[CQ-Contest] [TowerTalk] Green Heron Controller Performs Miracles

[Dick Green]

I use Green Heron controllers on all three TIC rings in my 3-stack of
4-el SteppIRs. So far, nary a problem (knock on wood -- they're rotors,
after all, and TICs to boot.) The antennas always end up within 1-degree
of where they're supposed to be. When the three controllers read the
same heading, the booms are parallel. The GH is incredibly flexible,
well designed, well built, easy to use, and Jeff provides exemplary
service. Seeing as how it'll run darn near any rotor, it's an excellent
investment.

73, Dick WC1M

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Idelson [mailto:k1ir at designet.com]
> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 3:02 PM
> To: TowerTalk Post
> Cc: YCCC; CQ-Contest Post
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Green Heron Controller Performs Miracles
> 
> 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