Hey @remy!! This is nice!! Feel free to make a new topic in gallery for your build. Also i have one question , why are you building the v3.0.1 and not the v3.1?
@quartapound, how do you achieve the EMI shielding of rotator? The motors are producing noise. For example in v3.1 reference build we use sheet metal box.
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I am hoping a layer of aluminum tape on the inside of the case will achieve this. I may use copper tape instead.
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I’m struggling to get the code to compile. A couple of dumb questions.
Did you use the arduino ide to compile and upload?
And
Did you follow the steps in the readme? I am not sure I understand them so am probably making an error somewhere
Ta
Alex
Hey! @remy which t-slot profiles did you order (lengths)? You may have a problem with the thickness of axis side part of picture. Because t-slot profiles with length 140mm fit only to v3.1.
yes I used the arduino IDE (1.8.8). …what errors are you getting? I followed the steps in the readme which directed me to getting the accelstepper library,
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At 1:12, the SMB operator missed a key opportunity for infinate 1-ups.
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I’ve had a few but worked through most of them. I suspect they will be as a result of the IDE rather than anything else. (Also having some issues logging into community as well)
So far I have used same version ide that is in the readme. All libraries are in. Added the SatNOGS board. If I compile / verify with SatNOGS board I get error referring to watchdog.h
In function ‘void_vector_6():
error: expecting primary-expression before’. ’ token while (rs485. available () >0)
The watchdog line it is struggling with is
incommingByte = rs485.read();
Get same error when trying with Uno board (which it is). Board OK as have uploaded other sketches to it to check.
Any hints?
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YES! I had trouble with those lines too. I had to comment out all of the watchdog lines as well. I think it’s checking for communication between the Pi and Arduino.
just do a search for ‘wdt’ and add // before all the wdt lines and comment them out.
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How I start the Rotator software on my PC:
Install Hamlib: Ham Radio Control Libraries download | SourceForge.net
Figure out which COM port your Arduino is (Mine is COM7)
create a .bat file in the same folder as rotctld (I found it in C:\Program Files (x86)\hamlib-w64-3.2\bin )
with the following (modify for your com port)
rotctld -m 202 -r COM7 -s 9600 -T 127.0.0.1 -t 4533 -C timeout=500 -C retry=0 -vvvvvvvv
pause
Download Gpredict Gpredict download | SourceForge.net
Edit…Preferences…Interfaces…Rotators…Add New
Name host port
Arduino localhost 4533
Start your .bat, in the top right corner of Gpredict, click down arrow, then ‘Antenna Control’
…Clicking ‘Engage’ should get the Rotator to start working.
Once you have configured some satellites you can them select them and click ‘Track’
Getting there…Arduino code uploaded connection made but iffy getting errors now in that batch file output and no movement
serial_flush called
write_block called
write_block():491 failed -1 - Input/output error
easycomm_rot_get_position got error: -6
rotctl(d): P '343.28' '3.01' '' ''
rot_set_position called
easycomm_rot_set_position called: 343.279999 3.010000
easycomm_transaction called: AZ343.3 EL3.0 UP000 XXX DN000 XXX
Assuming this is some kind of positional error
Are you sure the edited Easycomm.h library is being used?
see here when I was going through that, I think it was before i modified easycomm.h
you should start a thread for your build/issue so we can diagnose your issue easier and it won’t confuse people following my build
Good point. We should also think of doing a wiki page. This could be a much easier / cheaper way to control the rotator.
The wiki is something I’ve wanted to do but haven’t had the time to do right…
I’m going to try and start A wiki page today. paste everything that we’ve got in this thread, links, files pics etc… It may be a bit unorganized at first but at least it’ll give us a jumping off point… and allow everyone to edit/collaborate on the wiki
I totally agree I think this may get a lot more people into building the rotator.
It drastically lowers the barrier to entry. You could put the whole thing together without touching a soldering iron. electronics can be up and running within hours.
Don’t get me wrong, I love what they’ve done (the open source custom pcb is quite impressive). It makes things SO much more complex though.
Someone will need to work on getting my CNC/Uno based unit working with the actual SatNOGS Pi microcontroller at some point though (as that’s the ultimate point of the SatNOGS project), which should be quite easy
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I’ll help with the wiki etc. No problem. I’ve no idea how to deal with a fork on git (Is that the correct term?) but that seems like a good idea as well.
My rotator has sat on the sidelines for a year whilst I ‘sort’ the control side 
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https://wiki.satnogs.org/SatNOGS_Arduino_Uno/CNC_Shield_Based_Rotator_Controller
thats it, I think it’s all open, just create an account.
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I’ve got domestic duties for the rest of the evening (and it’s getting cold in the garage) so I’ll pick it up tomorrow.
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