Hi Gary,
A few months ago, I suggested a locally operated switch solution to the
multiple Rotator box dilemma. Get an RS-232 AB switch box...Verrry Cheap
at the Computer store for what it is and does...With 25 conductors, you
can parallel groups of conductors to get additional current capacity. I
have one that switches all 25 wires between two outputs. Individual hand
soldered wires from each connector to the rotary switch... Let's see....3
x 25
wires, times 2 solder connections per wire....150 connections....Sometimes
less than 10 dollars, retail on special sales at the stores...I don't see
how they
can do it...someone in China is doing an awful lot of work for very little
money... Anyway, someone else can offer how to use ham ingenuity to
perhaps put steppers on the rotary switches and a remote control
scheme....Perhaps also, a solution exists with old telco rotary stepper
relays. The former Ft. Ord STILL uses them in a central office not far
from here. Several years ago, I visited it...the din of the clattering
relays was incredible. That CO must have been there since WW2!
73, DX de Pat, AA6EG/N6IJ
"The Contest Station from the Government"
Marina Amateur Radio Contest Station; N6IJ
599 DX Drive
Marina CA 93933
aa6eg@tmx.com
On Wed, 29 Jul 1998, Gary E. Jones wrote:
>
> I have multiple yagi antennas mounted on my current tower and I rotate most
> of them independently with rotating swing arms. The system work very well.
> Tower placement is about 500' from the shack making very long runs to the
> tower and necessitating very large rotor cable wires. I have never seen
> anyone talk about a system to use a single main control line which can be
> switched from one rotor to another rotor on the same tower. Has anyone done
> this, and if so, what strategies have worked? The only system that I can
> think of is a monster motor driven eight gang rotary band switch with
> multiple positions which could be used to switch one control box to 4 or 5
> different rotors.
>
> Is anything like this available from any commercial source? Are there
> solid designs that people have been running which have worked? I'm
> surprised that some manufacturer has not offered such a device for sale.
>
> I would be happy to have any comments or suggestions from towertalkians to
> the list or direct.
>
>
> Gary W5FI
>
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