Jim Brown wrote:
> I'm planning the install for a 3-el SteppIR (w/6M element) that
> requires a cable run of about 400 ft. (no 30M/40M elements -- I've
> already got dipoles at 100 ft).
>
> I'll be doing a lot of contesting, so I don't want it to be TOO slow.
> Considering the cost of copper, I can spend a few more bucks on the
> rotor if it's more tolerant of copper loss. I would prefer not to go
> to the trouble of remote relays if I can avoid it.
>
> Other considerations: This is going to be on a tall tower and I'm
> well past my climbing days, so paying more for reliability is a no-
> brainer. The tower and the antenna will be sheltered from the wind in
> a dense grove of redwoods, and top winds outside the grove are about
> 85 mph. Computer control is not important for me.
>
> The cost of copper is going to be quite significant. The questions
> are,
>
> 1) how much (that is, how big) copper do I really heed, and
>
> 2) Which rotor should I use?
What about putting something like a Green Heron at the base of the
tower, and then just send the RS232 commands to it. I know you're not
looking for computer control, but it's putting the power stage at the
tower that's the copper saver.
ACtually, $500-600 for a green heron may be overkill.
Maybe some sort of other digital scheme though.. You need position back,
which is usually done with 3 wires and a pot or similar. and you need
motor and brake commands to the tower. Some sort of serial port control
of a remote relay box (Velleman has one for $50), and some sort of
encoder to send the pot position back (voltage to frequency, or
microcomputer block with rs232 and a/d)...
Being a hacker type, I might look at using something from
RabbitSemiconductor, and using Ethernet.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> 73,
>
> Jim K9YC
>
>
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