Rich,
With the 4O3A software you need to choose, wait, then turn the other.
Mine are controlled via a Node-Red flow that sends the commands to the 4O3A
controller so I could add a check box that keeps them in synch automatically.
They both could not turn concurrently but you wouldn’t need to click twice.
I find most of the time I’m running on the top antenna and searching for
mults on the second antenna so a lot of the time I don’t want them synced.
I haven’t seen issues with the magnetic sensors on the aluminum boom.
They are mounted around 48 inches out on the boom.
There is a way to dial in a correction factor in the 4O3A controller software
but mine seem to be aligned pretty well and since my HF antennas don’t have a
very sharp pattern I feel it’s close enough.
73,
George / W7GES
> On Nov 11, 2022, at 1:33 PM, Richard Thorne <rthorne@rthorne.net> wrote:
>
> George,
>
> Interesting comment on not being able to turn both at the same time. Is
> there a way to keep the antennas in line automatically (slaved) or do you
> have to turn one, wait, then turn the other?
>
> Rich - N5ZC
>
>> On 11/11/2022 2:23 PM, George Skoubis wrote:
>> Sorry,
>>
>> I meant to send this to the group.
>>
>> ——-
>>
>> Dave,
>>
>> I had a problem with the Tic-Ring sensor pot at the same time I had a
>> problem with my M2 2800 reed switch.
>>
>> I purchased the 4O3A Rotor Genius with 2 of their magnetic sensors.
>>
>> The one controller can operate 2 rotors (but cannot move both at once).
>>
>> I sold my RT-21 and M2 controllers to partially pay for it.
>>
>> I have only the 4O3A Rotor Genius for a year but it has worked well.
>>
>> It would be possible to use just the magnetic sensor but you would need to
>> home-brew a controller.
>>
>> It could be as simple as setting up relays that could control power polarity
>> / turn on the power supply with a Node-Red flow to read the azimuth and turn
>> the rotors.
>>
>> I went with the store-bought solution from 4O3A.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> George / W7GES
>>
>>
>>>> On Nov 11, 2022, at 11:12 AM, Leeson <leeson@earthlink.net> 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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>>
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