[HamWAN PSDR] toys & tennas

[Rob Salsgiver]

Got 2 radios - (5SHPn's) and one of the ARC-DA5830SD1's in today from Baltic
Networks.  So far received 2 orders from them and they seem to be a
dependable source.  Got a couple of rubber ducks and some adapters to round
out the package for a garage to house link so I can do some playing around
with the OS and a few other things.

 

Ordered and received a Yeasu 5500 AZ/EL rotor with a FoxDelta ST-2 PC
interface (used).  Had to make the cables between the rotor control box &
rotor.  All tested out very nicely.  FoxDelta is a serial-port driven
interface that can also control the rotor via front panel push-buttons.  The
2 line LCD shows programmed AZ and EL, as well as current AZ/EL.  Protocol
for commanding it seems to be very straightforward and quite simple.
Character codes followed by  text or integer values, sent via serial port.
Current position can be read the same way.   Calibrated the unit and put it
through full rotation testing via Hyperterminal <g>.

 

Commanding and controlling the rotor should be fairly easy - going to start
an application to do a predictable pattern of scanning for measuring the
antenna radiation patterns.  

 

Bart - we traded a basic outline on the scan setup, but we'll need to come
up with however you want to coordinate the position control with the
measurement recording.  Do you want to have the position sent to the test
equipment, output the test equipment values to the PC to be recorded with
the position, or something else?  I don't know that I need the info right
this second, but we can start thinking about it in the background.  Sunday
will be my first day to play with it, but barring Murphy it shouldn't take
THAT long (famous last words..)

 

Cheers,

Rob

 

 

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