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[Towertalk] RE: Yaesu G1000SDX

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [Towertalk] RE: Yaesu G1000SDX
From: clewis@knology.net (Chuck Lewis)
Date: Tue, 3 Dec 2002 10:28:08 -0600
Erik,
If the rotor is not being commanded to a new position, but the indicator is
still fluctuating, then the failure mode I outlined is probably not the
problem in your case. The intermittent connection that Pete, N4ZR, wrote
about would be more likely.
CL

----- Original Message -----
From: "Erik Jakobsen" <erik@urbakken.dk>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2002 7:35 AM
Subject: Re: [Towertalk] RE: Yaesu G1000SDX


> On Mon, 2 Dec 2002 16:15:33 -0600
> "Chuck Lewis" <clewis@knology.net> wrote:
>
> My experience.
>
> This day I set the controlebox in the window here in the shack, so that I
could
> touch it from outside, and still have a look at the beam.
>
> The beam is standing in its position, but the needle is flucturing wildly.
>
>
> > Erik,
> >
> > These rotors use DC to actuate the drive motor. The drive voltage and
> > position indication signal (also DC) both pass through the rotor cable
and
> > all its connectors. Any leakage current from the drive voltage appearing
on
> > the signal line can cause an erroneous position signal to be sent to the
> > control box whenever the drive is commanded. The needle will swing
> > erroneously until the drive voltage is removed, then settle back to
indicate
> > the correct position. It will swing in either direction, depending on
> > whether the rotor is commanded clockwise or counterclockwise (drive
polarity
> > is reversed).
> >
> > When this happened to my 800SDX, I measured resistance at the lower end
of
> > the rotor cable and found erratic and intermittent leakage between the
drive
> > pins and the indicator pins and ground. As I recall the schematic, there
> > should be no continuity between the drive lines and ground. I then
checked
> > the connector at the rotor. There was a lot of insect debris moistened
by
> > rain, condensation or whatever inside the cable connector. Evidently
(and
> > not surprisingly), the flexible connector boot does a poor job of
> > weatherproofing. Anyway, when I cleaned the mess out of the connector
(both
> > front end and backshell), the resistance readings returned to normal,
and
> > the system behaved correctly when reconnected to the control box. This
is
> > consistent with the fact that the erratic behavior always followed a
> > rainstorm and recovered after a few warm, sunny days! I filled the front
end
> > and backshell with non-conductive grease and taped the connection with
> > Scotch 88. That was two years ago...it took a couple of trips up to the
> > rotor, but the problem has not returned. I was very happy to avoid
removing
> > the rotor for servicing.
> >
> > I can also believe that a lightning pulse could clear the short too, for
a
> > while, until something tries to again use the connector as a home.
> >
> > Try this before you undertake a rotor removal!
> >
> > Good Luck!
> > Chuck, N4NM
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Erik Jakobsen" <erik@urbakken.dk>
> > To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
> > Sent: Monday, December 02, 2002 2:54 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Towertalk] RE: Yaesu G1000SDX
> >
> >
> > > On Mon, 2 Dec 2002 15:36:29 -0500
> > > "Rudy Marcelletti, K8SWD" <rudym@net-link.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Erik:  You take a lightning hit?  I don't computer control my
G1000SDX,
> > but you describe what mine did for a while after a close strike, or
direct
> > hit--I don't know which.  The needle would spin around uncontrollably
and
> > sometimes point in the right direction, sometimes not.  When I would
look
> > outside, the antenna was aiming correctly where I had the preset
pointing,
> > but the needle would spin wildly, but would eventually stop in the
vacinity
> > where I was pointed.  Well, this summer I took another hit--direct I
think.
> > It wiped out about $3,500.00 of on non-ham stuff in the house, but only
2
> > ham power supplies.  My rotor is now FIXED!  No explanation for it other
> > than something up top was loose as my controller was disconnected at the
> > time of the storm, and lightning fixed it!
> > >
> > > Hi Rudy.
> > >
> > > So far I do not know about a lightning attack here :-).
> > >
> > > I'm not quite sure if the antenna is being rotated with the same speed
as
> > the needle does. But of course I'll have a look at it.
> > > Will give it a try with the presets. Once I was out it seemed that the
> > antenna did rotate according to the needle, but I'm not sure.
> > >
> > > Well I'll be back when I have done the test.
> > >
> > > Tnx for your kind replying.
> > >
> > > > Rudy Marcelletti, K8SWD
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts ---
> > > > multipart/alternative
> > > >   text/plain (text body -- kept)
> > > >   text/html
> > > > ---
> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Med venlig hilsen - Best regards.
> > > Erik Jakobsen - erik@urbakken.dk
> > > Registered Linux user #114875 - http://counter.li.org
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > AN Wireless Self Supporting Towers at discounted prices,
> > > See http://www.mscomputer.com
> > >
> > > Wireless Weather Stations now $349.95. Call Toll Free,
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > AN Wireless Self Supporting Towers at discounted prices,
> > See http://www.mscomputer.com
> >
> > Wireless Weather Stations now $349.95. Call Toll Free,
> > 888-333-9041 for additional information.
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>
>
> --
> Med venlig hilsen - Best regards - vy73 de OZ4KK.
> Erik Jakobsen - erik@urbakken.dk
> Registered Linux user #114875 - http://counter.li.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> AN Wireless Self Supporting Towers at discounted prices,
> See http://www.mscomputer.com
>
> Wireless Weather Stations now $349.95. Call Toll Free,
> 888-333-9041 for additional information.
> _______________________________________________
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