Directional Stabilized Antenna

I am completly new and of course need guidance.I wish to build a directional antenna that ties into a gyro. I would like it to keep an antenna in a fixed direction using the input from my gyro. This would be for a ground based internet uplink from a ship using a Hughesnet dish. The dish already works manually. I am purchasing a stepper (or servo) driven gearbox for the rotation. I believe i would need a driver. Like the ones gekodrive makes for CNC machines. and a computer with software to control it.What i need help with is, What software? Should I or Can I use an Arduino? How do I go about this?

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  • BH -

    I am working on a tracking antenna project type for my UAV. While it is closed source now as its part of an electronics challenge, I plan to open source a version of it when I'm done in June. I'll post progress here when I get to the Open release. In the meantime, you can track my progress at www.hubner.net. The code might be useful.

    To build your own, you will need an accelerometer to read the changes in the X and Y tilt and also detect absolute rotational position (ie a compass). I assume the satellite is in a fixed position and your boat could be anchored to a buoy and move around freely.

    Then add the secret sauce and you're done...

    An arduino could do it, or a parallax propeller or a basic stamp chips. It depends what you want to learn to build on. I like the parallax, but there arduino is a popular for DIYer's. They both have a broad community for support.

    Good Luck!

    Paul
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