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<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>I got fed up with
noisy power supplies to here is my solution.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. A linux computer
runs Predict as a server</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. A perl script
wakes up every minute, and asks predict if ISS is above the
horizon.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>3. If ISS is above
the horizon, a command is sent to a parrallel port control
card.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>4. The control
toggles a relay</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>5. The relay action
turns off the battery charger and engages the radio</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>6. When the ISS is
below the horizon once more, the script turns off the relay.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>7. The radio turns
off and the battery charger re-engages.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>8. The radio has a
30 minute time out set as well to guard against problems.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>So far it works
really well.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>The rack clicks and
comes to life as ISS rises and goes back to sleep when it
descends.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here is a
photo.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.tech-software.net/rack_psu.jpg">http://www.tech-software.net/rack_psu.jpg</A></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>I am not having much
luck with the helix's i have built the front to back seems
bad.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial size=2>I have however had
great success on 2m, with an 8 element quad.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=032001212-27122007><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Cheers</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>----------------------------------------------------------------------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Andrew Rich VK4TEC</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="mailto:vk4tec@people.net.au">vk4tec@people.net.au</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A
href="http://www.tech-software.net/">http://www.tech-software.net</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>