[amsat-bb] Antenna pointing

[john heath]

Hi,

I agree with the comments that  high degrees of pointing accuracy are not required for satellite work. 
However, if you are super keen to improve your pointing accuracy then you may like to consider the modern version of the "bore sight" method.

A bore sight is basically a length of tube, you look through, you only get a view of the target when you are accuratly lined up with it. The longer the tube the greater the pointing accuracy.

For an antenna boom mounted bore sight I used about six inches of  15mm copper water pipe with a stop end soldered onto it. I drilled a 1/8" hole in the stop end and  fixed  a light dependant resistor in the "eye end" Attached to the boom and ran wires to the shack where I had a battery and voltmeter.

Point your antenna at where the Sun should be then "hunt" backwards and forwards, up and down until you see a peak reading on the meter = the sun.
Its a bit of work but the benefit of this method is that its on the tower and you can check it anytime the Sun is out.

Practical problems, waterproofing and true alignment to the boom.

It was a lot of work but a fun project, eventially destroyed by water penetration.

73 John G7HIA