Re: Homebrew satellite control system that can run on sBitx
|
Well RATS!!? ?I knew the itty bitty geared DC motors I was using were pretty small.? ?Apparently I stripped a portion of a gear this afternoon.? ?It works find down to about 25 degrees and won't go any lower.....oh DRAT.
?
Scouting out Youtube for brighter people before me, the LINEAR ACTUATORS appear more robust.? ?I picked one out and will give it a try.? ?Dunno if I chose properly or not, we'll find out!!? ? This will require a bit of mechanical re-creation.....
?
On the BRIGHT SIDE, today I managed to get both antenna rotation and radio doppler shift control working FROM THE RASPBERRY (controlling the Icom820H -- controlling the sBitx is far easier).? ?This allows me to simplify my setup for testing.
?
I have also
a) created several "modules" in gpredict so that I can chose the mode (FM or SSB/CW) and downlink band I want to work and easily see what is near.? (Line2MDownlink, Lin70cmDownlink, FM2MDownlink, FM70cmDownlink)?
b) put in 10 different satellite pairs of frequencies into ICOM820H memory so that I can rapidly set the typical offset and middle-of-the-band frequency.? ? The 820H has a way to independently adjust the TX frequency (and hence the offset) to perfection, but I'm not quite "there" yet, having not yet transmitted..... but I'm close!!!
?
So I'm honing in on my operating "fluidity" to be FASTER at this, which is going to be important.? ?And I can definitely notice more "sensitivity" of my combined yagi/radio down toward the satellite 70cm end of the band, as was implied by Juan's hint for the TRANSVERTER -- might also be true for my antenna and 820 also.? ? Over time, I'll test the sBitx receiving also....I may put a splitter in so I can send signal to BOTH radios and compare.? ?
?
Gordon KX4Z
|
