Re: [amsat-bb] Trakbox

["Gary \"Joe\" Mayfield" <gary_mayfield@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

David,

I believe your goals are a bit ambitious.  If memory serves me correctly the
Trackbox had something like a $400 price tag (1996 Dollars) for the kit
without and enclosure.  I wanted one really bad, but my wife said we didn't
have the money.  You can read all about it at:

http://www.tapr.org/tapr/html/Ftrakbox.html

Using new parts a FODTrack box will run you about $50 and all of the smarts
are in the computer in that design.

On the other hand, I bet you can do better than 5W.

73 and Good Luck!
Joe

P.S. I really don't need another project, but might be willing to get sucked
into something as fun as this!

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Carr" <dc@dcarr.org>
To: <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 11:06 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Trakbox


> As a point of reference for future designs, how much power did the
> trakbox consume?  Was it designed to be battery operated?
> Also, how much did it cost?
>
> I have an idea that could quickly produce a working unit but would cost
> about $70-90 and would need about 5W.
> Is this in the right ballpark?  I'm sure that one could best these
> figures with a higher-end microcontroller but the programming for the
> SGP4 algorithm is not trivial.
>
> Thanks,
> David Carr
> KD5QGR
>
> Eric Rosenberg wrote:
>
> > I'm not sure whether he'll like this or not, but the original designer
> > of the Trakbox, Bruce Lockhart, SM0TER, is still around, if inactive.
> >
> > In a recent email, Bruce said "I'm half retired in the South of France
> > enjoying good food and wine and working now and again."
> >
> > He can be reached at bruce.lockhart@telia.com  -- I'm sure he'll
> > respond to your questions.
> >
> > YMMV!
> >
> > Eric W3DQ
> > Washington, DC
> ----
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