[TowerTalk] K-factor. Was: Yaesu rotators

[Alan AB2OS]

In the course of looking around for a good price for a G-1000DXA, I went 
to the Texas Towers Web site and noticed their explanation of the 
"K-factor" item that I have seen in ads for Yaesu rotators. The K-factor 
is defined as the weight of the antenna multiplied by its turning 
radius, and, in the example they give, if one considers only the surface 
area of a TH-11DXS, a G-800 rotator will handle it, but when the weight 
and turning radius are considered, even a G-1000 is not up to the task.

In my case, all I intend to put up immediately is a 3-el. SteppIR, which 
is within the capabilities of a G-1000DXA (or even a G-800DXA), but 
adding the 4th element (which I might do later) would put me over the 
top for that rotator.

If people are not considering K-factor when choosing a rotator, that 
might explain some of the complaints (e.g., on eham.net) that Yaesu 
rotators are too flimsy.

Alan AB2OS


I wrote:

> I am sure that a Yaesu G-800 would handle what I want to put up, but I 
> thought that a G-1000 would give a better safety margin. Yet I notice 
> that the eham reviews rate the G-1000 rotators lower than the G-800 
> models; the G-1000 actually received several 5/5 ratings, but the 0/5 
> and 1/5 ratings pulled the average way down. Are the bigger ones really 
> so much worse than the smaller ones?
> 
> Opinions? Experiences?