Maker builds eight-foot articulating satellite ground station from scratch
A hobbyist built a large motorized satellite dish with custom azimuth and elevation controls as a first project in satellite radio.
Summary
The project by [Cranktown City] uses an eight-foot dish on a concrete foundation with a custom metal base housing all electronics. A wheelchair motor drives azimuth rotation through a large gear, while a linear actuator handles elevation. The system tracks satellites automatically and includes a wind-detection safety feature that stows the dish vertically in high winds. It currently receives data from GOES weather satellites.
How the ground station works
- Mount: Large post with concrete foundation and custom-fabricated metal base that houses all electronics
- Azimuth control: Large metal gear driven by a wheelchair motor
- Elevation control: Linear actuator
- Antenna: Circularly-polarized feed installed at the dish focal point
- Safety: Wind detection system stows dish vertically above a set wind speed
- Targets: GOES weather satellites and potential radio astronomy use
Why it matters
The project demonstrates how surplus motors and online-sourced hardware can be combined with custom fabrication for serious amateur radio and satellite reception, potentially inspiring similar builds in the maker community.
Original reference: hackaday.com →