Sun spot activity currently ramping up. Time to take out the telescope and go for some early evening sun spotting from the balcony. A note of WARNING and DISCLAIMER: only use certified sun filter foil, I am using Seymour Solar Filter, grade ND5, available here. Be responsible and operate on your own risk. Telescope equipped…
IceConeFeed v2 review by TechMindsYT
Check out the review of the #IceConeFeed v2 for #QO100 from @TechMindsYT here:
Recensione in Italiano
IVAN, IS0DCR, was so kind to do a review of nolle.engineering including QO100 IceConeFeed for all Italian OMs, enjoy:
3D Printer Stepper Motor Failure
This is definately a first. Seeing all kinds of issues with 3D printers, I never had a stepper motor failure. I started to get failed prints experiencing massive layer shifts like this accompanied by crash detections: Manually moving the y-axis already revealed the problem, dissassembling the drive belt showed that the stepper motor was getting…
IceConeFeed Installation Tips
Some stations have quite tight clearances between the Iceconefeed reflector and the LNB arm. In order perform a fit check before installation you can use a full scale drawing and quickly make a template (2D printer ;-). Note: there are two templates to chose from, see below, for IceConeFeed v2 and DIY. The v2 version…
3D Patch Update
The 3D printable patch feed for #QO100 is in the making. A design change from the rectanglar to elliptic has been found to be more efficient and achieving a better axial circular polarization. This is a prelimiary current simulation at 2.4Ghz. The direction of rotation will change from RH to LH.
Tors South Norway Rove
Tor (LA9XGA) was on tour DXing from Southern Norway being QRV on various Oscars. His QO100 mobile station is sporting the Ice Cone Feed v2. I took a chance and worked him on QO100 one evening. Images by courtesy of Tor (LA9XGA)
PRECURSOR Attitude Concept
The PRECURSOR satellite is scheduled to be launched into a sun synchronous orbit with an 10:30 right ascending node. The attitude profile needs to fullfill these high level requirements: Point solar generator toward sun when outside eclipse. Also minimize angle between downlink antenna and nadir During eclipse point antenna toward nadir for best communication and…
LNB attenuation
By principle the helix antenna will blank out a certain amount of signal as it is mechanically located in front of the receiving element. A geometrical analysis illustrates why and gives a good indication of the attenuation order of magnitude.Assume an opening angle of the LNB of 50 deg. The helix shade from the LNB…
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