Thread: Antenna rotator
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Old November 27th 07, 06:21 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna
Highland Ham Highland Ham is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 250
Default Antenna rotator

There is a simple, elegant and more expensive means: Buy a Yaesu az/el
rotor as for satellite operation. Connect the control box through a
SASI tracker or similar device and use Nova or some other sat tracking
program. Almost all of the Keplerian element lists include the sun.

Dave Heil K8MN

Yes, but I do believe it's overkill.


Could be. I guess it depends on how precisely the sun panels need to
be pointed at the sun. Most solar panels are fixed in position, on a
house top or whatever, just to generally catch the rays.

=======================
Yes to a fixed position due SOUTH ,but it means the panels will not
receive all that much energy or very little during the post noon
daylight hours .
It is debatable how much that is and consequently whether a rotating
system would be justifiable. However to find out and possibly advise
people ,after this test, how much more energy can be trapped ,I feel
setting up a rotating solar panel system is a worthwhile effort.
As an alternative to K8MN's suggestion a low cost (modified)satTV
tracking system might prove suitable.

Frank GM0CSZ / KN6WH