Homebrew Antenna Elevation System for Ham Satellites

For working amateur satellites, this yagi elevation system employs a non-conductive crossboom made of FRP (Fibreglass Reinforced Polymer) and uses a linear actuator with a simple bearing arrangement for rotation.
Only common handyman tools are required;
Drill press, bench vice, hacksaw, various spanners, screwdrivers.
More details and links to items:

[@randynelson4472]

Perfect timing Adam! I bought your Teensy interface board a few years ago in hopes of building an EME station. The expense of 1296MHz gear and amplifiers scared me off for now. So switching over to build a linear satellite station. I have a spare azimuth rotor and a spare actuator for elevation so no need for an expensive az/el rotor.

[@HamRadioDX]

Great job Adam. I'm about to start delving into portable satellite operation with my arrow antenna soon.

[@rodkessell2248]

Hi Adam, no mention of the Cat Control in the background!

[@VA3HDL]

Very interesting idea. Mine are fixed at 30 deg like you mentioned at the beginning of the video. To implement something like this I must extend my mast. Thanks for sharing. 73

[@VK4GHZ]

Can you drop your existing crossboom by ~650mm to accommodate the linear actuator?

[@VA3HDL]

@@VK4GHZ Nope, that's the problem, there is 3el HF Yagi there also. Because of that I liked also that you used a non-metallic crossboom. Less interaction with the HF Yagi. 73

[@VK4GHZ]

@@VA3HDL A longer piece of aluminium pipe then for your mast? That would be a relatively cheap "upgrade" in order to implement elevation control. The reason for using a non-metallic crossboom was to prevent degrading the performance of the 2/70/23 yagis, especially the m2 23CM35, which does not like any metal in it's element plane. And now that you mention it, I'll be putting an m2 6M5X yagi beneath the 2/70/23 yagis, so the FRP crossboom will help there as well.

[@richardhowlett3271]

Great job Adam. Looks great.

[@VK4GHZ]

Thanks 👍

[@nerdgizmos]

Adam why don't you or someone else build and sell a replacement for the G5400/G5500 controller? These boxes are a pain butt. They have no protection, the design is outdated and I have had multiple transformers go out. Correct me if I am wrong but isn't it just a 26vac supply and some switches? Your controller and others do all of the hard work now days. I don't need lame meters with weird bulbs that you can't find. Don't we just need your controller and ac for the motors and feedback from the pots in the motors? Help me out, what am I missing?

[@michaelross-aj6fgvk3rz]

Nice job, pity that rotor control is no longer available. The metal bearings wouldn't rust out if you packed them with grease.

[@vk4uh96]

Love it 😍

[@jamess1787]

Subbed!

[@snakezdewiggle6084]

Hmm..