Primaluce SPIDER230 Installation And User Manual
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INSTALLATION AND USER MANUAL
SPIDER230 RADIO TELESCOPE
VERSION 1.1
Update 28-07-2014
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This instrument is made by PrimaLuceLab iSrl, via Roveredo 20/b, 33170 Pordenone (Italy). For any questions con-
cerning the use, support and warranty information, please refer to the addresses given in the relevant documents.!
PrimaLuceLab iSrl • Via Roveredo 20/B, 33170, Pordenone • www.primalucelab.com
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
English
CAUTION
To avoid the danger of electric shock and malfunctions, do not expose the radio telescope (in particular the mount and the recei-
ver) to rain or moisture. The electronics are not waterproof so in case of bad weather conditions with rain, snow or similar, it is
required to keep the instrument closed and covered with a special waterproof cover.
Do not use the radio telescope in case of strong winds (above 25 km/h) to prevent unwanted movement of the antenna, dama-
ge to support system, handling equipment and antenna. If the wind speed exceeds 25 km/h, please keep the radio telescope
pointed towards the vertical (zenith) and enclosed in a special protective structure.
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WARNINGS
If handled improperly, the radio telescope can be damaged, then please follow the instructions below:
- Do not disassemble the closed radio telescope components such as equatorial mount or receiver
- Do not open or subject to damage shock or excessive shock any electronic parts. For example, do not drop the receiver or other
elements.
- Do not short circuit the electronic elements
- Do not expose the instrument to extreme temperatures, above 50°C
- Do not incinerate or dispose in fire any component of the radio telescope
- Do not wet any electrical or electronic part of the radio telescope
- Do not bend, change or force any mechanical part of the radio telescope
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POWER SUPPLY
The Spider230 radio telescope has components that require an external power supply: mount and receiver. Do not wet, open or
modify the power supply supplied with the instrument. Immediately unplug the power supply if there is any malfunction.
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"Skywatcher" is a registered trademark of Synta Optical Technology corp.
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The Spider230 radio telescope has a 8x50 optical finder for the control of positioning and automatic tracking of the pointing
system. Do not look at the Sun (or other strong light sources) without the appropriate filter package!!
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page !1
TRADEMARKS
WARNING
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Index
Verification of components supplied 3
Parts identification 6
Installation: pier 7
Installation: mount 9
installation: antenna 13
First use: mount polar alignment and finder alignment 30
First use: mount alignment 36
First use: antenna setup 38
RAL10PL receiver 41
RadioUniverse control software installation 45
Advanced functions: record a transit 50
Advanced functions: record a radio-picture 53
Advanced functions: performances optimization 56
Advanced functions: create a radio-map with RUviz 60
Experiments: the Sun, radio waves source 63
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page !2
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Verification of components supplied
Check for the presence of all the components required on the ordering. The included accessories and parts will vary
depending on the order.
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page !3
4 quarters of parabola
Support device"
for equatorial mounts
Tie rods supporting
block
2 5Kg counterweights
for Declination axis
1 support plates with 3
holes
3 support plates with 4
holes
4 support rods for feed horn"
(1169mm long)
2143587
3 rear tie rods (2 1422mm long, 1
1453mm long)
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PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
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page !4
Front support disk
4 spacers
LNB with feed horn
Collimation rod
Equatorial mount head
(if ordered)
2 5Kg counterweights for Right
Ascension axis (with mount if
ordered)
Pier with mount"
adapter
1091211141316
15
Feed horn support with
LNB case
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
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page !5
8x50 finder
Glass Sun filter"
for finder
RAL10PL pier support
3 M16x35 screws"
with support disks
M12x55 screw with"
ball bearing
16 M6x50 screws with 2
washers and 1 nut each
8 M6x30 screws with"
1 washer and 1 nut each
11 M6x16 screws with 1
washer each
18
17
21
19
2322262427
29
Finder support for
counterweights shaft
M12x20 screw
25
28
4 M6x55 screws
RAL10PL receiver with
control electronics
20
M6x12 screw"
with washer
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Parts identification
The numbers indicate the name of the component listed below. Read the following sections for details on opera-
tion.
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page !6
1
5129461817191413142012344 installed quarters of parabola
Support device for equatorial mounts
Tie rods supporting block
2 5Kg counterweights for Declination axis
5
Support rods for feed horn
67Rear tie rods
Support plate with 4 holes
9
Feed horn support with LNB case
12131415LNB with feed horn
Equatorial mount head
17
Finder support for counterweights shaft
18
8x50 finder
32719Glass Sun filter for finder
30
Right Ascension counterweights shaft
Pier with mount adapter
2 5Kg counterweights for Right Ascension axis
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
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Installation: pier
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The first part of the radio telescope to be installed is the pier (15) which supports the mount (13). The pier must be
installed on a platform. This can be made of wood or concrete, in the latter case you need to verify the correct hori-
zontal level and you can set the pier using special threaded rods to be inserted into the concrete base. Before star-
ting the installation, make sure that the concrete base has completely hardened.
Identify the center of the concrete platform and place the pier
slightly to the West : its axis should be about 20 cm to the West of
the center of the platform. Then put the pier on the outlined point.
Before attaching the pier to the concrete base, it is necessary to
have a rough idea of the North direction (to properly perform the
following mount polar alignment). If you are installing in the dayti-
me (so you cannot see the North Star that indicates the North ), a
compass can help you. At this time it is not necessary to perform a
precision alignment since later, when the pier will be fixed, it will be
possible to adjust the mount position (with a maximum displace-
ment of about 15 degrees). Unscrew the 4 screws around the pier,
remove the red adapter and now connect this under the mount (as
explanations on page 8) and put it all on the column. The correct
direction is the one shown, in the photo at left, by the red line (cor-
responding to the mount polar axis). Rotate the entire mount with
column until the axis pointing North, so mark, for example with a
piece of chalk, the position of the fixing holes to be done ( at the base of the column).
Remove the mount from the pier and then move the pier. Perform in the predetermined points of the concrete base
about three 20mm diameter holes to penetrate for approx. 3/4 the thickness of the concrete platform (for a preli-
minary design of the concrete base you can look at Appendix A).
Insert the threaded rods (not included in the packaging of the radio telescope as they depend on the type of base
that you want to create). Depending on the type of bar installed, you can fix with a two chemical anchoring compo-
nent such as silicone (to be injected with a grease gun) and then enter the pier in the threaded rods.
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page !7
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
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Placed underneath the smaller hole near the bar one of the 3 support disks (21). Screw the M16x35 screws (22)
that you can tighten to perfectly horizontal adjust the pier with the aid of a bubble (photo below-right). When the
pier is leveled, secure it by inserting and tightening the 3 nuts on the 3 threaded rods.
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page !8
Support disk
M16 screw
Threaded rods
Nut for threaded rod
Threaded rod
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
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Installation: mount
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With the pier installed, we can now proceed with the installation and preparation of the mount head (13). Unscrew
the 4 screws, sideways, blocking the red flange on the pier and put it under the mount (remember to loosen the
azimuth adjustment screws to allow the mount itself for a perfect flange join). Then take the M12x55 with the ball
bearing locking screw (23): insert the ball bearing in the screw and then tighten it under the plate. Caution: do not
overtighten (eg with a wrench) this screw otherwise the mount will fail to move left or right with the provided
micrometric azimuth movement when you need to perform a precision polar alignment.
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Then enter the mount head (13) with the installed flange on the pier and secure it with the 4 locking screws pre-
viously loosened. Loosen the locking screw of counterweights bar and pull down the counterweight shaft itself.
Now you can open the clutches of the two mount movements (Right Ascension and Declination) so being able to
rotate freely. Right Ascension (RA) axis is the one used by the mount for tracking objects in the sky while the Decli-
nation (DEC) is operated for the move. Each axis has a clutch that stops the mount movement and the mount mo-
tors work only when the clutches are closed.
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page !9
Flange
M12 screw with ball
bearing
Azimuth regulation
screws
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
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Bring the mount to the so-called HOME position (the mount points North with counterweights bar pointing down)
and screw on the counterweights bar the short extension bar (you can find in the mount case). Insert the two 5Kg
white counterweights (14) and then stop at the top of the bar closing their black screws (note: make sure they are
locked and do not move on).
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2 5Kg counter-
weights for Right
Ascension
Clutch for Declination
axis
Counterweights
bar locking
screw
Counter-
weights bar
Clutch for Right
Ascension axis
Extension rod for
counterweights bar
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Using a German equatorial mount, the Spider230 radio telescope needs to be aligned to the North Star: thus it’s
needed to make fine alignment adjustments during the night. It’s still possible to start with a rough alignment even
during the day. In order to do this, it is necessary to know the latitude of the place where the radio telescope is in-
stalled: if you do not know you can, for example, visit Google Maps - maps.google.com - and enter in the search
field at the top of the page the address and city where you installed the instrument. Then click with the right mou-
se on the map (the point where the instrument is installed) and select "What's here?". The coordinates will automa-
tically appear in the search box. The first number indicates the latitude. For example, if it appears:
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45.992952,12.635844
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then the latitude is almost 46 degrees.
Now set the latitude in the mount and adjusts with the adjustment screws. The way this is done depends on the
type of equatorial mount used: if you use the N-EQ6 SynScan, find the two latitude adjustment screws in the lower
part of mount, closest to the pier (if used another type, read the manual of your mount). If there are two opposite
screws, unscrew a screw and screw the other, as in the photo shown here of the N-EQ6 SynScan mount.
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Now we need to check that the polar axis of the mount is correctly pointing to the North. This procedure should be
performed with precision during the night time (pointing to the North Star) but you can get a temporary alignment
even during the day. For this setting you need to use a compass.
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page !11
Latitude"
adjustment"
screws
Latitude"
adjustment"
screws
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Recall that the needle of a compass points the magnetic North Pole (the Earth's magnetic field) and not the geo-
graphic North (taking as a reference the North Pole). Magnetic North is currently in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago,
it’s not still and it changes position over time. So the compass needle, depending on where we are on Earth, will be
moved eastward or westward with respect to the geographic North. The angle between the direction of magnetic
North and the true North is called magnetic declination. You can check the current magnetic declination from the
world map of magnetic declination updated to 2010 found in the web page:
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http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/WMM/data/WMM2010/WMM2010_D_MERC.pdf
To correctly point true north with a compass, you have to
subtract to 360° the magnetic declination of your place
of observation: this will be the direction of the North. For
example, in Italy we have a magnetic declination East (ie
positive) by about 2 degrees. The compass will indicate
true north when the compass needle will be pointing not
at 360° but at 358° (360-2 = 358).
So take the compass, position yourself just behind the
mount and rotate to make it point to the correct direction
of true North (the red line in the photo at right). In this
way, having also set the latitude as we have seen before,
the polar axis of the mount will be pointed towards the
North Star with sufficient accuracy. We will read how to
make a precision polar alignment (during the night, th-
rough the polar scope that came with the mount itself)
on page 32 of this manual.
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PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
installation: antenna
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Spider230 has a parabolic antenna that consists of 4 sections (quarter of parable - 1). First of all you need to build
the reflector (primary reflector): put on a plane the four quarters (1) and push them together two by two, as in the
photo below.
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Then use the 16 M6x50 screws with 1 nut and 2 washers each (24) to tie together two quarters of the parabolic
antenna, inserting them into the holes (4 on each side of the ray). Close the screws with bolts but do not tighten at
all, you will need to tighten them later.
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page !13
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
In doing so, make sure that the two coupled quarters to mate best as possible, avoiding small steps between one
and the other in the forward facing part of parabolic antenna (to get a better parabolic shape).
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Then approached the two halves of the parabolic antenna.
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PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Tighten first the two top screws for each half (the outer ones - photo below). As before, use the screws with bolts
but do not tighten completely, it will be necessary to tighten them later.
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Then raise the parabolic antenna and, with the aid of a second person or a vertical table top, insert and tighten the
screws in the two holes for each ray to the center of the antenna.
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page !15
First, insert the
screws through
the 2 holes in
the outer radius
Put the screws
in these holes in
the next step
Insert 2 screws
through the
two holes in the
inner radius
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Now take the support device for equatorial
mounts (2) of the parabolic antenna. It’s already
preassembled with the connecting plate for the
antenna. Unscrew the two screws on the bot-
tom plate by removing the end of the bar. Now
insert, by sliding from the lower part of the plate
one of the 2 5Kg counterweights for Declination
axis (4) and secure it at the bottom of the plate
by tightening the two locking screws (make sure
it does not move). Then screw the back plate at
the end of bar.
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Then place the support device for equatorial mounts (2) onto the upper part of mount head (13) and close the 2
knobs lock on the side. Make sure that the plate is tight and does not move. Insert the 4 M6x55 screws (28) in the
front disc and attach by screwing, as in the image below, the 4 spacers (11 - one for each screw). The spacers have
a variable thickness with a side less thick: this goes toward the center of the support disc (in fact it fits to the shape
of the parabolic reflector). Do not tighten all the screws of the spacers but leave slightly open to allow you to move
the screw along the slot of the circular plate (used to attach the plate to the antenna more easily).
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page !16
Less thick side
More thick side
M6x55 screws
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
To adjust the position of the 4 just inserted screws (to fix the spacers) sliding them in the slot, you can help by in-
serting the front support disk (10) and slide the screws until they pass through the holes of the disc itself. Then
remove the front support disk.
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Now proceed with the parabolic reflector installation. This procedure must be done at least by 2 people but, for
simplicity, we recommend that you run it in 3. Lift carefully the entire reflector and, making sure not to damage the
parable itself, place it right in front of 4 spacers (11) that you have previously installed. Match the 4 central holes
(90° apart) with the 4 screws and pull down until the reflector touches the 4 spacers. Due to the large size of the
parabolic antenna, this step may be difficult: execute it carefully helping the insertion of the reflector impressing
small vibrations.
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page !17
Front support"
disk
Parabolic antenna holes for
screws insertion
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Take the front front support (10) and put it on the 4 screws closing it with 4 bolts (1 for each screw) and 4 washers
(one for each screw).
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Loosen the two mount clutches (the ones of of Right Ascension and Declination) and point the antenna to the ver-
tical (the parable will "look" upwards). Attention: at this point of installation, the radio telescope is not balanced,
so when you open the clutches it tends to move by itself. Proceed with caution and avoid slides moving by itself.
Close the clutches making sure that the antenna is stationary. Now move down the counterweights (14) of Right
Ascension axis to better counterbalance the weight of the antenna (no need to be precise, unscrew the locking
screw of each counterweight, slide along the counterweight bar and lock towards the end of the bar itself by clo-
sing the same screw lock).
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page !18
Right Ascension
counterweights
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Then take the 4 support plates: 3 of these have 4 holes (7) and one has 3 holes (8). The plates must be fixed on the
edge of the reflector, in correspondence of the pairs of holes (there are 4 pairs of holes spaced 10 cm), using for
each hole a M6x30 screw with two washers and one nut (26). The smaller plate (8) is inserted into the holes in
correspondence with mount counterweights bar.
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page !19
The plate with 3 holes
has to be installed on
the holes in corre-
spondence with
mount counter-
weights bar
Fasten the plates with
2 M6x30 screws, "
fixing it to the "
reflector with the nut
provided
PrimaLuceLab iSrl Spider230 user manual
Now take the 3 rear tie rods (6): two are 1422mm long and one is 1453mm long. The longer rod must be screwed
into the threaded pin pointing in the opposite direction of the counterweights bar, just above the support device for
equatorial mounts. The two short rods instead should be placed laterally (one to the left and one to the right than
the first). To correctly insert the rod, place one end close to the corresponding plate (which we installed on the re-
flector) and the other end on the threaded screw of tie rods supporting block.
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Then tighten until the end of the rod toward the plate pass within the plate itself. Take a M6x16 screw with washer
(27) and, by entering one for each plate, screw it on each of the 3 rods.
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page !20
1422mm"
tie rod
1453mm"
tie rod
Securing screw
of tie rod on the
plate
1422mm"
tie rod
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