I Built A Cheap Satellite Tracking System From Spare Parts

This is a project I've been working on for a while: automated satellite tracking! The system uses an old security camera pan/tilt mount to aim a small parabolic dish. It's run by an Arduino microcontroller, I think this is the first time I've actually tried one of those for anything useful! The system can be controlled from standard ham radio software like Gpredict or Satdump.

I based much of this project on the SARCNet rotator Mk1, found here: https://www.sarcnet.org/rotator-mk1.html

Instead of the Aptinex Tricac board, I'm using four 5v relays:
https://amzn.to/3TokZ1g

The PTZ mount is a Pelco unit I got from Ax-Man Surplus. I actually found most of the parts for this project at Ax-Man, you can find them here: https://www.ax-man.com/

I'm also using this sensor module:
https://amzn.to/48COTDu

I use a software-defined radio to listen to the satellite transmissions:
https://amzn.to/3TolB74

And I have a SAWbird+GOES filter/amplifier on the antenna feed to maximize the signal from L-band satellites (~1.7ghz).
https://amzn.to/4bXZgEZ

(Buying from the Amazon links gives me a small commission and doesn't cost you any extra! It's a great way to support content like this!)

The dish is a surplus 5.8ghz Wireless network antenna that another ham gave me. The feed is a helical L-band design based on this: https://sgcderek.github.io/tools/helix-calc.html

Software I'm using includes:
Gpredict: https://sourceforge.net/projects/gpredict/
SDR++: https://www.sdrpp.org/
SatDump: https://www.satdump.org/

This system could easily be modified for Hamsat / Cubesat use with other antennas. I have a few old security camera mounts around, so I'll probably modify another one in the future to have 2m/70cm antennas for Amsat / space station repeater operation.

It could also be used as a small radio telescope, basically a step up from the Tailgater and Carryout telescopes I've been playing with (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a2HjE11DcQ)


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