Another option is to get a controller board that gives you computer
control of the rotor. They are relatively inexpensive compared to repair
costs. I have a G800S with an inoperable control box but the EA4TX
board works well and gives me computer control. This also means you
could control the rotor with your logging and contest software.
The two boards I know about (I'm sure there must be others) are:
ARSWIN by EA4TX http://www.ea4tx.com
Idiom Press http://idiompress.com
73 de Terry KK6T
Scott Stembaugh wrote:
> With the rotor attached to the controller it turns fine, full rotation and
> stops where it should, but there is NO movement on the indicator. When
> unplugged from the rotor there is no NO movement on the indicator. When the
> rotor is turning I see no changes in resistance on the indicator pot.
> Overlap lamp is lit solid at all times, even with rotation of the rotor. It
> was lit solid before I had the rotor connected. Adjustment on the overlap
> LED adj does not turn it off.
>
> So, broke in the sense of replacing the indicator pot? Send it away to
> someone who still works on them for a more thorough inspection? I mean
> working without the indicator is very feasible but since it will be my first
> real rotating antenna I would like to tweak it here and there and actually
> know where it is pointing. I suppose I could put a compass on it and have a
> web cam display that to me.....
>
> Again, thanks for the input and advice.
>
> 73,
> --scott
>
> On Dec 27, 2007 1:45 PM, David Robbins K1TTT <k1ttt@arrl.net> wrote:
>
>
>> The simpler test is to put the ohm meter on the terminals at the rotor and
>> turn it with a 12v power supply or battery. I have done it with a 9v
>> electric drill battery up the tower when I needed to do a test quickly.
>> If
>> the indicator on the box doesn't go full ccw when you unplug the cable to
>> the rotor then it is broke... that is simple test, unplug the cable and
>> the
>> indicator should go ccw to the stop.
>>
>>
>> David Robbins K1TTT
>> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
>> web: http://www.k1ttt.net
>> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
>>
>>
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
>>> bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Scott Stembaugh
>>> Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 04:29
>>> Cc: towertalk@contesting.com
>>> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Yaesu G800s Rotator
>>>
>>> N4ZR, N6KI, and K1TTT - Thanks for the suggestions. The rubber belt
>>> inside
>>> the unit is intact and does not appear to be slipping. I put the ohm
>>> meter
>>> on pins 2 & 3 at the back and that allowed the control unit to see a
>>>
>> load
>>
>>> and rotate. Unfortunately it's not where I wanted to be to check the
>>>
>> pot.
>>
>>> The control cable was cut when it was brought off the tower so I have to
>>> reconnect the ends to complete testing it. With no power applied to
>>> control
>>> unit, on the pot I see 425ohms on pins 1&3, 25ohms on 1&2, and 400ohms
>>>
>> on
>>
>>> 2&3. Indicator is pointing at 295 and overlap lamp is lit. It appears
>>>
>> to
>>
>>> want to go up no matter which way I switch it.
>>>
>>> Note in the manual indicates this rotor is only 3.5 years old (4/04
>>> purchase
>>> date).
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> --scott
>>>
>>> On Dec 26, 2007 4:54 PM, David Robbins K1TTT <k1ttt@arrl.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Before you open the rotor check the resistance of the indicator pot as
>>>>
>>> it
>>>
>>>> rotates from end to end. There are many more problems with Yaesu
>>>> indicator
>>>> boxes than with the rotor pot itself.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> David Robbins K1TTT
>>>> e-mail: mailto:k1ttt@arrl.net
>>>> web: http://www.k1ttt.net
>>>> AR-Cluster node: 145.69MHz or telnet://dxc.k1ttt.net
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:towertalk-
>>>>> bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Scott Stembaugh
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2007 20:36
>>>>> To: towertalk@contesting.com
>>>>> Subject: [TowerTalk] Yaesu G800s Rotator
>>>>>
>>>>> I have acquired a Yaesu G800s that I have been told has a problem
>>>>>
>> with
>>
>>>>> showing the actual position. The original owner knew how long it
>>>>>
>> took
>>
>>>> to
>>>>
>>>>> rotate and occasionally stepped outside to verify that he was
>>>>>
>> pointing
>>
>>>>> where
>>>>> he thought he should be. I am planning on opening up the rotator to
>>>>>
>>> see
>>>
>>>>> if
>>>>> I can correct the problem before I put it up next spring. While I
>>>>>
>>> have
>>>
>>>> it
>>>>
>>>>> open is there anything else I should do preventive maintenance wise?
>>>>>
>>>> Any
>>>>
>>>>> "common" failures/problems that I should be on the lookout for?
>>>>>
>>>>> And if the pot, or any other parts, has failed what is a good
>>>>>
>> resource
>>
>>>> for
>>>>
>>>>> parts for this rotator?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks and vy 73,
>>>>> --Scott N9LJX
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> ------
>>>>> N9LJX
>>>>> radio.n9ljx@gmail.com
>>>>> http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~scott/<http://web.ics.purdue.edu/%7Escott/>
>>>>>
>>> <http://web.ics.purdue.edu/%7Escott/>
>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> TowerTalk mailing list
>>>>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> TowerTalk mailing list
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ------
>>> N9LJX
>>> radio.n9ljx@gmail.com
>>> http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~scott/ <http://web.ics.purdue.edu/%7Escott/>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> TowerTalk mailing list
>>> TowerTalk@contesting.com
>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
>
>
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