the intended pass) 4) operation: set the rotator (in 2) and aim the beam to the AOS point of the pass (in 3), pan the orbit remotely from the operator position. 5) the rotator axis and angle of the beam to mast would have to be set for each pass.
Do-able?
Bill W1PA
_______________________________________________ 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
Bill, the older FT-847 (I don't know up to which serial number) didn't allow to poll the VFO frequency. As I understand your mail ("predated bi-directional CAT") you have such older model. CAT control with FM sats should work, because SatPC32 doesn't poll the VFO but only sets the frequency. With SSB sats it will also work, but you can tune the radio around the passband only with the 5 up/down controls or the keyboard. If you tune it with the VFO knob the program will restore the previous frequencies with the next Doppler correction.bcause it can't read the frequency change you made with the knob.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill (W1PA)" w1pa@hotmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 4:54 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] a cheap LEO tracker for single op
Again, thinking to FD...
- My FT-847 predates bi-directional CAT i.e. no computer assisted Doppler
- I may be the only one at the station i.e. no helper to man the antenna
(Arrow), so I may need to do everything.
- assume the transponder LEO birds
Has anyone tried this?:
- mount a standard TV antenna horizontal
- align the horizontal rotor axis 90 deg to the orbit
tilt (inclination?) of the intended bird (so if the bird went directly overhead, a beam mounted on the mast would track) 3) but, mount the antenna on the horizontal mast such that it can be set tilted off the mast 0 to 90 degs to the mast axis (from horizon to zenith, and in practice set it to the maximum elevation of the intended pass) 4) operation: set the rotator (in 2) and aim the beam to the AOS point of the pass (in 3), pan the orbit remotely from the operator position. 5) the rotator axis and angle of the beam to mast would have to be set for each pass.
Do-able?
Bill W1PA
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)
-
Andy Kellner -
Bill (W1PA) -
Craig Gagner -
Erich Eichmann