Track Satellites Autonomously Using an ESP8266

What was thought to a be a project that could be created in a day took longer than Eric (of HamRadioConcepts) expected, by almost a year. His Autonomous Satellite Tracker is based on Elwood Downey’s 2-Axis Tracker, which can get an accurate fix on satellites using mostly spatial sensors. Eric admits he was in over his head trying to build Elwood’s exact version, but he persevered with some help from his friend, changed up some of the hardware, and got his platform up and running.

On the hardware side, the Autonomous Satellite Tracker features a HUZZAH ESP8266 module (over the original Arduino Mega), an Adafruit GPS module, and 9DOF orientation sensor. The tracker is mounted to a Sony tripod that’s outfitted with an SPT400 tilt system and azimuth servo, which adjusts an Elk Long Periodic Dual-Band antenna mounted to a PVC boom. The rig is powered by a Bioenno Power 12V/6A Lithium iron phosphate battery, which sits atop a clear plastic box that houses all of the electronics, but will eventually be affixed to the tripod with Velcro.

Eric’s initial problems with the tracker began by trying to use an Arduino Mega and Ethernet shield with shotty jumper wires to connect with the GPS module. Instead of the wires, he thought the Arduino Mega (manufactured by Sunfounder) was the problem and went on to buy another made by a different manufacturer. Turns out that board was bad, so Eric bought another Sunfounder board, but couldn’t get it to work with the GPS module.

After going through three Arduino boards, Eric then figured the GPS module must be bad and ordered another, only the code library he was using didn’t work with that particular module. Eventually, he figured out the wire jumper cables were the problem, something most of us would overlook as well. We’ve all been through what Eric has at some point while undertaking a project, and in the end, if it functions, then it was time well spent, even if it took a year.