Categories
Antennas SDR and software

Control SPID SPX rotor from SDR Console

SPX AZ-01

SPX Model 01 and 02 Azimuth and Elevation Rotor is a low weight, low cost rotor from SPID Elektronik and work very well out-of-the-box with USB control box Rot2Prog from tracking software like WXtrack (tested by me).

When controlling this rotor from the popular SDR Console software you have to use a DDE client. These are the steps to setup up successful rotor control:

Installation of USB drivers for Rot2Prog

If you have problems with automatic installation of Windows virtual COM/USB-drivers for the Rot2Prog controller, download drivers from http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

Setup the correct baudrate

When the drivers are installed, you have to setup the correct baudrate. Go to the PC system configurations, look for the new COM-port installed. Set to 600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit.
SPX setup COM

Setup the Rot2Prog for GS232

Setup the Rot2Prog for automatic control with interface GS232. See the Rot2Prog manual page 10 to 11.

Install and setup Wisp DDE Client

Download and install Wisp DDE Client from this page: http://www.mederoscnc.com/CX6DD/wispdde/wispdde.htm

Set the DDE setting as follow:

SPX wisp client DDE

Set the Rotor setting as follow:

SPX wisp client Rotor

Note! You cannot change the Baud Rate in the DDE Client to 600 baud, you have to edit this in Windows Register editor, key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VB and VBA Program Settings\WiSP_DDE_Client\Config\Rotor_baud

SPX wisp client regedit

Now try to manually control the rotor from Wisp DDE client.

Setup SDR Console satellite tracking

In SDR Console satellite tracking, set to DDE Format to Nova. Thats all!

Start tracking

Select a satellite to track in SDR Console. The DDE server in SDR Console now starts talking to the Wisp DDE Client and should control the SPX rotor. Look at the raw DDE String:

SPX with SDR tracking
Categories
Ham Satellite news

QB50p2 FM-transponder testad

qb50p1-and-qb50p2-image-credit-isisNu är satelliten QB50p2 testad med sin FM-transponder. På AMSAT-F hemsida kan vi läsa följande (översatt):

On June 19, 2014, two 2U CubeSats QB50p1 and QB50p2 were launched as part of the QB50 precursor program into a polar orbit at an altitude of 680 km.

The satellite QB50p2 (object 40032) is equipped with a secondary FM transponder payload developed by AMSAT-F.

On Tuesday, June 16, 2015 almost 1 year after launch the AMSAT-F FM transponder on QB50p2 was activated by the main control station in The Netherlands for the duration of an orbit. At the Polytechnique in Palaiseau, we were able to receive telemetry in CW and put into action the FM transponder with an output of 1.5W.

A very strong signal was received at Palaiseau and by F6HCC in Brittany. The transponder was turned off at the end of the orbit.

In a few weeks, the transponder should be activated permanently. The signal is very strong, we will probably use a lower power level of 500 mW or 1 watt. We will inform you later.

QB50p1 (EO-79 / FUNcube-3) is equipped with a linear transponder for SSB and CW. The first tests were successfully completed in April and its transponder should also be enabled full-time in a few weeks.

Gérard – F6FAO

Frekvenser:

QB50p1 (FUNcube-3) has a VHF 9600 bps BPSK telemetry downlink plus a linear U/V transponderfor SSB/CW communications similar to that already flying on FUNcube-1 with an output of 400 mW.
• 145.815 MHz 9600 bps BPSK telemetry beacon
• Inverting SSB/CW linear transponder 400 mW PEP
– 435.035 – 435.065 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.965 – 145.935 MHz Downlink USB

QB50p2 has  a VHF 9600 bps BPSK telemetry downlink plus a separate RF payload from AMSAT-Francophone which will comprise of a FM voice transponder with UHF uplink and VHF downlink. It can also transmit FX25 telemetry at 9600 bps.
• 145.880 MHz 9600 bps BPSK telemetry beacon
• 145.840 MHz 9600 bps FSK FX25

Categories
Ham Satellite news

NanosatC-BR1 behöver hjälp

NanosatC-BR1 har fått problem med batterierna och slutat sända. Nu behöver teamet bakom satelliten hjälp. Om du hör den, skicka då mail till ewpereira<at>gmail.com (Edson PY2SDR).

Satelliten ska sända CW på 145.865 MHz.

Categories
Ham Satellite news

BRICsat (NO-83) och PSAT (NO-84) får Oscar-nummer

BricSat
BricSat

AMSAT-SM gratulerar BRICsat och PSAT och dess team för att de blivit tilldelade Oscar-nummer: NO-83 och NO-84!

Läs allt om satelliterna här: http://www.aprs.org/psat.html

Frekvenser:

PSAT: 145.825 – 1200 baud AX.25 telemetry – digi off
PSAT PSK31-5: 435.350 FM down, 28.120 SSB PK31 uplink – Brno University

BRICsat: 437.975 – 9600 baud telemetry evry 20s
BRICsat PSK31-6 – same as PSAT but PSK TLM on 375 Hz (PSAT on 315 Hz)

Categories
Ham Satellite news

Ny Fox-1C Update Video

Det finns en ny video från Jerry Buxton N0JY om Fox-1c:

Categories
Antennas

Dualband Slim-Jim vs J-pole för satellitmottagning

N9TAX Slim-jim och J-pole
N9TAX Slim-Jim och J-pole

Jag har länge varit intresserad att jämföra min nuvarande dualband 2m/70cm Slim-Jim mot en dualband J-poleantenn för att se om det är någon skillnad vid mottagning av satelliter. Jag skaffade därför en J-pole antenn och monterade den bredvid min befintliga Slim-Jim. Två separata kablar går till mottagaren och switchas manuellt med en koaxomkopplare.

Efter en kort tids högst ovetenskaplig jämförelse kan jag konstatera skillnaden mellan just dessa två modeller:

  • På 2 meter presterar de i stort sätt lika. I olika strålningsvinklar ger de olika resultat med ett visst övertag till J-pole-antennens fördel.
  • På 70 cm tycker jag att N9TAX Slim-Jim är något vassare i samtliga testade fall.