Date: Tue, 26 Apr 2016 00:34:00 +0000
From: Ralph Parker <ve7xf@dccnet.com>
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Rotator Choice for Larger Yagi
The M2 OR2800 will handle up to 35 square feet of antenna and support 1800
pounds. It also fits in the tower nicely because of its triangular shape.
I've spent the last few weeks trying to pick a rotator for a new installation.
Indeed, the OR2800 looks good, but I've read too much about water ingress,
rust and the indifference of the manufacturer.
Comments?
VE7XF
## I have 2 of the OR-2800s. 1st one is the older AC unit, bought new. The
AC capacitor
inside the unit craps out, now fixed. The 2nd one was bought used, and is the
newer DC type.
Former owner was turning a F12 340N + a F12 C49....which is a massive array,
with 4 els on 20m,
6 el on 15m..and 10 els on 10m..all on a 49 ft boom. The 3 el 40m array is
ona 36 ft boom, with
52-59 ft long eles.
## the final gears are totally trashed ! So don’t buy into the XXX sq ft
nonsense. Part of the problem is the
arrays are NOT Torque balanced. The worm gear concept is fine.... BUT IMO,
the worm gear assy is at the wrong
end of the food chain, being located right off the electric motor. The very
final gear is one small gear driving the bigger gear
that drives the output shaft. The design allows for too much gear slop. It’s
a good rotor, BUT, dont get carried away with
huge arrays, and I would also suggest tossing the oem m2 mast clamp...and use
the K7NV version for the OR-2800, his is
the real deal. K7LXC also make a heavy duty version..but only for a 2 inch
mast. The K7NV version pinches the mast,
with barely any tq applied. He makes it for any diam mast u have, but it
will only fit one diam mast. IE: 2 inch, 1.875 inch,
2.875 inch, 3.00 inch etc. The oem m2 mast clamp is a fubar design.
Don’t mess with the OR-2800 control box either,
its ok, but no point and shoot knob, like on the Green heron. Both boxes have
the usual ramp up / down, PC control, etc.
## I swapped to a K7NV small prop pitch + green heron box.... , no bigger or
heavier than a OR-2800, but one helluva lot more TQ
available, like 1200 ft lbs vs the 233 ft lbs of the OR-2800. The GH box
for the prop pitch, is specific for the PP.
Jim VE7RF
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