Difference between revisions of "HAB Tracker Station"

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{{Project
 
{{Project
 
  |Name=HAB Tracker Station
 
  |Name=HAB Tracker Station
−
  |Status=In progress
+
  |Status=Completed
 
  |Contact=User:Costyn_van_Dongen, Maxell, Bertrik_Sikken
 
  |Contact=User:Costyn_van_Dongen, Maxell, Bertrik_Sikken
 
}}
 
}}
  
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Project page for the high altitude balloon tracking/listening station have set up in the space.
+
Project page for the high altitude balloon tracking/listening station have set up in the space.  
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+
This information is processed for the [http://spacenear.us/tracker/ spacenear.us] map
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== Overview ==
 
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[[File:RevSpaceHABtracker.png|1000px]]
 
  
 
== Done ==
 
== Done ==
 
=== Hardware ===
 
=== Hardware ===
−
* "ezcap USB 2.0 DVB-T/DAB/FM" dongle (RTL2838U, Fitipower FC0013 tuner)
+
* "ezcap USB 2.0 DVB-T/DAB/FM" dongle (RTL2838U, Fitipower FC0013 tuner) w/ input protection diode
−
* VK5QI HABamp
+
* VK5QI HABAmp
−
* Raspberry Pi (+ power supply)
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* Antenna: <strike>Diamond X-50N</strike> Apparently not a Diamond, might be a Comet. We'll go with "collinear antenna for 70cm", N connector, three ground plane radials.
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* Antenna: Diamond X-50N
 
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* Test payload, RFM22b sending RTTY strings on 434.250MHz. Code here: https://github.com/costyn/rfmtest/blob/master/rfmtest.pde
 
  
 
=== Software ===
 
=== Software ===
−
* The raspi running rtl_tcp can do around 2MS/s, and you can connect with it on habraspi.space.revspace.nl:1234. Make sure you use a wired connection, or else the latency and overall experience will be horrible.
+
* 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 ==
 
== Todo ==
 
=== Hardware ===
 
=== Hardware ===
−
* Earth the antenna, to prevent static buildup
+
* Power the HABAmp from the the rtl-sdr dongle's USB connection, so we don't need so sacrifice a USB port for it.
−
* Install the HABamp
+
* Metal box for shielding both the HABAmp and the rtl-sdr dongle. (something like [http://dutchrfshop.nl/behuizingen.html] or [http://www.velleman.eu/products/list/?id=344206])
−
* Test other DVB-T sticks, the mini-R820T could be interesting
 
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* Moar ferrite
 
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* Metal box for some shielding
 
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* If P2000 remains a problem: coaxial stub filter would be a good solution
 
−
 
 
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=== Software ===
 
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* Setting up a virtual machine with gqrx and dl-fldigi.
 
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** Blokje told us we could use his machine for permanent setup
 
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*** This requires us to move the [[SpaceSoundSystem]] towards something like a Cubieboard
 
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**** Preferred to setup a complete NAS at the same time, this idea has been floating around for a while too
 
−
 
 
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=== Problems we ran into ===
 
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* As soon as the P2000 tower transmits, it looks like the Fitipower FC0013 overloads, even on lowest gain.
 
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** If the HABamp doesn't fix this we need to test other tuners.
 
−
 
 
−
 
 
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=== '''OMG! HUGE SUCCESS!''' ===
 
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* First radio signals have been heard at 16 Feb. 2013.
 
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* The next day we tested Costyn's next payload: the Habanero!
 
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** $$HABANERO,41,15:09:39,52.0647,+4.3642,45,7,6,16,23,4.15*AE4C ([https://maps.google.nl/maps?q=52.0647,%2B4.3642&hl=en&ll=52.064739,4.364579&spn=0.00092,0.002642&sll=52.469397,5.509644&sspn=1.867323,5.410767&t=m&z=19&iwloc=near GPS location on Google Maps])
 
−
 
 
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== Grounding ==
 
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<pre>
 
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<costyn> so guys, how do you ground your antenna's? what the consensus on lightning arrestors?
 
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<fsphil> there's so little lightning here I don't bother
 
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<costyn> hmm
 
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<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 owners that it's safe
 
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<SpeedEvil> you need to ground to a separate rod, with a straight cable to it
 
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<SpeedEvil> thick insulated cable
 
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<costyn> define thick?
 
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<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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<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.
 
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<gonzo_> your typical short colinear is possibly going to be DC short between the centre and braid anyway. (You can test with a DVM)
 
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<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
 
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<costyn> gonzo_: it'll be a short one yea, Diamond X-50 likely
 
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<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
 
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<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)
 
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<costyn> it's basically a flat roof with some outlets for hvac
 
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<costyn> so no existing metal work. we're thinking of using/making a stand with metal weighted down with tiles
 
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<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
 
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<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
 
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</pre>
 
  
 
== Pics ==
 
== Pics ==
−
=== Derping around with hardware ===
+
=== Current setup ===
−
<gallery>
 
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File:Finaltestonpi.png|One of the first payload tests
 
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File:IMAG0857.jpg
 
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File:IMAG0860.jpg
 
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File:IMAG0864.jpg|The antenna: 'Diamond X-50N'
 
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</gallery>
 
−
 
 
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=== Deel 1 ===
 
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 +
File:IMAG0864.jpg|The collinear antenna
 
File:Zonnecollector Frame 1.jpg|Coax will leave/enter the building trough the little chimney
 
File:Zonnecollector Frame 1.jpg|Coax will leave/enter the building trough the little chimney
 
File:UH4jTew.jpg|The ideal antenna mounting spot; the old zonnecollector
 
File:UH4jTew.jpg|The ideal antenna mounting spot; the old zonnecollector
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File:4vLbEty.jpg|Enclosure almost ready to rock
 
 
File:N2wnt9R.jpg|The magic pipe
 
File:N2wnt9R.jpg|The magic 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
 
 
File:LZVCxte.jpg
 
File:LZVCxte.jpg
 
File:0r5ffXS.jpg|Not sure what happened with the other hole there
 
File:0r5ffXS.jpg|Not sure what happened with the other hole there
 
File:YRv3kUe.jpg|The smell was't that bad
 
File:YRv3kUe.jpg|The smell was't that bad
 
File:Eqagifp.jpg|It pings!
 
File:Eqagifp.jpg|It pings!
−
File:WNtwDZG.jpg|The open pigtail even picks up our payload...
 
−
</gallery>
 
−
 
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=== Deel 2 ===
 
−
<gallery>
 
−
File:YJkKJx3.png|Without the HABamp the USB cable is a bit short
 
 
File:MQWEHh1.png|Coax entering
 
File:MQWEHh1.png|Coax entering
 
File:QvAsY3B.png|oh hi
 
File:QvAsY3B.png|oh hi
Line 102: Line 44:
 
File:XOABzL1.png
 
File:XOABzL1.png
 
File:SaZOJpU.png|The beauty
 
File:SaZOJpU.png|The beauty
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
=== Old setup ===
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:4vLbEty.jpg|
 +
File:8CEENu3.jpg|
 +
File:Sdtd8bY.jpg|
 +
File:WNtwDZG.jpg|First HAB decoding
 +
File:YJkKJx3.png|We took out the Raspberry Pi. We still use the enclosure for the rtl-sdr dongle and HABamp
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>

Revision as of 15:25, 21 June 2014

Project HAB Tracker Station
Status Completed
Contact User:Costyn_van_Dongen, Maxell, Bertrik_Sikken
Last Update 2014-06-21

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

Done

Hardware

  • "ezcap USB 2.0 DVB-T/DAB/FM" dongle (RTL2838U, Fitipower FC0013 tuner) w/ input protection diode
  • VK5QI HABAmp
  • Antenna: Diamond X-50N Apparently not a Diamond, might be a Comet. We'll go with "collinear antenna for 70cm", N connector, three ground plane radials.

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

  • Power the HABAmp from the the rtl-sdr dongle's USB connection, so we don't need so sacrifice a USB port for it.
  • Metal box for shielding both the HABAmp and the rtl-sdr dongle. (something like [1] or [2])

Pics

Current setup

  • The collinear antenna

  • Coax will leave/enter the building trough the little chimney

  • The ideal antenna mounting spot; the old zonnecollector

  • The magic pipe

  • LZVCxte.jpg

  • Not sure what happened with the other hole there

  • The smell was't that bad

  • It pings!

  • Coax entering

  • oh hi

  • Look at the beautiful stainless steel bolts!

  • Oooooh!

  • 4mcwHHD.png
  • XOABzL1.png

  • The beauty

Old setup

  • 4vLbEty.jpg
  • 8CEENu3.jpg
  • Sdtd8bY.jpg

  • First HAB decoding

  • We took out the Raspberry Pi. We still use the enclosure for the rtl-sdr dongle and HABamp

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