[TenTec] HP GPS Receiver

[Mark Erbaugh]

Other Eric,

Thanks for the tip on the patch antenna. I really don't understand these
things yet. That will make the mounting easier. I think a couple of pieces
of angle aluminum will do it.  BTW, do you know if the Garmin antenna they
supply is weather proof?  Also, on my antenna, it looks like there  are
three mounting holes around the perimeter of the antenna.  The holes didn't
go through the cardboard at the base of the antenna, but there were three
holes in it. I was able to remove the cardboard base (it's just glued on)
and reposition it so that the holes line up.

Well I originally tried running the GPS with the antenna in my basement (no
window) shack, with no luck, so I will have to put the antenna outside and I
will need to get it on the roof. The house is the only thing out here ( a
former corn field ) that blocks the sky, but it does a good job of that (2
story).

Just to make sure things working, I brought the receiver up to my 1st floor
office where I have another computer and ran the antenna outside through a
door. Again, the house was still blocking some of the sky.  I was able to
get it to lock to 1 or 2 satellites. I know that it needs to reprogram to
its new location. I attempted to do a survey, but it cancelled my request as
it didn't see 4 satellites.

73,
Mark

----- Original Message -----
From: "Eric F. Richards" <efricha at dimensional.com>
To: <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 10:06 AM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] HP GPS Receiver


> At 09:45 AM 6/20/2003 -0400, you wrote:
> >Eric,
> >
> >Thanks - but does the antenna need a ground plane? I suspect it was
designed
> >to mount on a vehicle roof which would act as a GP. On the K8CU website,
one
> >person mentioned mounting in a pie plate or such.  I received no
> >instructions with my antenna.
>
> Hi, different Eric here...
>
> As often is the case, it is a matter of RTing the FM.  The antenna is
> a patch and shouldn't need a ground plane.  However, the GPS is designed
> for fixed site operation, not mobile, so you have to manually command it
> to do a sky survey:
>
>          :PTIME:GPSYSTEM:POSITION:SURVEY ONCE
>
> This is described on page 1-15.  Page 1-16 has some comments about dealing
> with limited antenna exposure to the sky.
>
> As for me... my antenna is INSIDE, and sits near a window.  It works
> well enough that I have no plans to mount the antenna outside.
>
> 73,
>
> Eric, KB0YDN
>
>
>
> >73,
> >Mark
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Eric Scace K3NA" <eric at k3na.org>
> >To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> >Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 9:15 AM
> >Subject: RE: [TenTec] HP GPS Receiver
> >
> >
> > > In most installations the hockey puck antenna is attached to the top
of a
> >stick/pipe/tube.  The antenna needs to be in a location
> > > where it can see the maximum amount of sky.  Even tree foliage will
block
> >the GPS signals.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > >    -- Eric K3NA
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com
> > > [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Mark Erbaugh
> > > Sent: 2003 June 19 Thursday 23:25
> > > To: tentec at contesting.com
> > > Subject: Re: [TenTec] HP GPS Receiver
> > >
> > >
> > > I got my Z3801 yesterday and checked it out.  How/where did you
install
> >the
> > > antenna? I think I need to put the antenna on the roof so that the
house
> > > doesn't block the sky. For testing purposes I set the antenn in the
front
> > > yard (as far as the 20' cable would go) and it could only acquire 2
> > > satellites, which isn't enough to do a survey and set the new
position.
> >Does
> > > the antenna need to be mounted on a metal ground plane?
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > Mark
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Carl Moreschi" <n4py at earthlink.net>
> > > To: <tentec at contesting.com>
> > > Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2003 19:44 PM
> > > Subject: [TenTec] HP GPS Receiver
> > >
> > >
> > > > I received my HP GPS receiver today.  I have it all installed.  I
used
> > > Jim's
> > > > method to hook it up to the rs232 port to the computer and it works
> >fine.
> > > I
> > > > now have a 10 mhz frequency standard that sets my rx340 exactly on
> > > > frequency.
> > > >
> > > > My N4PY Orion Control Program is just about ready for prime time.  I
> >have
> > > it
> > > > working with the remote tuning pod and things are looking great.
> > > >
> > > > Carl Moreschi N4PY
> > > > Franklinton, NC
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > TenTec mailing list
> > > > TenTec at contesting.com
> > > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > TenTec mailing list
> > > TenTec at contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > TenTec mailing list
> > > TenTec at contesting.com
> > > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
> > >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
> >TenTec mailing list
> >TenTec at contesting.com
> >http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
> --
> Eric F. Richards
> efricha at dimensional.com
> "The weird part is that I can feel productive even when I'm doomed."
>   - Dilbert
>
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>