As the seasons change, routine maintenance and adjustments become necessary to ensure the array continues to function at its best. During the spring and fall, I typically spend a few days making any necessary changes or repairs, which often requires me to ascend to the roof via a 10ft ladder. This task can be a bit daunting, but the opportunity to inspect and maintain the array up close makes it a worthwhile endeavor.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project is the ability to receive and analyze satellite signals from around the world. I've spent countless hours working with various satellites, including Meteor, MetOp, NOAA, and GOES, as well as data from SatNOGS receivers. The experience of downloading and processing these signals has been a fascinating journey, allowing me to tap into a wealth of information that would otherwise be inaccessible. Whether I'm listening to analog or digital transmissions, I'm constantly amazed by the wealth of knowledge that's available to me through this project. As I approach the end of its second decade, I'm excited to see what the future holds for this array and the opportunities it will continue to provide.
3D printed parts 1700L_5.5T_0.14S_4D_10-90M.stl Frame 1700LNBMount1700.stl lnbmount.stl LNBMount1700.stl
Green Heron Engineering https://www.greenheronengineering.com
SSB https://www.ssb.de
JG https://www.jghitechnology.com
Yaesu Yaesu G-5500 https://www.yaesu.com
FT-847
Icom IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com
Kantronics KamPlus https://kantronics.com
Nooelec GOES + https://www.nooelec.com/store/
Nooelec SMArTee
Airspy Mini https://airspy.com/airspy-mini/
Nano VNA
Gibsons Radio and Aircraft Supply of Kerrville Texas (Gibsons)
Radio Shack of Kerrville Texas (still here in 2025)
1 meter offset feed satellite dish
#12 solid bare copper
N-type panel connectors
SMA panel connectors
Expanded aluminum mesh for the reflectors
Fiberglass mast pieces for the cross beam
3/16" clear tubing
3/16 Solid Fiberglass Rod
Aluminum parts and rivets
#10 solid bare copper
N-type panel connectors
LMR400 superflex for the 10ft piece that rotates
RG-6 or something to power the Pre-amps with 12VDC
SMA and N type connectors. I used solder/crimp type where the center pin is soldered.
Superbat SMA Connectors Kit SMA Male Crimp Solder Connector Kit Attachment for LMR-400 RG8 RG8/U RG213 Belden-9913
Nano VNA
Pre-amp SSB Electronic 1037 NF SP/70 430-440 MHz from Germany
Pre-amp JG-ULNA2VOX-E from Italy
Yaesu G-5500 Rotator with the Green Heron Engineering controller
PSTrotator http://www.pstrotator.com Orbitron http://www.stoff.pl SatDump https://www.satdump.org SatNogs https://satnogs.org UZ7HO Soundmodem Ham Radio Deluxe HDSDR SDR# CubicSDR FLDigi WXtoImg RX-SSTV UISS WSJT-X GridTracker OpenSCAD FreeCAD Ultimaker Cura
Right click and open in new tab to download the full sized pictures
Crimp Tool
Supervisor is worn out after a long day.
Pre-amps for 2M and 70CM
1700MHz Dish and feed
Old 2M Helical. This antenna is pretty beat up after 12 years. I made it very long and ended up cutting it down. Then I I had to cut down the reflector as the wind load was too much. This antenna has seen a lot.
Mounting
The cross beam is made up of a painters pole on the outside then a better piece of fiberglass on the inside. At the clamp points I made some aluminum halves.
Those white fiberglass rods have lasted with no paint etc. I drilled the holes, inserted the rods, glued, then cut to length. 3/16" tubing holds the copper to the spacers.
70CM Helical Antenna details. This antenna has been on the roof for over 12 years with only minor repairs.
x.com reposts
After about 12 years the tubing and copper will look like this.
This array took a few days of planning, a couple of days to build, several tries at mounting and rotator setup but years of enjoyment.
In the spring and fall I do some changes or maintenance and the way it is mounted I need a 10ft ladder up on the roof.
I have spent days working satellites, listening to all things analog and digital, downloading Meteor, MetOp, NOAA, and GOES pictures along with SatNOGS receivers that are on line when I am not.
Super good project going on its second decade.
PSTrotator http://www.pstrotator.com Orbitron http://www.stoff.pl SatDump https://www.satdump.org SatNogs https://satnogs.org Ham Radio Deluxe HDSDR SDR# CubicSDR FLDigi WXtoImg RX-SSTV UISS WSJT-X GridTracker OpenSCAD FreeCAD Ultimaker Cura
Green Heron Engineering https://www.greenheronengineering.com SSB https://www.ssb.de JG https://www.jghitechnology.com Yaesu Yaesu G-5500 https://www.yaesu.com Gibsons Radio and Aircraft Supply of Kerrville Texas (Gibsons) Radio Shack of Kerrville Texas (still here in 2025) 1 meter offset feed satellite dish #12 solid bare copper Nooelec GOES + https://www.nooelec.com/store/ Nooelec SMArTee Airspy Mini https://airspy.com/airspy-mini/ N-type panel connectors SMA panel connectors Expanded aluminum mesh for the reflectors Fiberglass mast pieces for the cross beam 3/16" clear tubing 3/16 Solid Fiberglass Rod Aluminum parts and rivets #10 solid bare copper N-type panel connectors LMR400 superflex for the 10ft piece that rotates RG-6 or something to power the Pre-amps with 12VDC SMA and N type connectors. I used solder/crimp type where the center pin is soldered. Superbat SMA Connectors Kit SMA Male Crimp Solder Connector Kit Attachment for LMR-400 RG8 RG8/U RG213 Belden-9913 Nano VNA Pre-amp SSB Electronic 1037 NF SP/70 430-440 MHz from Germany Pre-amp JG-ULNA2VOX-E from Italy Yaesu G-5500 Rotator with the Green Heron Engineering controller
1 meter offset feed satellite dish #12 solid bare copper Nooelec GOES + N-type panel connectors SMA panel connectors
Expanded aluminum mesh for the reflectors Fiberglass mast pieces for the cross beam 3/16" clear tubing 3/16 Solid Fiberglass Rod Aluminum parts and rivets #10 solid bare copper N-type panel connectors LMR400 superflex for the 10ft piece that rotates RG-6 or something to power the Pre-amps with 12VDC SMA and N type connectors. I used solder/crimp type where the center pin is soldered. Superbat SMA Connectors Kit SMA Male Crimp Solder Connector Kit Attachment for LMR-400 RG8 RG8/U RG213 Belden-9913 Nano VNA Pre-amp SSB Electronic 1037 NF SP/70 430-440 MHz from Germany Pre-amp JG-ULNA2VOX-E from Italy Yaesu G-5500 Rotator with the Green Heron Engineering controller