Correct implementation of rotor endstops and Flip mode
Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2025 10:12 am
Hello,
in the following groups.io discussion it was already asked about flip mode implementation for better rotor control.
https://sdr-radio.groups.io/g/main/topi ... p/31264782
I now wanted to put this feature request in the correct location.
The gist is as follows.
For rotors supporting 180° of elevation rotation, one can track a satellite in two ways.
This is handy to avoid running into the end stops.
Say for example we have a satellite that rises at 340°N and sets at 30°N
Then, if our rotor system's end-stop is in the south, we do not have a problem. We can set our elevation to 0° and azimut to 340° and normally track it.
But if the end-stop would be in the north we would have a problem with the above approach. Because we cannot pass over 360°.
So the approach would be to use flip mode, start with our elevation at 180°, point the antenna in the other direction, and set the azimut to 340°-180=160°.
Now as the pass progresses we can somethly follow and avoid the endstop in the north by rotating over the south.
So to implement this we would need two options:
- A checkbox to enable and disable Flip mode, because not all rotor systems support it.
- A input box to input where our endstop is located.
Then the logic would need to compute where a pass crosses the endstop and in that case, do the above adjustments so long as flip mode is enabled.
So the new elevation would be 180° - original
And the new azimut would be original - 180°
Thank you for your help
73 de
Benjamin HB9HIH
in the following groups.io discussion it was already asked about flip mode implementation for better rotor control.
https://sdr-radio.groups.io/g/main/topi ... p/31264782
I now wanted to put this feature request in the correct location.
The gist is as follows.
For rotors supporting 180° of elevation rotation, one can track a satellite in two ways.
This is handy to avoid running into the end stops.
Say for example we have a satellite that rises at 340°N and sets at 30°N
Then, if our rotor system's end-stop is in the south, we do not have a problem. We can set our elevation to 0° and azimut to 340° and normally track it.
But if the end-stop would be in the north we would have a problem with the above approach. Because we cannot pass over 360°.
So the approach would be to use flip mode, start with our elevation at 180°, point the antenna in the other direction, and set the azimut to 340°-180=160°.
Now as the pass progresses we can somethly follow and avoid the endstop in the north by rotating over the south.
So to implement this we would need two options:
- A checkbox to enable and disable Flip mode, because not all rotor systems support it.
- A input box to input where our endstop is located.
Then the logic would need to compute where a pass crosses the endstop and in that case, do the above adjustments so long as flip mode is enabled.
So the new elevation would be 180° - original
And the new azimut would be original - 180°
Thank you for your help
73 de
Benjamin HB9HIH