It will not be a problem. The key is to have the rotor's motor rotated to zero degrees before securing the clamps for the North-facing antenna.

You will only run into the stop if you try to pass through North from one side to the other, requiring you to swing fully around. That is why some set up their rotors to have the motor's zero degree setting aimed South, if most of the things they aim at are + / - North. That's not the case here, so I use the regular Zero = North arrangement. (Or invest in a rotor that can swing through 450 degrees...)

Greg KO6TH

Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 13:15:29 -0400 From: rhyolite@nettally.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.

Thanks to all who replied. When I last installed the rotator, I had a free standing tower and I pored the foundation and mounting bolts such that one leg was aligned true north.

In this new case, the tower face will have to be against a wall and that wall as I mentioned is +28 degrees from north. The consensus is that the azimuth rotator case can be oriented in any direction and the antenna's (and elevation rotator separation kit) be clamped to the top of the rotator aligned to true north. What I can't sort out is if I will hit a stop if I rotate full CW or CCW, before reaching the south direction. The comments seem to imply I won't.

Thanks.

-- Joe Leikhim

Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida

www.Leikhim.com

JLeikhim@Leikhim.com

407-982-0446

---

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

I believe the G5400 is a 360 degree rotor control. If you are wanting to go from West through North to East, you will hit the stop. Two options come to mind. Put the stop at South, but this gives the same problem going from West to East though South. The second option is a program like FLIPANTS that turns the antenna on it's back and turns the Az control plus/minus 180 so that the stop is not a problem.

Decide if the "through North" or "through South" will become a problem and make a choice, then use the software to overcome it. Flipants is a old DOS program, but I think you can find an equivalent available. Click below to go to download Flipants.

http://www.mustbeart.com/software/flipants.html

Good luck and I hope this helps solve some obstacles.

73, Jim WA4IVM

ps: The G5500 rotator has a 450 degree travel and helps diminish this problem, but it will cost more $$$$.

On 9/4/2011 1:15 PM, Joe Leikhim wrote:

Thanks to all who replied. When I last installed the rotator, I had a free standing tower and I pored the foundation and mounting bolts such that one leg was aligned true north.

In this new case, the tower face will have to be against a wall and that wall as I mentioned is +28 degrees from north. The consensus is that the azimuth rotator case can be oriented in any direction and the antenna's (and elevation rotator separation kit) be clamped to the top of the rotator aligned to true north. What I can't sort out is if I will hit a stop if I rotate full CW or CCW, before reaching the south direction. The comments seem to imply I won't.

Thanks.