[TowerTalk] FW: Yaesu rotator problem

Sat Oct 22 07:27:34 EDT 2005

I think this is a real over-reaction, myself.  I have had Yaesu rotators for 10 years, and have never had a failure other than due to a direct lightning hit.  Currently, I have a G-1000DXA turning a Force 12 C-3 and a Force 12 EF-240S shorty 40 yagi, as well as a G-800SA turning another C-3 on a sidemount. The design of the Yaesu is light years ahead of the T2X. 

What Gedas is seeing sounds to me like an intermittent in the indicator leads of the control cable.  I had a flakey Jones plug in my bulkhead for a while, and the indicator on the control box would get out of step with the pot as a result.  The symptom was exactly what Gedas describes.  The old Yaesu control boxes would drive the indicator around to the counter-clockwise stop when the indicator wiring opened up, but the new ones just stop where they are

Another possibility is that the antenna is windmilling.  When you press the rotation control, the direction indicator updates to the current position.  He doesn't say how large the antenna is, but it may/may be too big for the brake.  I haven't experienced this, but it could happen.

73, Pete N4ZR

At 12:01 AM 10/22/2005, Keith Dutson wrote:
>I installed one of these 6 months ago and have had no problems whatsoever.
>If you look at the schematic you will see that the 6th wire is not connected
>to anything.  I run mine with 5.
>
>73 Keith NM5G
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
>[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Gedas
>Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 8:43 PM
>To: towertalk at contesting.com
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] FW: Yaesu rotator problem
>
>I just put a brand new G-1000DXA on-line and am so mad at myself for letting
>the manager at HRO talk me into this thing and not the tail-twister I was
>going to get.  He said it was higher rated for wind load etc but my gosh, I
>put the two side-by-side and it looks like a toy compared to the TT.  Mine
>acts very weird. I push a direction button and the needle will drift 30-40
>degrees to some other value before it stops and before I actually hold down
>the button to make it move.  All it takes is a momentary tap.  I still don't
>know if it is moving outside when this happens or not.  It's real scary if
>it is cause it's really moving fast on the display.  Then, I will park it in
>one direction, come back next day the display will show ok until again I tap
>the left/right direction switch.  Anyway, very un happy with this thing,
>wish I had never bought it. BTW, this one uses 6 wires.
>73, Gedas
>
>online image gallery at  http://gedas.cc e-mail address at  w8bya at w8bya.com
>web page at  http://www.w8bya.com
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "NØATH" <N0ATH at Charter.net>
>To: <jwagner at dxengineering.com>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
>Sent: Friday, October 21, 2005 10:30 PM
>Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] FW: Yaesu rotator problem
>
>
>
>
>I have a similar problem with a Yaesu G800SA - It has connections for only 4
>
>wires on the rear of the control box.
>I have no manual and I have yet been able to make it work and track 
>correctly. I picked this one up 2nd hand although it
>looks new. I have not been able to find the resident expert on these rotors.
>
>I have a ninety footer going up soon with a
>6 element vertical for 52.525 and a six element horz. for down around 
>50.100. Sure wish I could get this thing going
>before cold weather hits western Missouri.
>NØATH / Dave
>
>>
>>
>> Steve wrote:
>>
>> > Howdy, TowerTalkians --
>> >
>> >     I ran into a problem that's got me stumped. I've got a
>> > Yaesu G-800
>> > rotator that doesn't seem to work. It was not tested prior to
>> > installation on the
>> > tower but I haven't ever had any infant mortality problems
>> > with Yaesus so maybe
>> > it's something on our end.
>> >
>> >     I think I remember that Yaesu rotators changed voltage
>> > systems recently -
>> > they went from ac to dc or vice versa - I don't remember
>> > which, but the
>> > result is that instead of using 6 wires, now they only use 4.
>> > Which is fine except
>> > they don't tell you that in the instruction manual so you
>> > wind up soldering 4
>> > extra wires (2 on each end) that aren't needed. And they're
>> > not the easiest
>> > buggers to work with in the first place. :-(
>> >
>> >     Anyway, we got the 4 wires hooked up and it doesn't work
>> > - no rotation,
>> > no indication, etc. We've got power and had to replace the
>> > little internal 3A
>> > fuse but as Mark would say, no worky worky. We couldn't find
>> > any pin-out
>> > measurements like you find with Hy-Gain rotors so we couldn't
>> > do any measurements.
>> > Can anyone give us any simple measurements/tests we can do?
>> > We haven't run a
>> > cable continuity check but I haven't had that sort of problem
>> > before but I'm not
>> > ruling anything out.
>> >
>> >     Any help appreciated.
>> >
>> > Cheers,
>> > Steve    K7LXC
>> > TOWER TECH
>>
>> The Yaesu rotators have been 20 Vdc for as long as I've had
>> mine 5+ years. They call for 5 connections..I've never second
>> guessed them, like you, I just hooked them up and away they went.
>>
>> Here's the manual if you need one..has the schematic in the back.
>>
>> 73 John W8JJW
>>
>
>
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>
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>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
>Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any 
>questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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>
>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
>Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
>questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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>_______________________________________________
>
>See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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