I’m having an intermittent problem with my G-5500 rotor that is getting worse. Now several times a day when I acquire a satellite the elevation function doesn’t work. But, if I power the control box off and back on several times it starts to work. This is a problem with the Yaesu control box, as the manual elevation control doesn’t work when this happens. Any ideas to troubleshoot before I start to take things apart?
73 Jeff kb2m
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It's not the set screw issue, I just went through that with my NJ station last summer. When the rotor isn't working its not making any noise like its running and not elevating. It something intermittent in the control box or the rotor. Swapping the cables would drive one crazy with an intermittent problem. Next step will be to open up the connector at the rotor and inspect. If that looks ok, then open the control box up and check the relay. Last place to check will be the sensing pot in the rotor. If it's in the cable or control box, I'm going to fix, if it's the rotor I'm just going to live with it until I get a hard failure, then I will take the rotor apart and rebuild.Thanks for all the suggestions...
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: kb2mjeff@att.net Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2018 9:16 AM To: Amsat Subject: [amsat-bb] G-5500 rotor issues
I’m having an intermittent problem with my G-5500 rotor that is getting worse. Now several times a day when I acquire a satellite the elevation function doesn’t work. But, if I power the control box off and back on several times it starts to work. This is a problem with the Yaesu control box, as the manual elevation control doesn’t work when this happens. Any ideas to troubleshoot before I start to take things apart?
73 Jeff kb2m
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Well it looks like my 5500 had a failure. I found it dead with a blown fuse this morning. I'm now thinking that the transformer was the intermittent problem that has now failed. As I have a 5500 up north also I'm thinking of just buying a new AlfaSpid az el rotor and keeping the Yaesu for parts for the 5500 at my NJ summer home. What AlfaSpid is anyone using? I see there are at least 2 different ones available. All I need to turn is an M2 leo pack, and a Comet CYA-1216E. Any rotor suggestions appreciated....
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: kb2mjeff@att.net Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2018 9:16 AM To: Amsat Subject: [amsat-bb] G-5500 rotor issues
I???m having an intermittent problem with my G-5500 rotor that is getting worse. Now several times a day when I acquire a satellite the elevation function doesn???t work. But, if I power the control box off and back on several times it starts to work. This is a problem with the Yaesu control box, as the manual elevation control doesn???t work when this happens. Any ideas to troubleshoot before I start to take things apart?
73 Jeff kb2m
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On 2018-02-22 7:35 AM, kb2mjeff@att.net wrote:
I'm thinking of just buying a new AlfaSpid
Check with some of the EME groups/operators as there are a lot of them using those units. There was a lot of discussion at one point about adding different controllers to them. You may find the conversations interesting.
Is anyone using the RAU-1 without any issues? If so how long have you had it up, and how much antenna are you turning? Thanks for any info...
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: kb2mjeff@att.net Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2018 7:35 AM To: Amsat Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] G-5500 rotor failure
Well it looks like my 5500 had a failure. I found it dead with a blown fuse this morning. I'm now thinking that the transformer was the intermittent problem that has now failed. As I have a 5500 up north also I'm thinking of just buying a new AlfaSpid az el rotor and keeping the Yaesu for parts for the 5500 at my NJ summer home. What AlfaSpid is anyone using? I see there are at least 2 different ones available. All I need to turn is an M2 leo pack, and a Comet CYA-1216E. Any rotor suggestions appreciated....
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: kb2mjeff@att.net Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2018 9:16 AM To: Amsat Subject: [amsat-bb] G-5500 rotor issues
I???m having an intermittent problem with my G-5500 rotor that is getting worse. Now several times a day when I acquire a satellite the elevation function doesn???t work. But, if I power the control box off and back on several times it starts to work. This is a problem with the Yaesu control box, as the manual elevation control doesn???t work when this happens. Any ideas to troubleshoot before I start to take things apart?
73 Jeff kb2m
--- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com
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Some more info on rotor failure, and my solution. I was using this rotor with a small M2 Leo pack. I put it together from parts from several broken 5500's for $200 so I don't know it's history. I've done pretty well with the 5500's I've owned over the years. My first one was bought used in 1997 for another $200, it was already 5 years old. It lasted till 2008 turning large KML's, a 3 foot dish(taken down when AO-40 died), and a 55 L 1200 loop yagi. My second one that is still up in NJ, had the loose set screw problem last year. When I took it completely apart, fixed , and put fresh grease in, it was showing no wear. It's been up 10 years and counting. So Yaesu really doesn't owe me anything, I got a good deal on the RAS-1 so I hope it will be my last AZ-EL rotor purchase, or maintenance issue . When I take the 5500 down and replace with the RAS-1 here, I then have spare parts for the 5500 in NJ...
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: kb2mjeff@att.net Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2018 7:35 AM To: Amsat Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] G-5500 rotor failure
Well it looks like my 5500 had a failure. I found it dead with a blown fuse this morning. I'm now thinking that the transformer was the intermittent problem that has now failed. As I have a 5500 up north also I'm thinking of just buying a new AlfaSpid az el rotor and keeping the Yaesu for parts for the 5500 at my NJ summer home. What AlfaSpid is anyone using? I see there are at least 2 different ones available. All I need to turn is an M2 leo pack, and a Comet CYA-1216E. Any rotor suggestions appreciated....
73 Jeff kb2m
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Must be dead rotator week, Thursday my elevation unit on the G-5500 decided to stop at 10 degrees, showed fine on the controller thus pots fine.
Looks like the motor has burned out, thankfully a local guy had a spare elevation unit so I've spent the weekend doing that.
Only downside is the wind chill is between -5c & -10c!
I'm thinking it's time to swap to spid as well, I've gone from living inland in a big city to on the coast.
On 25 Feb 2018 11:47 am, kb2mjeff@att.net wrote:
Some more info on rotor failure, and my solution. I was using this rotor with a small M2 Leo pack. I put it together from parts from several broken 5500's for $200 so I don't know it's history. I've done pretty well with the 5500's I've owned over the years. My first one was bought used in 1997 for another $200, it was already 5 years old. It lasted till 2008 turning large KML's, a 3 foot dish(taken down when AO-40 died), and a 55 L 1200 loop yagi. My second one that is still up in NJ, had the loose set screw problem last year. When I took it completely apart, fixed , and put fresh grease in, it was showing no wear. It's been up 10 years and counting. So Yaesu really doesn't owe me anything, I got a good deal on the RAS-1 so I hope it will be my last AZ-EL rotor purchase, or maintenance issue . When I take the 5500 down and replace with the RAS-1 here, I then have spare parts for the 5500 in NJ...
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: kb2mjeff@att.net Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2018 7:35 AM To: Amsat Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] G-5500 rotor failure
Well it looks like my 5500 had a failure. I found it dead with a blown fuse this morning. I'm now thinking that the transformer was the intermittent problem that has now failed. As I have a 5500 up north also I'm thinking of just buying a new AlfaSpid az el rotor and keeping the Yaesu for parts for the 5500 at my NJ summer home. What AlfaSpid is anyone using? I see there are at least 2 different ones available. All I need to turn is an M2 leo pack, and a Comet CYA-1216E. Any rotor suggestions appreciated....
73 Jeff kb2m
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (3)
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Bill Booth -
kb2mjeff＠att.net -
Peter Goodhall