[Fourlanders] satellite positioner controller

[Ron Rogers]

You mean you are looking for something like these ?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/255396537275?hash=item3b76d1e3bb:g:94cAAOSwCDdiEoeN

https://www.ebay.com/itm/275138644987?hash=item400f8a8bfb:g:GasAAOSwamdh8KgM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/325073199853?hash=item4bafdf62ed:g:8kUAAOSwAs5iGo0l


Ron
WW8RR

-----Original Message-----
From: Fourlanders [mailto:fourlanders-bounces+ww8rr=charter.net at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bob Lear
Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2022 6:44 PM
To: FourLanders Contest Team
Subject: [Fourlanders] satellite positioner controller

I am working on getting set up for 1296 EME.  I have a 10' TVRO mesh 
dish, a septum feed and a motorized positioner that I got from another 
ham.  He had been using it and it still appears to be OK (the motor runs 
and goes East and West but he did not give me the controller.  He said 
he has used a Houston Tracker IV controller. It puts our 24V for the 
motor and reads pulses from an LED/chopper which can be used to sort of 
calibrate with pulses to degrees or right ascension hour angle.

It will be a polar mount for now as that's what all the stuff I already 
had was set up for and will the the quickest and easiest way to get 
going quickly and with minimal expense.  I"m just planning to try first 
with manual control for the tracking instead of automated.  The other 
ham said he did it that way successfully for years.

So, I'm looking for a device like a Houston Tracker IV.  These were used 
on the old TVRO C-band satellite TV dishes along with may other brands.  
That would be the best solution for me as it is what the drive I have 
had been used with successfully for 1296 EME.

I have gotten an ICR1800 and a Chaparral Monterey 40 Satellite receivers 
from my neighbor at my old house who was in the satellite business.  The 
ICR powers on but apparently does everything from a remote and one was 
not in the box.  There is nothing on that front panel, not even an 
on/off switch.  The Chaparral comes on but doesn't do anything but I 
hear a relay click inside.  Nothing on it's display at all and no 
indication of life.  I also found a Drake ESR 240 satellite receiver out 
in the building.  No idea where it came from.  It comes on and appears 
to be working OK, but I really don't know how to do anything with it.  
Not sure if any of these devices would do the job I need but the Drake 
appears to be the only candidate so far.  I haven't been able to find a 
manual or much info on the internet.  Apparently all this stuff went 
away before we had much internet activity.

Anyone with satellite dish experience who can give me some pointers or 
maybe someone is a packrat like me and has a Houston Tracker IV 
squirreled away somewhere could help me out.  Any advice appreciated 
except don't try to talk me out of getting on 1296 EME!!

Thanks and 73, Bob W4ZST
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