AlphaSpid Green Heron rotor controller PstRotator
Over the last year I have evolved to a completely new AZ/EL rotor control setup, an AlphaSpid AZ/EL rotor system, a Green Heron R-21 controller, controlled by SatPC32 and PStRotortator. In the last few weeks my neighbors have mentioned that my rotor is "beeping'. As it is just 15 feet from their lunai that they sit in at night I'm a little concerned that their comments are going to get more unfriendly. As I have recently lost a good part of my high frequency hearing I can't hear the tone. I have had to stop collecting Telemetry at night to try to alleviate the situation. Does anyone have a clue on why the rotor system would beep? Does anyone have a clue on how to stop this from happening? My only input on this as I can't hear the beep, but I'm now feeding more voltage to the rotor system then before when I was using the stock controller supplied by AlphaSpid. The higher voltage allows the rotor to turn at a much improved rate. If I knew I was going to have to put up with all this BS I would of just bought another 5500 at half the price.
73 Jeff kb2m
I do not own one but looking at the documentation for the controller I noticed this, "gradual startup and shutdown of rotor power to reduce stress on towers, antennas and rotors. This is achieved by pulse-width-modulating the operating voltage for the rotor."
That could very well be the source of the "beeping" with the windings in the motor singing.
73 Kevin WA7FWF
On 3/26/2020 17:47, Jeff via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Green Heron R-21 controller
Is the Alfa-Spid stepper motor based? Certainly the feedback is digital. But I could certainly imagine a bunch of fast steps sounds like a beep.
My G5500 actually makes a slightly odd noise too. I sounds almost like a clock being wound. I'm guessing it has something to do with the brake?? Does the A-S have one?
Maybe sound insulation is going to be your best bet.
On Thu, Mar 26, 2020 at 9:10 PM Kevin via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
I do not own one but looking at the documentation for the controller I noticed this, "gradual startup and shutdown of rotor power to reduce stress on towers, antennas and rotors. This is achieved by pulse-width-modulating the operating voltage for the rotor."
That could very well be the source of the "beeping" with the windings in the motor singing.
73 Kevin WA7FWF
On 3/26/2020 17:47, Jeff via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Green Heron R-21 controller
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participants (3)
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Burns Fisher
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Jeff
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Kevin