[CQ-Contest] Green Heron Controller Performs Miracles

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

Great!

I have a TIC ring on the way and already have the Green Heron 
controller.  TIC is offering them as an option now.  I already own two 
other Green Heron controllers and they are excellent.

Jim Idelson wrote:
> Yes. It is true. The Green Heron Controller does perform miracles.
> 
> For several years, I've been turning my big Optibeam OB4-40 4-element 40m yagi 
> with a TIC Ring Rotor. The rotor uses a single drive motor. With this setup, 
> I've continually experienced the same problems of 'slipping' and losing 
> calibration reported by many others. While some have been able to tame the 
> rotor by getting it tweaked 'just rght', I have never been able to achieve a 
> stable installation. We have never made it through a major DX contest here 
> without my having to climb the tower and reposition the antenna and recalibrate 
> the TIC Ring and controller.
> 
> About two months ago, I spoke to Carl at TIC General about this problem 
> [again]. Although he insisted that a single drive motor should be enough, I 
> insisted that I wanted to try the solution that others have found effective - a 
> second drive motor. He didn't have any motors in stock, though, so I would have 
> to wait. Well I waited and never heard from TIC. But, in the weeks leading up 
> to the ARRL DX CW COntest, I was talking to Jeff W2FU about his plans for the 
> contest. I mentioned the 40m rotor problem and he suggested that his controller 
> could very likely be a solution to the problem. He insisted that I try one of 
> my RT-20's on that rotor and see if things got better. I put a Green Heron in 
> and took the TIC controller out of the station setup.
> 
> The results have been nothing short of a miracle. The Green Heron controller 
> uses PWM, ramps the motor up to speed slowly, and ramps it down to a gentle 
> stop as it reaches its destination heading. These advanced rotor control 
> features have completely resolved the rotation issues I've experienced with my 
> 40m installation. The rotor operated perfectly throughout the CW weekend. I am 
> convinced that I don't need to buy that second drive motor for the TIC Ring.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Jim Idelson K1IR
> email    k1ir at designet.com
> web    http://www.k1ir.com
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest