Page 5 - iv
iv NOVA for Windows ....................................................................................................................................................... 40 Practice Recommended .........................................................................................................
Page 6 - LIST OF FIGURES
v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Block Diagram of Tracking Station Components ................................................... 6 Figure 2: Highlighted Selection of Key Downlink Subsystem Components ......................... 7 Figure 3: Mesh Dish Reflector cross section. ..............................
Page 11 - and then finally the Tracking Station requirements.; Source
2 CHAPTER 1: REQU IREMENTS FLOW -DOWN The requirements for the Tracking Station flow down directly from the mission objectives of R 3 through requirements for Mission Operations Systems and Mission Control. The requirements flow down presented in the table below detail the Mission Operations System,...
Page 16 - ign of Downlin k Sub
7 D e s ign of Downlin k Sub s y s t e m Key components to the functioning of the downlink subsystem are highlighted in red boxes in the figure below. Explanation and key parameters of these components are detailed in the following section. Figure 2: Highlighted Selection of Key Downlink Subsystem C...
Page 17 - components are detailed below respectively.
8 K e y C ompon e nt s for th e Downlin k Sub s y s t e m R X A N T E N N A The main receive antenna for the tracking station is composed of two key components: 1. the mesh dish reflector, and 2. the septum antenna feed. Design and explanation of these two components are detailed below respectively....
Page 20 - region of the spectrum.
11 The graph below shows the expected best and worst case gain for a 10 foot diameter mesh dish reflector operating in the Amateur radio S-band, which is where the septum antenna is designed to operate, specifically at 2405 MHz. Figure 5: Best and Worst Case Receive Gain for a 10 foot diameter dish ...
Page 22 - Appendix A for the entire ARRL Band Plan for 2300
13 An operating frequency of 2405 MHz is in the Satellite high-rate data segment of the band plan, and is also the middle frequency value for Satellite operations, as noted in the table below. See Appendix A for the entire ARRL Band Plan for 2300 – 2310 and 2390 – 2450 MHz (12 Centimeters). Table 2:...
Page 23 - dimensions for an operating frequency of 2405 MHz.
14 due to lower side lobe rejection is below the nominal level of ambient noise already received by the antenna system, so it does not contribute any significant noise to the overall system noise. Shown below is a side by side comparison for the recommended key dimensions for Zdenek and Dmitry’s se...
Page 24 - according to Zdenek.
15 Based on the updated and altered spreadsheet, the dimensions for a septum antenna operating at 2405 MHz are shown in the figure below (see Appendix C for the detailed septum antenna design layout). Figure 9: Dimensions for a 2405 MHz septum antenna feed. The 2405 MHz septum antenna is constructed...
Page 25 - as shown in the picture below.; ) and the complete ULNA specifications can be found
16 The septum antenna has two feed elements which are constructed from female N-type four hole flange connectors with a copper probe soldered to the inner exposed conducting element. The flange connectors are bolted, one to each half of the septum antenna, through mounting plates which are tack weld...
Page 27 - available online at
18 T R A N S M I S S I O N C A B L E S The transmission cables carry the signal received by the RX antenna, through the LNA, to the Icom IC-R9500 receiver. They were fabricated by the company Cable X-perts, and they are available online at www.cablexperts.com . There are two cables, one for each sid...
Page 28 - LMR-600 UltraFlex Attenuation; tt
19 Based on the data provided by Times Microwave Systems, the graph below shows the corrected values for attenuation to include the +15% attenuation factor for UltraFlex cable. Figure 13: Graph of the corrected attenuation values for LMR-600 UltraFlex. The red line depicts the corrected attenuation ...
Page 29 - Radio Outlet, which is available online at
20 Based on being able to reasonably use the Best Fit equation and knowing the operating frequency of the septum antenna is designed for 2405 MHz, it is possible to approximate the attenuation for the cable to be 4.98 dB per 100 feet of cable. Since the cables are 119 feet long each, this translates...
Page 30 - ign of U plin k Sub
21 D e s ign of U plin k Sub s y s t e m Key components to the functioning of the uplink subsystem are highlighted in red boxes in the figure below. Explanation and key parameters of these components are detailed in the following section. Figure 15: Highlighted Selection of Key Uplink Subsystem Comp...
Page 31 - T X; was designed and manufactured by M2 Antennas Incorporated (
22 T X A N T E N N A The main transmitting antenna for the tracking station is designed to operate in the UHF range, specifically between 432 and 440 MHz. It is circularly polarized yagi antenna with a switching option to allow for selection between left and right hand circular polarization, and wit...
Page 33 - Shift Keying operation according to the user’s manual
24 operator is listening to the rotor motor and gear housing boxes for and sounds of stress or strain. If sounds are heard other than typical motor operation, further balancing of the counter balance weights is required. T R A N S C E I V E R The transceiver is a Kenwood TS-2000X and is a common ama...
Page 36 - were purchased from Newegg, which is available online at
27 Key Components for the Tracking Station Main computer are the Computer and two displays, Local File Storage, NOVA for Windows, and Ham Radio Deluxe. C O M P U T E R A N D T W O D I S P L A Y S This is the Tracking Station Main Computer. It was student conceived and student built with commercial o...
Page 37 - station to operate until the bad drive is replaced.
28 Dual Boot Microsoft Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit for System Builders 1 $179.99 $179.99 GPU Sapphire SAPPHIRE 100260SR Radeon HD 4850 X2 1GB 512- bit (2 x 256-bit) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Video Card 1 $259.99 $259.99 Case Antec Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower...
Page 38 - modulation schemes and is available for download at
29 TLEs for various selected satellites. This is a product developed by amateur radio operators and is available commercially for purchase from www.nlsa.com , and was purchased through the website. The Tracking Station currently uses a purchased and registered copy of the NOVA for Windows, and the r...
Page 39 - Control box
30 2 . Rotor Sub s y s t e m and A nt e nna Suppor t St r u c tu r e Figure 20: Highlighted Selection of Key Rotor Subsystem and Antenna Support Structure Components Key Components for the Rotor Subsystem and Antenna Support Structure are the Computer Interface Rotor Control, the Rotor Control, Azim...
Page 41 - arms are shown in the figure below on the right.
32 mechanical capabilities of the structure and rotors. The rotors are robust enough to support the antenna cluster and move it while in breezes, and its wind loading capabilities are aided by the selection of a mesh dish reflector with provides less mass and less wind loading area. A N T E N N A S ...
Page 42 - The power supply is an Astron RM-50M, that is available online at
33 the Tracking Station to continue operation uninterrupted for several minutes until regular building power returned. It also provides power conditioning to the majority of the electronic components in the tracking station, which will help extend the useful life of the components. Replacement batte...
Page 43 - plugs to offer future expansion for the tracking station.; and
34 power strip is slotted to provide power to the transceiver and the LNAs; however, it has multiple plugs to offer future expansion for the tracking station. Figure 24: Picture of the West Mountain Radio RIGrunner 4010S P O W E R B O O S T E R This is the TGE Electronics N8XJK Super Booster, availa...
Page 44 - parts of the tracking station for easy reference.
35 The figure below shows all the components of the Tracking Station block diagram with the specified part for each component. It is a useful diagram for depicting all the key components and parts of the tracking station for easy reference. Figure 26: Block Diagram of Tracking Station Components wit...
Page 47 - y U plin k E quipm
38 Fuse replacement Section 13: Control Command Remote interface information M 2 A N T E N N A R O T O R C O N T R O L L E R U N I T R C 2 8 0 0 P R K X 2 S U The rotor controller is responsible for moving and positioning the antenna cluster to follow the satellite through its over flight pass o...
Page 52 - To install a new device with a new connection when the
43 deluxe.com/HRDv5.aspx and the website should be checked regularly for updates to the software since the current version is a Beta test. Ensure that HRD is installed by powering up the computer and turning on all the rack mounted hardware. Ensure all the Serial to USB cables are connected correctl...
Page 53 - properly track satellites.
44 Once the receiver and transceiver are connected and operating properly, initiate the built in satellite program under HRD by clicking on the “Satellites” button on the toolbar at the top of the HRD window. Select the preferred satellite from the drop down menu and check mark the TX and RX boxes,...
Page 56 - flares for observation.
47 R e qui r e m e nt 2 . 2 The Ground Transmitting antenna shall operate in the amateur UHF band for uplink. This requirement verification will be done by analysis as indicated in the design section of this report. Confirmation of the analysis and design can be accomplished by testing with another ...
Page 62 - n tim
53 APPENDIX LIST Appendix A: Amateur Radio Relay League Band Plans for 12 Centimeters and 70 Centimeters The entire ARRL Band Plan is available at www.arrl.org or http://www.arrl.org/band-plan-1 12 C e n tim e t e r s (2300-2310 and 2390-2450 M H z): 2300.0 - 2303.0 High-rate data 2303.0 - 2303.5 Pa...
Page 65 - Appendix C: 2405 MHz Septum Antenna Design Layout.
56 Appendix C: 2405 MHz Septum Antenna Design Layout.