[VHFcontesting] Rover rotators

[Dan Evans]

Wouldn't leave home without mine, hi hi.

I use an AR40 rotator.  My rotator is mounted to the bed of my truck, in 
the rotator is a push up mast with a yagi mounted at the top of each 
section of the mast.   The mast is also braced at about the 5' level by 
a set of racks on my truck.

It works pretty well.  When I get to a good spot, I stop, step up into 
the bed of the truck, extend the mast, and I'm ready to operate.  When 
it's time to move, I just lower the mast, tie the end of the yagis down 
to keep them from turning during transit, and then drive...

I've never had problems with the mast turning the rotor while driving, 
but after a few years the inside sections of the push up mast started 
slipping.  So I started securing the ends of the yagis to the truck rack 
just to be safe.

I power the AR40 with an el cheapo 400 watt inverter from Harbor 
Freight.  It seems to do a great job, and is reasonably quiet.  However, 
as a rule, I only switch on the inverter when I need to turn the yagis.

Having a rotator makes a big difference to me.  If I have to do the 
"armstrong" method, I spend a lot less time calling CQ in many 
directions.   Probably not much difference on 6, but on 2 meters I have 
a relatively narrow beam width, so I feel it is important to keep the 
beam moving.

Have fun!

73
Dan
-- 
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana. EM78el
K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover Resource Page at:
<http://www.qsl.net/n9rla> List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books
Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list! 



jcplatt1 at mmm.com wrote:
> After many years of roving, I am contemplating some rover enhancements.
> For those rovers who use a rotator, what rotator are you using ?  Could you
> comment on 12vdc vs the need for other voltages, and any noise while
> rotating ?  Also, how does the rotator hold going down the road at 70 mph
> into that 30 mph headwind - do you pin your mast while in transit, etc ?
> Many thanks in advance.
>
> 73, Jon
> W0ZQ/R
>
>
>