[TowerTalk] Green Heron Controller Performs Miracles

[Jim Idelson]

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