Being that I wanted more than just FM and repeaters, I went in search of a dual band all mode radio.
One of the local hams has an Icom 820H that he offered to sell me on layaway. (I could not afford it all at once)
Having way to much free time on my hands I started to read up on contacts via satellite repeaters.
Wow, WAY expensive! By the time you figure the antennas, dual rotors. (Elevation and Azimuth) some form of rotor control you're into the thousands of dollars, or so I thought.
Having spied my computerized telescope laying in the corner collecting dust I began to think.
This thing is able to track satellites. (I have tracked the ISS with it on several occasions)
Why wouldn't it drive some small antennas around?
Click any image to enlarge
Ok, first step, remove the old (still usable) Telescope.
Insert a PVC tube that is 51/4" in diameter.
I didn't have one that size so I had to make one by adding strips to increase the diameter. I also added a riser to get the cross tube up off the mount.
Insert a PVC cross tube to hold the antennas.
I needed a 2 meter antenna and a 440 antenna Also notice the pin in the T connector to keep things from rotating.
Build and attach a 440 Mhz antenna to one side of the cross tube. Add a nylon screw to secure it in place.
Build and attach a 2 meter antenna to one side of the cross tube. Add a nylon screw to secure it in place.
I could not get things balanced as well as I would like. The telescope drive does not have a lot of torque in the elevation direction, and had trouble lowering the elevation, so I added a spring. It worked much easier than trying to add counter balances to the mount.
The antennas were built from the designs of Kent Britain WA5VJB. And can be found here:
I still have to Tune them and Attach the PL259 to the end of the 2 meter antenna.
Picture is the end of the 440 antenna.
1) 4" diameter PVC Pipe 8" long.
2) 1" Diameter PVC pipe 10" Long for the riser and 55" long for the T.
3) QTY 3, 1" PVC T connectors.
4) 1" diameter Schedule 80 PVC for the antenna booms. (Can mount a PL259 to the end)
5) Some PVC cement.
6) 1/8" brass welding rods for the elements. (come in 3 foot lengths)
7) 1/8" ID brass tube to connect the elements on the 2 meter antenna. (Had to buy the tubes)
8) Old spring I had laying around.
9) Epoxy glue to attach the elements to the PVC.
10) 2 nylon screws.
The mount tracks just fine. I was able to watch the ISS last night on a pass, and the antennas stayed pointed right at it. The Mead Autostar has the ability to slew the antennas to the begining of a pass and wait for AOS.
Once AOS is made, (Based on time only) it will begin to track the satellite. It does use a bit of a leap frog to keep up with it, but when coupled to Nova for windows it is much smoother.
The entire system can be dismantled for ease of transport or storage. I can even remount my scope and still use it. I can't wait to get a radio on it and try out the entire system.
