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Re: [TowerTalk] Rotor and controller choice

To: "TOWERTALK@contesting. com" <Towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Rotor and controller choice
From: Grant Saviers <grants2@pacbell.net>
Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2018 21:12:49 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Actually with a swinging gate to offset the boom, and an outside tower but close mounted rotator to swing the gate will yield almost 270 degrees of beam azimuth rotation.  I designed a rotator support, top bearing support and gate for swing gate mounted beams for Rohn 65.

Then I decided to use ring rotators, but in retrospect the gates might have been a better idea for several reasons.  One constraint for a gate or ring is the beam elements need to be spaced enough to clear the tower.

Grant KZ1W


On 8/13/2018 16:22 PM, terry burge wrote:
This sounds like something that could be used with a side mounted 
beam/tribander/5bander for enabling it to rotate at least 90-120 degrees or 
something like that. I have been thinking of trying something like that to get 
more use out of any side mounted beam I come up with. Having some type of 
bearing or slip joint with the pipe mounting the beam and of course some kind 
of bicycle type chain to transfer the rotor action. Probably be able to mount 
the rotor in the tower like my Rohn 55.

Terry
KI7M


Yes, I do worry about the side and down force on the tower and plan to come up 
with cable support for that issue. Might even be able to use the horizontal 
extension for anti-rotation of the tower with guywires on the extension.
But I'm not certain what 'RAK' is referring to.

On August 13, 2018 at 3:01 PM Don Moman VE6JY <ve6jy.1@gmail.com> wrote:


Hi Gary;

Just a small correction - the Alfa Spid is actually made in Poland but with
much input from us in Canada (Alfa Radio).  For mounting outside of a tower
like you describe, it's something the RAK can handle easily.  They have two
significant bearings and can take a lot of side loading before we'd call it
"abuse".

You'd know which one I'd suggest..... but there might be bias involved!

73 Don
VE6JY

On Mon, Aug 13, 2018 at 8:58 PM Gary Smith <Gary@ka1j.com> wrote:

Folks,

Thank you for the direct and list,
informative replies. So many direct
replies and I am grateful & I'll reply to
each directly but I'll use the list to
offer a global reply right now.

There was nothing but universal praise for
the Green Heron controller so that makes
it a done deal as regards controllers. I
now have to decide on the rotor.

At this point I will only be driving a 6
meter 6M7JHV till next summer. It weighs
18 pounds. The way I have used the
tailtwister is bolted to a base and the
antenna attached to the mast above. I've
been informed this is bad practice and I
need to use a thrust bearing to not abuse
the rotor, even with light loads. I knew
to use them for heavy loads but just
learned something new. I'll make an
arrangement in my roof tripod to make this
so.

So now, considering the desire to have a
rapid rotation (using this 6M beam), a
Prop Pitch is not in the hunt but based on
the many replies, I have two options that
I would do well to decide from that come
at a cost effective package from Green
Heron; the Yaesu G-2800 and the Alpha Spid
RAK.

Both of these rotors get about the same
reviews on eHam. I like that the Alpha
SPid is made in Canada, Yaesu doesn't have
the best tech support but they're a large
company with a lot of history.

Any strong caveats with either one of
these before I order?

Thanks,

73,

Gary
KA1J

From: Gary Smith KA1J
Date: Mon Aug 13 00:13:48 EDT 2018


I need to replace my old Tailtwister &
control. It was stuck most of last winter
and would not free up till I manually
worked it back & forth and finally broke
it free. It still has moments of
hesitation in travel and though I can have
it rebuilt, it's 40 years old and I need a
more current controller anyway.

I removed the almost 40 year old Hy-Gain &
replaced it with a M2 6M7JHV with 2.5 Sq
feet of loading. It is on a roof mounted
tripod. Eventually I will have a tower and
HF beam, I'm looking at beams with 13 sq
ft of wind loading and will have the 6M
above the HF antenna so 15.5 wind loading
is down the road. With that, I should
consider a rotor to handle 20 Sq ft just
to be on the safe side. I've been looking
at digital controllers that allow me to
manually choose the degree or use the
logging software to aim it.

At this point the Green Heron combos look
affordable but looking at the Eham
reviews, the rotors aren't getting the
best marks. I'd rather get the right
rotor/controller now and be overkill for
the 6M antenna but be ready for the HF
beam a few years down the road.

The Green Heron controllers seem to be a
good choice but I have no experience with
new rotors. I'd appreciate thoughts on a
good combo for me to look at. A highly
reliable rotor with quick rotational speed
is important to me.

Suggestions?

73,

Gary
KA1J

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