RE: [amsat-bb] AO-40 Receive and FT-847 serial control -REPLY-to-REPLY-

["Gunther Meisse" <gjmouse@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Jim,
You know Jim, I screwed around with super cooling concepts, etc. but I
concluded that KISS is the only way to go. There are just too many moving
targets from spacecraft xtal drift, to doppler, to downconverter, to IF
receiver drift. ........
73
Gunther


-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Sanford [mailto:wb4gcs@amsat.org]
Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2002 4:57 PM
To: gjmouse@neo.rr.com
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-40 Receive and FT-847 serial control -REPLY-


Gunther:
Some great ideas here I'd not considered.  Really like the scan to find,
kind of how the microwave bricks I use work!

Thanks & 73,
Jim
wb4gcs@amsat.org


Gunther Meisse wrote:
>
> Ed,
> Here is what I do to totally Automate my AO-40 Telm capture.
> *       Nova running antenna array via 5500 + Senior Tracker by W0LMD
> *       CPU running AO40Rcv decode software with the "Rig Control" options
set to
> do mic up/dn as needed to maintain the telm channel centered. Note: You
must
> use a software control that moves the receiver frequency BETWEEN frames.
> Otherwise the frame is lost due to the abrupt freq change. The up-down
step
> amount that I have found to be just right is 60Hz, with the receiver step
> increment set at 50Hz. This always keeps the receiver within the stepping
> window of AO40Rcv. By the way this software is excellent. It is reliable
and
> solid as a rock plus has very nice graphics.
> *       The mic up/dn functions are generated via the com port, which
drives a
> couple relays which actually perform the Mic up/Dn functions on the
> receiver. The print for the controller interface is included in the "Help"
> file of Ao40Rcv. Takes 20 minutes to put together.
> *       I use a spare Yaesu FT-100D as my dedicated telm receiver. The
interface
> from the com port controller is less then a picnic. The 100D does not
> provide external Mic up/dn control, SO, you have to get into the mic and
> wire across the "Up & Dn" buttons.  Works like a champ. You set the step
> amount to 50Hz.
> *       I then set a scan window on the 100D of from .270 to .350 ( the
maximum
> window for the MB including all doppler + freq drift at my location). The
> receiver is left on Scan and when the bird comes over the horizon, within
a
> minute or so, the receiver finds the beacon and the AO40Rcv starts to
decode
> and center the beacon carrier and keep it centered for the balance of the
> pass.
> *       I also run UDPtelm on the same CPU which is set to gather the telm
data
> from AO40Rcv via the server setup, found in the "Output Settings" menu.
This
> is then sent down the internet to the Goddard Server which makes it
> immediately available over the internet to folks running the Stacy Mills
> "P3" display software. Works great!! Nice to bring up "P3" at work and see
> what  is going on with the bird....
> *       The only un-reliable part of this approach is the fact that when
the bird
> MB is turned off for RUDAK (MA 110-126), the 100D does not reliably go
back
> into the scan mode so often that is the end of it for me unless I am at
home
> to reset the scan.
>
> General Concept Note: I have gone to heated ovens for the xtals etc, and
> have concluded, at least for me, the ability to predict the MB freq is
> inadequate. To many variables to mess with, Doppler, down converter freq.
> drift, receiver freq drift etc. The scan-to-find is a sure thing and is
> SIMPLE (KISS).
>
> Hope there is something of value here for your project.
> 73
> Gunther Meisse
> W8GSM
> AMSAT LM#594
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org [mailto:owner-AMSAT-BB@AMSAT.Org]On
> Behalf Of Ed Evitt
> Sent: Sunday, December 29, 2002 8:52 AM
> To: amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org
> Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-40 Receive and FT-847 serial control
>
> I would like to have the telemetry capture of AO-40 a little more
automated.
> I have to bump the frequency dial, every now and then, on the FT-847 to
keep
> the telemetry in the window of AO-40 Receive while I am capturing
telemetry
> frames. When I leave the computer there is a time I miss some telemetry. I
> use ITune to correct the radio for Doppler, but the TS-3373 has a tendency
> to drift despite the insulation wrap. It sure would be nice to be able to
> use the tuning feature of AO-40 Receive to take over the frequency
> correction of the radio. Has anyone figured out the serial commands in the
> Rig Frequency Control menu of AO-40 Receive to correct the frequency of
the
> FT-847? It appears the CAT control and VFO frequency could be set via the
> serial connection. I could find no refrence of a command to step up and
> down, or am I missing something?  I wanted to post to the list before I
try
> other alternatives in hope someone has already solved my problem.
> Ed Evitt, N9AWP
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