I have a rotator, branded Channel Master, that is as Mike describes - 3
wire, motor in the control box that follows the rotator motor, etc. I
strapped it to my chimney one June for a contest back in Milwaukee. I
put a 10 foot mast on it, and put a 12' 6m 5L CC, half a CC 42-18XL for
2, an unknown 8L for 222, a CC 424 for 432, and a Ringo for 2m FM. This
was a temporary installation for the contest weekend, but somehow it
never got taken down and was up there for several years, in some pretty
good winds - and it never failed, nor did the calibration go bad. Still
works fine; current use is for the 902/1296 loopers on the rover.
Good luck!
Bruce WW1M
Boulder, CO
Mike Clarson wrote:
> Have also explored minimal antenna rotors for similar purposes. The Radio
> Shack rotor with three wires does not hold its calibration with any
> reasonable load. The control box has its own motor and with all the back and
> forth in a contest, you will end up 60 degrees off in no time! I have a very
> similar rotor with four wires (a Channel Master, I believe. Now part of
> Andrew Corp). Never had a problem with calibration. Had a 5 element Cush
> Craft 6 meter antenna (12 ft boom) on it for 3 years without a problem.
> Often put an 11 el Cush Craft 2 meter beam on it for contests, 5 ft above
> the 6 meter antenna. Recently had a broken wire which caused me to have to
> open the unit, and no sign of wear on the plastic gears. I would stick with
> no more than a five ft mast unless you have a thrust bearing. Good
> luck.--Mike, WV2ZOW
>
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