Hello Howard,
Thanks for the reply. I have posted on the FoxDelta email group, but
haven't
received a reply. I should mention that I don't think that the ST-2 is
malfunctioning, nor do I think that your code has a problem. I just have a
different type of rotator than the typical Yaesu. It would certainly make
things easier if I did, but it would be quite an ordeal to change the
rotator in my situation.
I did not know the background of the Foxdelta vs. the LVB. I do understand
that Amsat gets a donation with every LVB, and my intention was / is to
donate again to Amsat when I can.
I can certainly see where you're coming from re: the IP. I guess if nothing
else, the ham satellite community as a whole benefits from your public
domain IP, which helps generate more interest in satellites and satellite
operation.
As far as the hardware and software goes, I'll look at the grounding, but I
am thinking that the issue lies in the fact that CDE uses a 12 volt
feedback
POT.. I built a simple resistor voltage divider back when I first got my
Kansas City Tracker, so that the KCT would see 0-5v instead. This approach
gives the KCT (or LVB) the correct voltage range, but I believe it may
lower
the resolution of the feedback system?
I'll also try some ferrites on the leads from the CDE rotator box, in case
transients are to blame.
I'm certainly no programmer, but the software seems to stop the rotator
immediately when the ADC sample value equals the target azimuth value. Once
the antennas stop moving, the final location is different by 20 degrees or
so. Once the rotator stops moving, however, the software doesn't recheck
to
see if the rotator is actually where it needs to be.
My idea was to either change the ADC sample rate, or perhaps add a pause
after the rotator stops, and repeat the routine to "fine tune" position.
This is why I have been trying to recompile your source.. I've already got
PICs programmed with your 0.7 and 0.9 HEX files..
73, many thanks.
Kyle
K0KN
----- Original Message -----
Hello Kyle.
Have you tried talking to Foxdelta themselves?
Sadly, Foxdelta chose to take the LVB Tracker and make it their own
without
the decency of asking either AMSAT or me first, and therefore AMSAT does
not
benefit one iota from that.
I donated the IP for the LVB Tracker to AMSAT some years ago. Indeed, if
you
really want to save money, you are welecome purchase the parts yourself
and
build it up the information has always been in the public domain. However
it
was never intended for a third party such as Foxdelta to pinch the IP for
their own personal or commercial gain.
The 0.9 firmware is on my website together with a programming tool, you
do
not need any Microchip development tools. That firmware has been working
for
many years now in certainly hundreds if not thousands of LVB Trackers.
However I don't think that's your problem. Much more likely is that you
have
a grounding problem. There needs to be a _very_ low impedance ground
return
from the rotator to the PIC's ground or else the ADC will provide
erroneous
values. Typically this should be the screen of the cable.
If you're sure it's my firmware doesn't work with your Foxdelta hardware,
again I really do suggest that you should be discussing that with
Foxdelta.
73, Howard G6LVB
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of K&R Yoksh
Sent: 02 March 2013 04:20
To: [email protected]
Subject: [amsat-bb] Foxdelta ST-2 / LVB Tracker
Hello,
I have a ST2 interface, and am wondering if anyone else is using a
non-Yaesu rotator? I have a Yaesu G500a for elevation, and a CDE/Hygain
Ham
II for azimuth. This setup worked well with my Kansas City Tracker
board,
and the Yaesu G500a part of the system works PERFECT.
The trouble is, no matter what software I use, or even if I manually
issue
pointing commands via serial terminal, the ST2 will stop my rotator too
early, resulting in offpointing by about 20 degrees. I am using the same
voltage divider that I used on my KCT, so the ST2 is seeing a 0-5v
reading
from the azimuth rotor POT. The LCD display matches the analog display
within a degree, so the ST2 knows correctly where the azimuth rotator is
aimed.
My PC is communicating with the ST2 perfectly, I can see the display on
the
LCD of where the rotator should stop (say 300 degrees) but it will
actually
stop at 280 or 320 for example. Unlike my KCT, the ST2 will only make
one
attempt to aim. The KCT would stop the rotation, let the rotators and
antennas settle for a second, then fine tune again if neccessary.
I believe that this can be resolved by changing the sample rate or
something else very minor. I've found the source code, and even tried
twice
to contact the author. I guess that because I didn't buy his LVB
Tracker,
he refuses to answer my emails? Not everyone has a pile of extra money
laying around to donate to Amsat. I've donated in the past (back when the
economy was in much better shape), but I cannot afford to right now, so I
bought the Foxdelta ST-2 rather than the "genuine" LVB Tracker.
I have tried many nights to compile the source, even without making any
changes. MPLAB says I need a C compiler, etc, and I've tried everything
I
can think of to add one.
I even bought an extra PIC for testing, etc, and put the .09 firmware on
it, so now I have two PICs, one with 0.7 and one with 0.9. Both versions
do
the very same thing.
Can anyone help? I'd like to be able to release a new version of the HEX
file for the next guy in this situation. I really don't think it's
necessary for me to sell my Ham II and buy a Yaesu rotator for this to
work.
73 and thanks for any suggestions.
Kyle
K0KN
Olathe, KS
_______________________________________________
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
