If I was a coding geek, it would be cool to take 2x, highly accurate,
GPS receivers, place one GPS antenna on the front and back booms of
the beam and then diff the two coordinates to come up with a heading.
Don't think it would be that hard to do. but again, I couldn't code
myself out of a paper bag.
The two things I would be concerned about is (A) RF field around the
beam getting into the GPS system and frying it and (B), switching PS
noise coming out of the GPS system and getting into the beam and
making really annoying QRM.
Kind of the same idea as one of these that we use when aligning
microwave dishes:
https://www.gmesupply.com/smartaligner-antenna-alignment-tool-with-case-by-multiwave?searched=true
-Mike Lyon, KE6MRE
On Fri, Nov 11, 2022 at 12:03 PM <john@kk9a.com> wrote:
>
> 4O3A makes a compass based rotator controller however with 147MPH winds
> you're asking a lot of the windshield washer motor inside the TIC. Do you
> think that this little motor could damage your coax if over rotated. I have
> a couple of ring rotators with prop pitch motors on my tower that would
> probably be up for your hilltop challenge. However these rings are much
> more difficult to step over than a TIC so I am interested in seeing your
> step ladder.
>
> John KK9A
>
>
> Leeson leeson W6NL wrote:
>
> I've been using a TIC ring rotator here on a big 7el 10m Yagi for the
> past 20 years with good success, but it has a couple of well-known
> unresolved problems: In the high winds we have on our hilltop (147 mi/h
> 3s gust measured), it can jump a tooth on the motor or pot gear, which
> eventually makes the direction indicator pot totally out of sync, or
> even damages it. Since the ring rotor doesn't have physical limit
> switches, that has permitted over-rotation that parts the coax.
>
> Re direction indication, has anyone had any success with alternatives
> such as magnetic or microswitch gear tooth counters? Or a simple compass
> module with output that a Green Heron RT-21 can read (0-5 volts)? See
> G6EJD, KJ4JJH, K3NG. I'd like to have direction indication that mounts
> directly at the ring or antenna boom itself, rather than through a
> coupled gear. and it should work at zero speed.
>
> Second, has anyone had success with adding waterproof (IP67) limit
> switches? Honeywell, Omron, IP67 microswitches or cheaper imports? If a
> magnetic gear tooth sensor is used, what kind of spacing precision is
> required? With 360 teeth, the 1° precision should be plenty for HF.
>
> I am aware of modifications and updates (e.g., N1CX) that may help
> prevent gear tooth skipping, but I want something bullet-proof that
> really gives me full confidence. Even a partial failure in a contest can
> compromise an otherwise winning effort; in our big HC8 station, we gave
> up on rotators and went with multiple antennas per band. But for my less
> complex setup here at home, I intend to try to resolve both of these
> problems when the weather permits, and am interested in hearing the
> experiences of list folks.
>
> BTW, I resolved the climb-over issue with a small 3-rung steel ladder
> mounted below it on the tower face. And if the limit switches work out,
> I'll add them to my prop pitches, as well.
>
> Thanks, Dave W6NL/HC8L
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
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--
Mike Lyon
mike.lyon@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mlyon
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