RE: [amsat-bb] Simplified Computer Rotor Control?

["Andrew Rich" <vk4tec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey some guys are using electronic compass chips too ;-)



> >i was going to use a geared motor and count the 
> >number of times of rotation of the shaft
> >...15 turns = 3 deg change for example
> 
> APRSdos drivers for the simple 24v AC TV
> rotators simply uses TIME.  They rotate at
> 1 RPM so 1 sec equals 6 degrees.  THus you
> dont need any feedback pots or anything.
> Just put a opto-isolator between bit one
> of your parallel port and the CCW switch
> and bit 2 and the Clockwise button and APRStk
> does the rest.    Including re-sync.  It runs
> for years and is always aligned (within 10 deg).
> Not good for high performance AZ/EL OSCAR
> arrays and AO-40 , but perfect for ALL LEO's
> 
> See http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/rotator1.html
> 
> I sure wish all Satellite Software implemented this
> simple 2 bit, no-pots interface to the cheap $65
> rotators...
> 
> de Wb4APR, Bob
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org [mailto:owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org]On 
> Behalf Of Anthony Monteiro
> Sent: Friday, 26 August 2005 1:51 AM
> To: hasan schiers; amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org 
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Simplified Computer Rotor Control?
> 
> 
> Hi Hasan,
> 
> I haven't had a chance to try this yet but I think the
> simplest and cheapest way to do it is to use a digital
> pot connected to a PC parallel port. You probably also want
> a switch between the rotor controller pot and the digital
> pot to select manual or computer control.
> 
> With this approach, you don't need any micro-controller, no
> A/D or D/A converters, no power supply etc. All the software
> is simple PC stuff - no special compilers etc.
> 
> 73,
> Tony AA2TX
> 
> ---
> 
> 
> At 07:02 AM 8/25/2005 -0500, hasan schiers wrote:
> 
> >I have  G-800SA Yaesu Azimuth and G-550 Yaesu Elevation rotors.
> >
> >I have no interest in spending a fortune on a 5500 and its (non-
supplied)
> >serial interface.
> >
> >Could someone point me to articles on the Web or commercial sites 
that show
> >inexpensive interfaces that I might be able to use with the above 
rotors.
> I'm
> >assuming that one could tap off the pot voltages at the rotor 
control heads
> >and feed them to an interface. This should not be all that 
difficult to do,
> >and I assume has been offered as a less expensive alternative to the
> internal
> >interfaces.
> >
> >If someone has keywords that will provide useful url's I'd be happy 
to
> google
> >them. I just thought I'd check here first if someone has already 
done the
> >sifting.
> >
> >73,
> >
> >...hasan, N0AN
> >----
> >Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the 
author.
> >Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite 
program!
> >To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org 
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >No virus found in this incoming message.
> >Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> >Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.10.15/81 - Release Date: 
8/24/2005
> ----
> Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the 
author.
> Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite 
program!
> To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org 
> ----
> Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the 
author.
> Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite 
program!
> To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org
> ----
> Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the 
author.
> Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite 
program!
> To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org
> 
> 

-- 
----
Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org