Quick question on mounting a g-5500 elevation router. Does it matter which way you mount it or can you set the controller to know where it is? This is a little hard to explain, but I want to mount it so the mass of the controller is horizontal to the ground, not vertical like when the az/el are package together. If I do this, will I be able to set the antennas somehow so the controller knows where they are or does it determine that on its own?
If I mount it wrong and the controller can not be told where it is (ie. calibrated) then all of my degrees would be off by 90 because I am mounting the elevation portion horizontal instead of vertical.
I hope this question makes sense, but I don't want to assemble it all up high and then findout it doesn't work as planned.
Thanks for any input!
Mike kb8zgl
Hi,
Beware mounting it at 90 degrees to the vertical. It has a drain hole at the bottom to allow for the drainage of condensation when mounted on the 'U' bracket.
73
Dave
On 9 Jul 2007, at 22:48, Michael Wolthuis wrote:
Quick question on mounting a g-5500 elevation router. Does it matter which way you mount it or can you set the controller to know where it is? This is a little hard to explain, but I want to mount it so the mass of the controller is horizontal to the ground, not vertical like when the az/el are package together. If I do this, will I be able to set the antennas somehow so the controller knows where they are or does it determine that on its own?
If I mount it wrong and the controller can not be told where it is (ie. calibrated) then all of my degrees would be off by 90 because I am mounting the elevation portion horizontal instead of vertical.
I hope this question makes sense, but I don't want to assemble it all up high and then findout it doesn't work as planned.
Thanks for any input!
Mike kb8zgl
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As David already mentioned, you may create drainage problems by mounting your elevation rotor horizontally... if you want to block the existing hole, and drill a new one in the new "bottom" of the rotor, you may be okay, but "you pays your nickel, you takes your chances".
As far as "setting" the antenna position, the controller doesn't care how the rotor itself is mounted: when the rotor is at the zero degree limit of its travel, you mount your antennas pointing at the horizon, and you have established the zero degree position. Everything is relative from there.
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Wolthuis" wolthui3@msu.edu To: "AMSAT-BB" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 4:48 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Mounting Elevation part of g-5500
Quick question on mounting a g-5500 elevation router. Does it matter which way you mount it or can you set the controller to know where it is? This is a little hard to explain, but I want to mount it so the mass of the controller is horizontal to the ground, not vertical like when the az/el are package together. If I do this, will I be able to set the antennas somehow so the controller knows where they are or does it determine that on its own?
If I mount it wrong and the controller can not be told where it is (ie. calibrated) then all of my degrees would be off by 90 because I am mounting the elevation portion horizontal instead of vertical.
I hope this question makes sense, but I don't want to assemble it all up high and then findout it doesn't work as planned.
Thanks for any input!
Mike kb8zgl
Thank-you for all the helpful responses on mounting vertical vs horizontal. It has, however, raised some more questions.
If anyone has pictures of a "correct" split AZ/EL setup for a g-5500 I would love to see some up close ones.
Questions that have been raised:
1) I bought used, but believe I have the seperation kit. It has one piece that screws into the Az rotor to allow the mast pole to go into it and be secured. However, I do not have a similar piece for the El rotor to have screwed into it to sit above the Thrust bearing on the pole. Is there supposed to be two of these? I do have what appear to be a set of clamps, but I can not figure out how to attach it to the pole at the top.
2) What all should be included in the seperation kit, maybe I am missing a part, but can not find a good pic anywhere or a parts list.
Thanks, I appreciate the "noob" help!
Mike kb8zgl
participants (3)
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David Johnson -
George Henry -
Michael Wolthuis