[amsat-bb] Re: How to calibrate the azimuth angle?

[Alan]

Hi all...

This works for AZ and EL

Want to know where the Sun is if your tracking software doesn't include the
Sun? Run the free SPC 

http://web.ift.uib.no/~neda/suncalc/spc.html 

Track the Sun manually with your antenna controller or through your
software.  Note the shadow on the ground that the antennae produce. Crossed
yagi will show a "X" when the antenna is properly pointed.  If the antenna
is too far from the ground or you cannot place anything near the back end of
the beam to see the shadow use plan B.   Caution!  Sight the sun along the
antenna beam using welding glasses to see that it is pointing at the sun.
You can also try the "pin hole camera" trick to project the sun's image and
antenna shadow onto another surface as you do when watching Sun spots.

http://solar-center.stanford.edu/observe/

Mechanically adjust AZ/EL at the antenna to point at the Sun while the
rotator controller logically tracks the Sun.

Advantage of these methods is that it doesn't matter what time of day you
are mechanically tweaking your antenna and you can take your time loosening
and tightening bolts on AZ and EL.


73, Alan VE4YZ
 
    



 

-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On
Behalf Of Chiu-Teng Tsai
Sent: December 26, 2007 11:08 PM
To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] How to calibrate the azimuth angle?

Dear all,

    I am Chiu-Teng Tsai (BM6ERA) from Taiwan. Now we are building a mobile
ground station. One of our problem is how to calibrate the azimuth angle.
Use compass only, or any better solution? Thanks for your help!

Best regards,

Chiu-Teng Tsai
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