Difference between revisions of "HAB Tracker Station"

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  |Name=HAB Tracker Station
 
  |Name=HAB Tracker Station
 
  |Status=In progress
 
  |Status=In progress
  |Contact=User:Costyn_van_Dongen
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  |Contact=User:Costyn_van_Dongen, Maxell, Bertrik_Sikken
 
}}
 
}}
  
Project page for the high altitude balloon tracking/listening station we are setting up in the space.
+
Project page for the high altitude balloon tracking/listening station have set up in the space.  
 +
This information is processed for the [http://spacenear.us/tracker/ spacenear.us] map
 +
 
 +
== Overview ==
 +
[[File:RevSpaceHABtracker.png|800px]]
  
 
== Done ==
 
== Done ==
=== Acquired Hardware ===
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=== Hardware ===
* "ezcap USB 2.0 DVB-T/DAB/FM" dongle, RTL2838U, Fitipower FC0013 tuner, Supported gain values (23): -9.9 -7.3 -6.5 -6.3 -6.0 -5.8 -5.4 5.8 6.1 6.3 6.5 6.7 6.8 7.0 7.1 17.9 18.1 18.2 18.4 18.6 18.8 19.1 19.7
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* "ezcap USB 2.0 DVB-T/DAB/FM" dongle (RTL2838U, Fitipower FC0013 tuner)
 
* VK5QI HABamp
 
* VK5QI HABamp
* Raspberry Pi
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* Antenna: Diamond X-50N
* Test payload, RFM22b sending RTTY strings on 434.250MHz. Code here: https://github.com/costyn/rfmtest/blob/master/rfmtest.pde
 
  
 
=== Software ===
 
=== Software ===
* Sending test payload --> '''works!'''
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* Windows XP, hostname "habtracker", IP 10.42.44.94 (MAC 00:21:70:02:62:0f)
* Sending data from rtl_tcp on RasPi over the network --> '''works!''' (1024000 samples/second seems to go fine when both are on a wired connection)
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** Start the machine with a magic WoL packet: 'wakeonlan -i 10.42.255.255 00:21:70:02:62:0f; ping habtracker'
* gqrx to listen to audio --> '''works!'''
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** VNC: geheim ;-)
* dl-fldigi RTTY decoding --> '''works!'''
 
* Testing VNC performance with gqrx and dl-fldigi --> '''usable with JPEG compression and 8 bits of color'''
 
'''Todo'''
 
* Setting up a virtual machine with gqrx and dl-fldigi
 
  
<code>
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* Teamviewer ID: 675540724
revspace@habraspi:~$ rtl_tcp -a 10.42.43.20
 
  
Found 1 device(s).
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== Todo ==
Found Fitipower FC0013 tuner
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=== Hardware ===
 +
* Earth the antenna, to prevent static buildup
 +
* Moar ferrite
 +
* Metal box for some shielding (DIY or be lazy and get something like [http://dutchrfshop.nl/behuizingen.html] or [http://www.velleman.eu/products/list/?id=344206])
  
Using ezcap USB 2.0 DVB-T/DAB/FM dongle
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== Pics ==
</code>
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=== Derping around with hardware ===
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:Finaltestonpi.png|One of the first payload tests
 +
File:IMAG0857.jpg
 +
File:IMAG0860.jpg
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File:IMAG0864.jpg|The antenna: 'Diamond X-50N'
 +
</gallery>
  
[[File:Finaltestonpi.png|800px]]
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=== Deel 1 ===
 
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<gallery>
== The roof ==
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File:Zonnecollector Frame 1.jpg|Coax will leave/enter the building trough the little chimney
* Currently there is no lightning protection installed. We need to figure out how we are going to ground the antenna.
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File:UH4jTew.jpg|The ideal antenna mounting spot; the old zonnecollector
* POE seems doable, also makes it easy to restart the setup.
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File:4vLbEty.jpg|Enclosure almost ready to rock
* Penetrating the roof would increase the risk of any leakage
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File:N2wnt9R.jpg|The magic pipe
** Our best option is to guide the UTP-cable down the drainpipe, in a separate PVC-pipe.
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File:8CEENu3.jpg|Almost the same as having the Raspi on the roof
 
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File:Sdtd8bY.jpg|Power and network connected
== Todo ==
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File:LZVCxte.jpg
* Currently we have no antenna. Well need some heavy duty (directional?) antenna.  
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File:0r5ffXS.jpg|Not sure what happened with the other hole there
** Do we make one or do we buy one?
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File:YRv3kUe.jpg|The smell was't that bad
** What kind of antenna? (keep in mind we only have line of sight towards south/southwest)
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File:Eqagifp.jpg|It pings!
* Find and buy IP56 enclosure: http://linitx.com/product/13265
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File:WNtwDZG.jpg|The open pigtail even picks up our payload...
* Obtain 48v PoE injector, make 48v-5v power regulator for inside enclosure.
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</gallery>
* How do we deal with heat in the summer?
 
* Your ideas, we love them!
 
  
=== Lightning protection ===
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=== Deel 2 ===
<pre>
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<gallery>
09:53 < costyn> so guys, how do you ground your antenna's? what the consensus on lightning arrestors?
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File:YJkKJx3.png|Without the HABamp the USB cable is a bit short
09:56 < fsphil> there's so little lightning here I don't bother
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File:MQWEHh1.png|Coax entering
09:57 < costyn> hmm
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File:QvAsY3B.png|oh hi
09:58 < costyn> we're going to place an antenna on the roof of our hackerspace, but it's not our building and we'll have to convince the  
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File:RzGxD7t.png|Look at the beautiful stainless steel bolts!
                owners that it's safe
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File:LUsffcP.png|Oooooh!
10:18 < SpeedEvil> you need to ground to a separate rod, with a straight cable to it
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File:4mcwHHD.png
10:20 < SpeedEvil> thick insulated cable
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File:XOABzL1.png
10:20 < costyn> define thick?
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File:SaZOJpU.png|The beauty
10:29 < gonzo_> you are only going to be able to disipate static with earthing. very little you can do against a direct strike
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</gallery>
10:29 < griffonbot> Received email: NickB "[UKHAS] Re: DL-FLDIGI question"
 
10:31 < gonzo_> most lightening arrestors are really just spark gap's, that allow some high voltage coming down the centre of the coax, to
 
                jump to the outer.
 
10:32 < gonzo_> your typical short colinear is possibly going to be DC short between the centre and braid anyway. (You can test with a DVM)
 
10:34 < gonzo_> long colinears are not much of an advantage for HAB use, so I assume it will be a short one. So will not extend much above
 
                the existing roof profile? So will not be any greater risk of lightening than anything else
 
10:34 < costyn> gonzo_: it'll be a short one yea, Diamond X-50 likely
 
10:35 < costyn> gonzo_: and it'll raise some above the roof line, but it's not a high building (2 stories) and there's higher buildings and
 
                trees around
 
10:35 < gonzo_> not siure of your mounting options, but if mounted to existing metalwork up there, like handrains etc, it will be earthed to
 
                the building anyway (or at least the owners metalwork)
 
10:35 < costyn> it's basically a flat roof with some outlets for hvac
 
10:36 < costyn> so no existing metal work. we're thinking of using/making a stand with metal weighted down with tiles
 
10:39 < gonzo_> then an extra ground wire would prob be worth adding. If the building or roof is metal, then that could be an option to
 
                earth to, or as SpeedEvil said, an earthing rod
 
10:44 < costyn> ok. thanks for the advice. will see what we can do. not even sure if we're going to get permission to route the coax on the
 
                outside of the building, so we'll see</pre>
 

Revision as of 16:59, 26 May 2013

Project HAB Tracker Station
Status In progress
Contact User:Costyn_van_Dongen, Maxell, Bertrik_Sikken
Last Update 2013-05-26

Project page for the high altitude balloon tracking/listening station have set up in the space. This information is processed for the spacenear.us map

Overview

800px

Done

Hardware

  • "ezcap USB 2.0 DVB-T/DAB/FM" dongle (RTL2838U, Fitipower FC0013 tuner)
  • VK5QI HABamp
  • Antenna: Diamond X-50N

Software

  • Windows XP, hostname "habtracker", IP 10.42.44.94 (MAC 00:21:70:02:62:0f)
    • Start the machine with a magic WoL packet: 'wakeonlan -i 10.42.255.255 00:21:70:02:62:0f; ping habtracker'
    • VNC: geheim ;-)
  • Teamviewer ID: 675540724

Todo

Hardware

  • Earth the antenna, to prevent static buildup
  • Moar ferrite
  • Metal box for some shielding (DIY or be lazy and get something like [1] or [2])

Pics

Derping around with hardware

Deel 1

Deel 2