[TowerTalk] Rotator Challenges

[john@kk9a.com]

175' rotator cable is not too far.


To:  <towertalk at contesting.com> 
Subject:  [TowerTalk] Rotator Challenges 
From:  "K. Alan Robbins" <lnmoose at chartermi.net> 
Date:  Thu, 19 May 2011 19:52:52 -0400 

Long time lurker, first time poster.

 

I have a 60' Tower, make unknown, commercial (used to be at a police station
before I put it up).  Rotator shelf was home made by previous owner, bolt
pattern fits a HAM-IV.  Due to power line placement on my property I have
175' feed line run.

 

I have an ongoing problem with directional indication on the control box.
When I put the tower up using a newly reconditioned HAM IV, I got
directional indication for about six weeks and it died, rotates fine, just
no directional indication.  Pulled the rotator in the spring, sent it off to
be repaired, tested it on the ground, worked great, three weeks later it's
dead again.   

 

Same shop rebuilt my Tailtwister (on another tower), never a problem, been
up 10 years, so I know it's not them.

 

Am I experiencing bad luck here, or is 175' simply too far a distance for a
HAM IV?  Any mods I might make to the control box? 

 

73 de W8VCK, Alan in Michigan