Kip,
You can't just pick a speed and have it fit all antennas.
You have to consider the antenna and its weight/size/mechanical
construction.
If you run it too fast there will be a strain on the antenna elements.
Too slow you will not like the response time.
As An example I use a Prop Pitch rotor and it is rotating a TH6 and a 14 el
2M beam on top of that.
I use a variable power supply and have it set to rotate stop to stop in
about 30 seconds. That is about the fastest I would consider on an antenna
this size. my rotor is located near the bottom of the tower and I use a
water pipe mast(drive shaft) up through the tower. So It also has to rotate
45 ft of pipe. Some have indicated that I'm running it too fast, however I
have had the same rotor for about 40 years and the same antenna
configuration for about 25 years. I have seen some antennas that are
mechanically dinky and I would never consider running them that fast.
How is that for a "beat around the bush" answer?
73's Jim
W5IFP
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of Kipton Moravec
> Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 8:32 AM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Antenna Rotor Speed
>
>
> I am building an antenna rotor for a HF antenna.
>
> How fast should the antenna rotate?
>
> Looking at the motor/gear they have now it looks like it will rotate at
> 10 RPM, which means 6 seconds to go end to end. That seems too fast to
> me. If I change gear sets I can go to a 4 RPM which is 15 seconds to go
> to one end to the other. That still seems a little fast. On the other
> hand if it goes too slow people will not like it.
>
> For you folks that like contesting, what speed is reasonable?
>
> Or maybe I should ask what is the slowest speed you would not complain
> about? :)
>
> Kip
> --
> Kipton Moravec AE5IB .- . ..... .. -...
>
> "Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
> --Mark Twain
>
>
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