Picked up one of these NIB for just over half sale price, including the MD-02 control box.
Works well. Had it spinning around for 7 days. Last park found the antenna where it was supposed to be.
No mechanical re-alignment was performed during testing.
Satpc32 would only drive it if the MD-02 was set to accept GS-232. Tried this first. Software spun the rotator around 850 degrees in one direction. Took two days to accomplish this feat. Ran the box allllllll the way back to 0.
Used PST rotator with the same setup. GS-232 via usb. No problems in 5 days.
Think I found the problem with PST rotator. Haven't gotten to play with it to see.
Schematics were easy to follow. Documentation was typicial chinglish.
Mechanically, it's built like a tank. Quality control is typical eastern European/former Soviet republic style. Check out the drill shaving embedded in the grease:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/25825497034/in/dateposted/
How the manufacturer suggests running control and RF cables throught the mast baffles me. This is a shot with the cable grommet plate removed:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/26364148821/in/dateposted/
The top of the casting has a hole that measures approximately 1"
Get the cables in there? Sure! I give it about two months of heavy use before erosion of cable jacket causes shorts. Lots of exposed electronics inside. Who wants +24VDC on the coax shield?
Used a recycled AT power supply for +12V and a 6A +24VDC for motor B+.
Antenna was an 2m Elk for testing. Next up is adding buckets of concrete.
Norm n3ykf
SatPC32 supports also the Alfa Spid modes Rot2 and MD1/2 (not only the Yaesu mode). It comes with interface programs for both modes.
Erich, DK1TB
Am 01.05.2016 um 22:09 schrieb Norm n3ykf:
Picked up one of these NIB for just over half sale price, including the MD-02 control box.
Works well. Had it spinning around for 7 days. Last park found the antenna where it was supposed to be.
No mechanical re-alignment was performed during testing.
Satpc32 would only drive it if the MD-02 was set to accept GS-232. Tried this first. Software spun the rotator around 850 degrees in one direction. Took two days to accomplish this feat. Ran the box allllllll the way back to 0.
Used PST rotator with the same setup. GS-232 via usb. No problems in 5 days.
Think I found the problem with PST rotator. Haven't gotten to play with it to see.
Schematics were easy to follow. Documentation was typicial chinglish.
Mechanically, it's built like a tank. Quality control is typical eastern European/former Soviet republic style. Check out the drill shaving embedded in the grease:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/25825497034/in/dateposted/
How the manufacturer suggests running control and RF cables throught the mast baffles me. This is a shot with the cable grommet plate removed:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/26364148821/in/dateposted/
The top of the casting has a hole that measures approximately 1"
Get the cables in there? Sure! I give it about two months of heavy use before erosion of cable jacket causes shorts. Lots of exposed electronics inside. Who wants +24VDC on the coax shield?
Used a recycled AT power supply for +12V and a 6A +24VDC for motor B+.
Antenna was an 2m Elk for testing. Next up is adding buckets of concrete.
Norm n3ykf _______________________________________________ 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
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Erich Eichmann -
Norm n3ykf