Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] software defined antenna

[Berndt Josef Wulf]

On Saturday 11 October 2008 09:14:48 Steve Totaro wrote:
> On Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 4:20 PM, John Ackermann N8UR <address@hidden> wrote:
> > rhubbell wrote:
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> After being on-frequency here for a little while I can see that the
> >> range of experience/expertise is wide. Which is great.
> >>
> >> I'm curious if any long-timers have begun to look at software defined
> >> antennas?  Or is there any effort at all anywhere in the public domain?
> >> I guess military and universities don't really count for public as much
> >> as they once did, but I'd guess they're working toward SDA also.
> >
> > I'm not sure just what you mean by "software defined antenna" but Vic
> > Kean, K1LT, has been using an array of short vertical antennas fed to
> > multiple ADCs and phased in software to receive on the 160M amateur band.
> >  I don't have URLs handy, but I know he's made some postings about his
> > work. Searching for "K1LT" and "SDR" would be a good start.
> >
> > John
>
> I could see a software controlled antennae, using software to control reed
> switches and servos, but not a strictly software defined antennae, more
> like a robotic antennae that could be populated with standard or predefined
> settings for the antennae configuration, as well as manual control.
>
> I have a software controlled wifi antennae on my chimney, the software just
> controls a servo for direction.
>
> I have this guy, which kicks butt and has come down in price quite a bit
> http://cgi.ebay.com/WiFi-USB-24-dBi-YAGI-ANTENNA-2-4GHz-ULTRA-LONG-RANGE_W0
>QQitemZ270284630828QQihZ017QQcategoryZ86720QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZView
>Item
>
> Haven't used it in ice/snow but i assume that will be a problem and require
> some kind of covering to keep the elements that stick off, jerking the
> servo takes care of water build up from rain that can and does degrade wifi
> signals.

Systems such as an over-the-horizon radar, such as the Jindalee project in 
Australia, are possibly as close as it gets to be a SDA. It involves a little 
more than just an antenna rotator controller... 

73, Berndt
VK5ABN