[BVARC] Building an FSD

Wed Mar 10 17:34:16 CST 2021

Rick,

Agreed. And it is beginning to look like there is a need to build and test such a thing to really learn it’s value. For instance, I never knew how useful an my nanoVNA would be until I bought one. Sure, I could do an SWR study the old way, but the new widget enables me to do a lot more, faster and easier. 

I just threw this question out this morning for discussion, and got my money’s worth from everyone. It was academic at that time, but now I am wondering all the more why there isn’t some video on YouTube showing some ham who has built such a device. It seems like this is something wanting to be made, at least for ham use.

Mark

> On Mar 10, 2021, at 2:59 PM, Gary Sitton via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org <mailto:bvarc at bvarc.org>> wrote:
> 
> Rick:
> 
>    I really agree especially since I've looked into the drone motor controllers.
> They typically emit so much onboard and radiated hash that special by-pass
> precautions are taken with some of the onboard sensors, e.g. accelerometers
> for orientation sensing.  I disagree that modelling software is adequate for
> the typical antenna environment, e.g. antennas below a wavelength.  Also
> conformation of directional antenna's front-to-back and forward gain for
> optimization purposes would be nice if even perhaps extravagant.
> 
> 73, Gary K5AMH
> 
> PS: Most drone controllers use the STM ARM processors for which there
> is free open source drone software: https://betaflight.com/ <https://betaflight.com/>
> 
> 
> On 3/10/2021 2:34 PM, Rick Hiller via BVARC wrote:
>> Comment:  Is an FSD applicable?
>> 
>> Although an FSD would provide a close-in Far Field pattern of an antenna antenna installation, which is very cool indeed.  Is it really necessary in the world of Ham Radio?
>> 
>> We already have antenna modeling software based on the NEC which is quite accurate, depending on the set up parameters provided, of course.   That model analysis provides us with a pattern and a fair amount of operational information.
>> 
>> But what do we (I) really want?  I want to know what and how my antenna is performing in the real world outside of my QTH.   Is it getting to Europe or VK?   When is the best time and frequency to get to Japan or South Africa?   Questions like this are not to be answered by a FSD.
>> 
>> What we really need is a world wide system to detect our signals wherever they may occur.  So let's start thinking of that.  We just need a few hams on every continent to participate........Wait!  Not so fast.......there is already a system that does this.  WSPR   and it is available from a local amateur radio dealer -- SOTA Beams  https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite-classic <https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite-classic>.     QST Dec 2018 even has a review of this system. 
>> https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/content/QSTREVIEW.pdf <https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/content/QSTREVIEW.pdf> 
>> 
>> Now look, I am not poo pooing the FSD concept , ideas, discussion, etc.   Very cool indeed to get a group of folks excited and discussing antenna stuff.   Woo Hoo!  I'm all for it, being the antenna phreak that I am.   I'm just taking a step back and seeing if it is necessary, practical or even applicable for Hams.   Plus, maybe some don't know about WSPR.  
>> 
>> 73...Rick -- W5RH
>> 
>>    
>> 
>>  <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon>	Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=link>
>> On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 1:57 PM Jeffery MacMillian via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org <mailto:bvarc at bvarc.org>> wrote:
>> Here is a good paper on this very topic.....
>> 
>> https://www.narda-sts.com/en/selective-emf/srm-3006-field-strength-analyzer/eID/pd/pdce/9063/pdfr/9500/ <https://www.narda-sts.com/en/selective-emf/srm-3006-field-strength-analyzer/eID/pd/pdce/9063/pdfr/9500/>
>> 
>> have Fun,
>> Jeff
>> KC5TT
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 1:31 PM Tom Watson via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org <mailto:bvarc at bvarc.org>> wrote:
>> Brilliant!  
>> 
>> On Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 12:22 AM Mark Brantana via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org <mailto:bvarc at bvarc.org>> wrote:
>> OK, what is an FSD? It is a Field Strength Drone. It’s an idea I am sure others have had, and I don’t expect to get around to designing or patenting such a thing. But inventions are often just the merging of new technologies, and this is not much different. I don’t see any YouTubes about this or any other reference, so here’s the idea:
>> 
>> With all the capabilities of little drones I wonder if anyone has designed one which can carry a field strength meter and fly a grid around an antenna to evaluate antenna performance. The guts of my little Radio Shack FSM would have weighed way less than an ounce.
>> 
>> Ideally, the field strength meter could communicate to the base through the drone transmitter, reducing weight. Software at the base could link the drone 3D location data with the FS reading. The drone would have to wait at test locations for the operator to transmit, and ideally would move to the next location. Finally, the software might be able to link with existing simulation software for comparison with theory and allow for simulation model improvement. This looks like it would take a small team to develop.
>> 
>> This sounds like it would have many uses besides antenna evaluation, like RFI evaluation.
>> 
>> What about it? Has anyone done this?
>> 
>> Mark
>> N5PRD
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>> 
>> -- 
>> Rick Hiller  
>> e-mail:     rickhiller73 at gmail.com <mailto:rickhiller73 at gmail.com>
>> Cell:        832-474-3713
>> Physical: 9031 Troulon Drive
>>                Houston, TX 77036
>> 
>> 
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> 
> -- 
> Gary Sitton, K5AMH 
> gasitton at comcast.net <mailto:gasitton at comcast.net> 
> SDR/DSP Consultant, 
> "Have FFTs, Will Travel." 
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