Gary,
Hmmmm. I am not familiar personally with the ARSWIN, other than it has a good rep. So if you see the hunting with the ARSWIN program, then that is the place to solve the problem. It would not be unreasonable for there to be the equivalent dead band adjustment there, as in most such programs, but I would be guessing beyond that. Perhaps someone here has the needed experience. Otherwise, drop a note to Pablo. He has a great record of support.
Alan WA4SCA
Hi Alan
The fluctuations are observed without the tracking program. Are you familiar with ARSWIN interface program? I can see the fluctuation when I am using ARSWIN to calibrate the rotators in particular the Azimuth section. I calibrate and set the minimum and maximum setting for each rotator. It is prevalent during this process.
I am using Nova. Where would the dead band be defined in this tracking program?
Thank you. I would be so pleased if this is just an adjustment.
Gary
-------Original Message-------
From: Alan P. Biddle mailto:APBIDDLE@UNITED.NET Date: 2/17/2008 5:12:10 PM To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Yaesu G-5500 Azimuth Rotator Fluctuation Problem
Gary,
There is nothing in the rotator which should normally cause the problem. All tracking programs have a place to set a "dead band" which defines when the antenna is "close enough" to the calculated value. If that dead band is set too narrow, or to zero, the controller is likely to hunt back and forth as you describe. Depending on your array, a window of a few degrees should be fine. Something to test, in any case.
Alan WA4SCA
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Yes, he does. I am very pleased with Pablo and his products. I was hampered by computer hardware and rotator problems with my G-5500. It appears that the AZ rotator may be causing some problems this time. We work with fluctuation and it disappeared for a while, but now it is back. The AZ is the only part that I have not sent to Yaesu. I need to find schematics and part numbers. I asked for the technical service manual for the G-5500, but they never sent it to me.
Thank you very much. There are several adjustments for dead band, i.el Static, Dynamic and Priority. Gary N0EZH
-------Original Message-------
From: Alan P. Biddle Date: 2/17/2008 7:05:11 PM To: AMSAT-BB Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Yaesu G-5500 Azimuth Rotator Fluctuation Problem
Gary,
Hmmmm. I am not familiar personally with the ARSWIN, other than it has a good rep. So if you see the hunting with the ARSWIN program, then that is the place to solve the problem. It would not be unreasonable for there to be the equivalent dead band adjustment there, as in most such programs, but I would be guessing beyond that. Perhaps someone here has the needed experience. Otherwise, drop a note to Pablo. He has a great record of support.
Alan WA4SCA
Hi Alan
The fluctuations are observed without the tracking program. Are you familiar with ARSWIN interface program? I can see the fluctuation when I am using ARSWIN to calibrate the rotators in particular the Azimuth section. I calibrate and set the minimum and maximum setting for each rotator. It is prevalent during this process.
I am using Nova. Where would the dead band be defined in this tracking program?
Thank you. I would be so pleased if this is just an adjustment.
Gary
-------Original Message-------
From: Alan P. Biddle mailto:APBIDDLE@UNITED.NET Date: 2/17/2008 5:12:10 PM To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Yaesu G-5500 Azimuth Rotator Fluctuation Problem
Gary,
There is nothing in the rotator which should normally cause the problem. All tracking programs have a place to set a "dead band" which defines when the antenna is "close enough" to the calculated value. If that dead band is set too narrow, or to zero, the controller is likely to hunt back and forth as you describe. Depending on your array, a window of a few degrees should be fine. Something to test, in any case.
Alan WA4SCA
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Gary,
The schematic is in the back of the manual, and if you look closely, it includes the rotators. I can send you a copy if needed. I have been looking for a service manual, if one exists, for years, but no luck either. Taking the rotator apart is not difficult as long as you are methodical about it. However, do so above a large pan or bucket. You WILL have some ball bearings fall out. Trust me on this. :)
There is a pretty good selection of tips and comments here: http://webpages.charter.net/k.swaggart/W7KKE/rotor/rotor_help.html
The picture of your problem has changed a bit as more information has been added. I may have misunderstood, but it sounds as if you might have had azimuth problems with the basic unit. If the reference pot, mentioned by another poster, is bad, then it will cause the unit to jump as the value changes suddenly. I had a burned spot in an old Kenpro which did exactly that. Fortunately, it was in the elevation rotator, and at high angle. One thing to check is to put a meter on the output from the DIN connector and watch it as you swing the antenna. There is some damping, and an external meter might be more sensitive to jumps. Basically, work backwards from the antenna controller toward the computer.
Oh yes, if you already have the manual, check the drawing of the pins for the DIN connector. Some, perhaps all of the manuals have a typo. It should read:
3 Connect to Pin 8 to rotate UP 5 Connect to Pin 8 to rotate Down
They are reversed in the manual, though the schematic is correct.
Alan
Gary,
The schematic is in the back of the manual, and if you look closely, it includes the rotators. I can send you a copy if needed. I have been looking for a service manual, if one exists, for years, but no luck either. Taking the rotator apart is not difficult as long as you are methodical about it. However, do so above a large pan or bucket. You WILL have some ball bearings fall out. Trust me on this. :)
There is a pretty good selection of tips and comments here: http://webpages.charter.net/k.swaggart/W7KKE/rotor/rotor_help.html
The picture of your problem has changed a bit as more information has been added. I may have misunderstood, but it sounds as if you might have had azimuth problems with the basic unit. If the reference pot, mentioned by another poster, is bad, then it will cause the unit to jump as the value changes suddenly. I had a burned spot in an old Kenpro which did exactly that. Fortunately, it was in the elevation rotator, and at high angle. One thing to check is to put a meter on the output from the DIN connector and watch it as you swing the antenna. There is some damping, and an external meter might be more sensitive to jumps. Basically, work backwards from the antenna controller toward the computer.
Oh yes, if you already have the manual, check the drawing of the pins for the DIN connector. Some, perhaps all of the manuals have a typo. It should read:
3 Connect to Pin 8 to rotate UP 5 Connect to Pin 8 to rotate Down
They are reversed in the manual, though the schematic is correct.
Alan
I have some G5500 repair info on my webpage at http://kd4app.webhop.org/ under "G5500 Rotator Repair"
73's
Don Woodward KD4APP
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participants (3)
-
Alan P. Biddle -
Don Woodward -
Gary Schuchardt