Building a DIY Radio Telescope: Worth the Time and Effort?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and practicality of building a DIY radio telescope using a satellite dish. Participants share their experiences, seek advice on components, and express curiosity about the potential success of such a project.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the viability of building a radio telescope, expressing uncertainty about whether it will be a worthwhile project.
  • Another participant shares anecdotal evidence of a friend who built a radio telescope and successfully received signals from Jupiter and the Sun, suggesting it can be a rewarding endeavor.
  • A question is raised regarding the specifications of a required RF choke, with a participant noting difficulty in finding the correct component and seeking clarification on its necessity.
  • There is a request for opinions on the plausibility of the project, indicating a desire for feedback on the proposed approach.
  • One participant expresses skepticism about the likelihood of success for backyard projects, emphasizing that the only way to determine its value is to attempt it.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of curiosity and skepticism about the project, with no consensus on its feasibility or potential success. Some share positive experiences, while others highlight the uncertainty inherent in such DIY projects.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention specific components and their availability, indicating a reliance on particular specifications that may not be universally applicable. There are unresolved questions regarding the correct RF choke and its role in the project.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in DIY projects, amateur astronomy, or radio technology may find this discussion relevant.

relativelyslow
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has anyone built this, something similar, or know anything about it? i found it on the internet and decided it was good to build seeing as i already have a satellite dish not being used. does anyone know of anything perhaps better to build? I've never built a radio telescope before, or any telescope for that matter, so i figured this is a good beginning one. you can see it HERE

just kind of wondering if this will be a waste of time
 
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I never built one but have a friend who did and later donated it to the local university. You could hear Jupiter and the Sun pretty well which can be more then enough to occupy a person!
 
if you look at the parts needed from radio shack it says a .1 mhz rf choke. is this correct or is it a typo? i can't seem to find one at radio shack or even online. at radio shack they had (i think) a 1 khz choke and it looked like the one in the pictures (i think this was the only choke they had, possibly one other kind). if it is correct, where can i find one?


i finally got the satellite signal meter from ebay so that should arrive soon hopefully. with that all i need is the choke and i can complete this thing!
 
can anyone tell me if either one, preferably which one, sounds plausible?
 
I'd be interested in if it actually works. Sometimes backyard projects like that don't work. Let me know if it works. No way to know whether it's a waste of time until you give it a try, then if it doesn't work then you know it was a waste of time. :wink:

Just being fresh. It might work, you never know. :smile:
 

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