Sat.Tracker

[SkyVision]

Hi John

That Sat.Tracker thingo on X you posted
Could you put a link up and a couple of photos please
So we can see your secret sauce, what's in the box and where to find the plans
Or is it a bought module you've hacked together

Cheers Roger VK5YYY

[M0SKM]

Don't know what you saw but I had to reply.
This is the device I use, it only works with ICOM radio's at the moment, It's the best radio kit I've bought. Will be ideal for tracking the ISS.
Mine came directly from the US (support is brilliant), you can buy them from MLS now.

http://www.igatemini.com/sat

Steve

[g0mjw]

I guess it's ready made but the cost of not DIY is very high.

There is a software alternative available from AMSAT https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/satellite-tracking/ e.g. SatPC32 and also Gpredict.

The Rotator interface is trivial to make using an Arduino and K3NG's firmware. https://github.com/k3ng/k3ng_rotator_controller. An Arduino or perhaps better a Raspberry PI can do all of this. Apologies this link is from 2012, https://amsat-uk.org/2012/06/07/raspber ... -software/

Kevlar at the ready - Portsdown...

Mike

[G7JTT]

Hi Roger and all the main unit is a camera pan & tilt unit that works on 24v and has internal multi turn pots for feed back. The oringal project can be found here

https://www.hackster.io/viorelracovitea ... are-48f9cd

I use Orbitron to track sats with the DDE plugin from here

http://tripsintech.com/orbitron-dde-azi ... to-serial/

Apart from the pan & tilt unit (which I had for years) I think I built the whole thing for well under £50. It does work well but has limitations, like it's only 0' to 90' elevation which means it needs to spin 180' azimuth when it passes the 90' but the P&T unit is fast enough.

Hope this is of help it really is a simple project compared to some of the other controllers out there.

73 John G7JTT

[SkyVision]

Thanks John

I saw that one Steve and Mikes K3NG one looks similar
But your one appealed to me because of the manual adjustments
I've just realised my huge Pan Tilt unit is 24Vac which throws a spanner in the works
viorelracoviteanu says his does AC so that might work

Or I'll have to investigate a low cost low voltage AC motor drive
Will read up on it and watch the Youtube vids
Can you confirm John if you are using just relay output or control like a H brigde
Steve your one looks like relay output is that correct?

Cheers Roger VK5YYY

[G7JTT]

Hi Roger yes just relays with the MOSFET modules as well so the Arduino can produce a PWM exactly as per the drawing. I've also got a 24v AC and 240v AC units but neither had the pots inside to give position.

73 John

[M0SKM]

Steve your one looks like relay output is that correct?

Yes relay to Yaesu spec with cable supplied, it also has PstRotator output which I use with my Spid rotator.

It was the brilliant doppler tracking that caught my eye.

20240726_170947.jpg (112.23 KiB) Viewed 3711 times

20240726_170934.jpg (113.86 KiB) Viewed 3711 times

[G8IKP]

I've done a similar thing to Mikes suggesion, an Arduino Nano, 3 transistors, 3 resistors and K3NG's code with GPredict. Total cost less than a fiver. GPredict also does rig control and all the doppler shift.
It was a no brainer for me, all in the full amateur radio spirit

John G8IKP

[g0mjw]

I forgot to mention the more complex beam controller / tracker developed by John Drew, VK5DJ

https://www.vk5dj.com/beam.html

This is a stand alone unit with many options. Not sure if it is still available. If so it is local to Roger - local being relative, at least the same continent.

Mike