Yaesu G-5500 meters and readings to LVB tracker not working
Hi fellow satops,
I have a Yaesu G-5500 I got used a couple years ago. In February I hooked it up for the first time on the ground with an LVB Tracker and MacDoppler.
At the time the azimuth needle sometimes bounced all over the place, if I tapped the box it affected it too. Sometimes the azimuth meter swung all the way right to 450 degrees and seemed stuck.
Video:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v4jse3mykh58iy1/VID_20200208_222436.mp4?dl=0
(Note towards the end of the video you can see the readings on the LVB tracker and the Azimuth needle simultaneously while the needle bounces around. The readings on the LVB tracker are "bouncing" too)
When the reported Az was stuck at 450 degrees, MacDoppler didn't adjust Az at all.
In February I did take the cover off and loosen and retighten some screws, including screws that held the meters in (IIRC). This didn't help.
When I had it open I noticed even if I barely touched the frame sometimes the needles would bounce. I want to say there were times where I could just get my finger very close to it, without touching, and it would make the meters move. Perhaps capacitance.
When the LVB tracker is disconnected, the up, down, left, and right controls work fine. The rotators turn completely and stop at their stop points. But still, the meters don't always work.
Today I recorded a video of the azimuth rotator rotating it's full 450 degrees, but the meter barely moved at all:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/f9592okxvx1rv0x/PXL_20201003_183543916.mp4?dl=0
Today, initially the elevation meter didn't move at all. It was stuck at 0 degrees. Later, it worked perfectly going smoothly from 0 to 180, I think accurately, as I held down the up button.
Video:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/q6ttqcvs7n2nnvo/PXL_20201003_183351247.mp4?dl=0
I think the elevation meter is in better shape than the azimuth meter, because it occasionally works.
Earlier when I tried to track a low elevation pass with SatPC32 the elevation rotator turned what looked like a full 180 degrees. The meter and what ServerSDX read showed the actual degrees were 0.
Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/k88egwg3d7yvz1k/PXL_20201003_191350061.mp4?dl=0 (skip to 01:38 for AOS)
It seemed like SatPC32 instructed the rotator to turn and I guess it just kept instructing it to turn, waiting for the reading to show, 3 or 4 degrees elevation or whatever the satellite was. Since the reading never changed from 0 it went all the way to its stop point. I think, anyway. It did stop part way through the 180 degrees.
Please send me suggestions on things to try to fix this or get more information to troubleshoot the issue. If anyone would prefer to help me over the phone because it's faster, that is welcome too.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On 10/03/2020 13:59, John Brier via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Hi fellow satops,
I have a Yaesu G-5500 I got used a couple years ago. In February I hooked it up for the first time on the ground with an LVB Tracker and MacDoppler.
<snip>
Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are dirty. That does make some sense with it not being used for several years. Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while watching the needles. If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this method. The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving up on it. If you have to resort to the second method, I will let someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give instructions.
The wires from the center of the pots LOVE to become intermittent. If you decide to open the rotator up let me or the list know and I will explain more thoroughly.
73, and Good Luck, Joe kk0sd
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [email protected] On Behalf Of Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB Sent: Saturday, October 3, 2020 4:54 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G-5500 meters and readings to LVB tracker not working
On 10/03/2020 13:59, John Brier via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Hi fellow satops,
I have a Yaesu G-5500 I got used a couple years ago. In February I hooked it up for the first time on the ground with an LVB Tracker and MacDoppler.
<snip>
Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are dirty. That does make some sense with it not being used for several years. Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while watching the needles. If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this method. The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving up on it. If you have to resort to the second method, I will let someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give instructions.
-- 73 ------------------------------------- Jim Walls - K6CCC [email protected] Ofc: 818-548-4804 http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/ AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Thanks Jim.
So, I did that a dozen times for the azimuth side and it didn't make much of a difference. It did start reading (instead of staying at around 0), going to about 180, but never much beyond that that. And eventually it seemed to get stuck again.
However, when I started doing the same for the elevation rotator I noticed that the cable jacket was falling out of the connector. The rubber and the connector wasn't compressing the jacket so there was presumably stress on the wires. When I pushed the cable in the connector the meter started reading right.
There is a similar issue on the connector on the cable I am using for azimuth but pushing it in towards the connector or wiggling it doesn't seem to help.
I think I am going to redo these cables. They came with the rotator and there is also a disconnect a few feet from the rotator connectors. Not sure what for. The connector there is wrapped in electrical tape so I am not sure what state it is in.
One question: If the issue is in the rotator or a connection issue at the rotator, why would tapping the control box affect the issue?
The only thing I can think of is there could be another issue in the box (connection or otherwise).
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020, 18:12 Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
<snip>
Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are dirty. That does make some sense with it not being used for several years. Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while watching the needles. If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this method. The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving up on it. If you have to resort to the second method, I will let someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give instructions.
-- 73
Jim Walls - K6CCC [email protected] Ofc: 818-548-4804 http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/ AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Oh, you were tapping the CONTROL BOX! I totally missed that.
One problem I have had is with those darned screw terminals. It is really easy to get the wires shorted--I put all of my wires in eye terminals, but I had a strand of wire sticking out in one case, and in another the angle of the terminal moved around and touched another. I finally bent them so the wires all feed in at 90 degrees to the screw/loop. Maybe a bit obvious, but...
73,
Burns WB1FJ
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 9:04 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
Thanks Jim.
So, I did that a dozen times for the azimuth side and it didn't make much of a difference. It did start reading (instead of staying at around 0), going to about 180, but never much beyond that that. And eventually it seemed to get stuck again.
However, when I started doing the same for the elevation rotator I noticed that the cable jacket was falling out of the connector. The rubber and the connector wasn't compressing the jacket so there was presumably stress on the wires. When I pushed the cable in the connector the meter started reading right.
There is a similar issue on the connector on the cable I am using for azimuth but pushing it in towards the connector or wiggling it doesn't seem to help.
I think I am going to redo these cables. They came with the rotator and there is also a disconnect a few feet from the rotator connectors. Not sure what for. The connector there is wrapped in electrical tape so I am not sure what state it is in.
One question: If the issue is in the rotator or a connection issue at the rotator, why would tapping the control box affect the issue?
The only thing I can think of is there could be another issue in the box (connection or otherwise).
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020, 18:12 Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
<snip>
Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are dirty. That does make some sense with it not being used for several years. Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while watching the needles. If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this method. The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving up on it. If you have to resort to the second method, I will let someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give instructions.
-- 73
Jim Walls - K6CCC [email protected] Ofc: 818-548-4804 http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/ AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
When I looked at this message again I thought it might be the loose drive gear set screw issue . Does the rotor sound like it's turning, but antennas not moving? If so you will have to take it almost completely apart to get to the drive gear set screw to apply Loctite, like Yeasu should have done when they assembled it. I had to do that to one of my 5500 a few years ago. If you do take it apart for another reason for the failure, make sure to apply the Loctite anyway.
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [email protected] On Behalf Of Burns Fisher via AMSAT-BB Sent: Sunday, October 4, 2020 7:19 PM To: John Brier [email protected] Cc: AMSAT BB [email protected] Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G-5500 meters and readings to LVB tracker not working
Oh, you were tapping the CONTROL BOX! I totally missed that.
One problem I have had is with those darned screw terminals. It is really easy to get the wires shorted--I put all of my wires in eye terminals, but I had a strand of wire sticking out in one case, and in another the angle of the terminal moved around and touched another. I finally bent them so the wires all feed in at 90 degrees to the screw/loop. Maybe a bit obvious, but...
73,
Burns WB1FJ
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 9:04 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
Thanks Jim.
So, I did that a dozen times for the azimuth side and it didn't make much of a difference. It did start reading (instead of staying at around 0), going to about 180, but never much beyond that that. And eventually it seemed to get stuck again.
However, when I started doing the same for the elevation rotator I noticed that the cable jacket was falling out of the connector. The rubber and the connector wasn't compressing the jacket so there was presumably stress on the wires. When I pushed the cable in the connector the meter started reading right.
There is a similar issue on the connector on the cable I am using for azimuth but pushing it in towards the connector or wiggling it doesn't seem to help.
I think I am going to redo these cables. They came with the rotator and there is also a disconnect a few feet from the rotator connectors. Not sure what for. The connector there is wrapped in electrical tape so I am not sure what state it is in.
One question: If the issue is in the rotator or a connection issue at the rotator, why would tapping the control box affect the issue?
The only thing I can think of is there could be another issue in the box (connection or otherwise).
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020, 18:12 Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
<snip>
Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are dirty. That does make some sense with it not being used for several years. Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while watching the needles. If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this method. The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving up on it. If you have to resort to the second method, I will let someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give instructions.
-- 73
Jim Walls - K6CCC [email protected] Ofc: 818-548-4804 http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/ AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I don't think anything is wrong with the rotators themselves. They turns fine. It was only used a few times for field day. I have never had an antenna on them though. Got it used.
Also, I am aware of the many posts about these products. The most common issue with the control box seems to be the meters don't work but readings are okay to PC interface. Both meters and readings are bad on my control box.
Does anyone have a good source on the connectors for the cables into the rotators?
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Mon, Oct 5, 2020, 09:12 [email protected] wrote:
When I looked at this message again I thought it might be the loose drive gear set screw issue . Does the rotor sound like it's turning, but antennas not moving? If so you will have to take it almost completely apart to get to the drive gear set screw to apply Loctite, like Yeasu should have done when they assembled it. I had to do that to one of my 5500 a few years ago. If you do take it apart for another reason for the failure, make sure to apply the Loctite anyway.
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [email protected] On Behalf Of Burns Fisher via AMSAT-BB Sent: Sunday, October 4, 2020 7:19 PM To: John Brier [email protected] Cc: AMSAT BB [email protected] Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G-5500 meters and readings to LVB tracker not working
Oh, you were tapping the CONTROL BOX! I totally missed that.
One problem I have had is with those darned screw terminals. It is really easy to get the wires shorted--I put all of my wires in eye terminals, but I had a strand of wire sticking out in one case, and in another the angle of the terminal moved around and touched another. I finally bent them so the wires all feed in at 90 degrees to the screw/loop. Maybe a bit obvious, but...
73,
Burns WB1FJ
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 9:04 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB <[email protected]
wrote:
Thanks Jim.
So, I did that a dozen times for the azimuth side and it didn't make much of a difference. It did start reading (instead of staying at around 0), going to about 180, but never much beyond that that. And eventually it seemed to get stuck again.
However, when I started doing the same for the elevation rotator I noticed that the cable jacket was falling out of the connector. The rubber and the connector wasn't compressing the jacket so there was presumably stress on the wires. When I pushed the cable in the connector the meter started reading right.
There is a similar issue on the connector on the cable I am using for azimuth but pushing it in towards the connector or wiggling it doesn't seem to help.
I think I am going to redo these cables. They came with the rotator and there is also a disconnect a few feet from the rotator connectors. Not sure what for. The connector there is wrapped in electrical tape so I am not sure what state it is in.
One question: If the issue is in the rotator or a connection issue at the rotator, why would tapping the control box affect the issue?
The only thing I can think of is there could be another issue in the box (connection or otherwise).
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020, 18:12 Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
<snip>
Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are dirty. That does make some sense with it not being used for several years. Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while watching the needles. If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this method. The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving up on it. If you have to resort to the second method, I will let someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give instructions.
-- 73
Jim Walls - K6CCC [email protected] Ofc: 818-548-4804 http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/ AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
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Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
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The part number is *NJW-207-PF10 *CONNECTOR (NANABOSHI). If you Google it, you will find some distributors.
Dave Johnson W9DWJ
On Mon, Oct 5, 2020 at 4:59 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
I don't think anything is wrong with the rotators themselves. They turns fine. It was only used a few times for field day. I have never had an antenna on them though. Got it used.
Also, I am aware of the many posts about these products. The most common issue with the control box seems to be the meters don't work but readings are okay to PC interface. Both meters and readings are bad on my control box.
Does anyone have a good source on the connectors for the cables into the rotators?
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Mon, Oct 5, 2020, 09:12 [email protected] wrote:
When I looked at this message again I thought it might be the loose drive gear set screw issue . Does the rotor sound like it's turning, but
antennas
not moving? If so you will have to take it almost completely apart to get to the drive gear set screw to apply Loctite, like Yeasu should have done
when
they assembled it. I had to do that to one of my 5500 a few years ago. If you do take it apart for another reason for the failure, make sure to
apply
the Loctite anyway.
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [email protected] On Behalf Of Burns Fisher
via
AMSAT-BB Sent: Sunday, October 4, 2020 7:19 PM To: John Brier [email protected] Cc: AMSAT BB [email protected] Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G-5500 meters and readings to LVB tracker
not
working
Oh, you were tapping the CONTROL BOX! I totally missed that.
One problem I have had is with those darned screw terminals. It is
really
easy to get the wires shorted--I put all of my wires in eye terminals,
but
I had a strand of wire sticking out in one case, and in another the angle of the terminal moved around and touched another. I finally bent them
so
the wires all feed in at 90 degrees to the screw/loop. Maybe a bit obvious, but...
73,
Burns WB1FJ
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 9:04 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB <
wrote:
Thanks Jim.
So, I did that a dozen times for the azimuth side and it didn't make much of a difference. It did start reading (instead of staying at around 0), going to about 180, but never much beyond that that. And eventually it seemed to get stuck again.
However, when I started doing the same for the elevation rotator I noticed that the cable jacket was falling out of the connector. The rubber and the connector wasn't compressing the jacket so there was presumably stress on the wires. When I pushed the cable in the connector the meter started reading right.
There is a similar issue on the connector on the cable I am using for azimuth but pushing it in towards the connector or wiggling it doesn't seem to help.
I think I am going to redo these cables. They came with the rotator and there is also a disconnect a few feet from the rotator connectors. Not sure what for. The connector there is wrapped in electrical tape so I am not sure what state it is in.
One question: If the issue is in the rotator or a connection issue at the rotator, why would tapping the control box affect the issue?
The only thing I can think of is there could be another issue in the box (connection or otherwise).
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020, 18:12 Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
<snip>
Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are dirty. That does make some sense with it not being used for several years. Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while watching the needles. If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this method. The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving up on it. If you have to resort to the second method, I will let someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give instructions.
-- 73
Jim Walls - K6CCC [email protected] Ofc: 818-548-4804 http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/ AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
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program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
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program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
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Thanks Dave!
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Mon, Oct 5, 2020 at 6:59 PM David Johnson [email protected] wrote:
The part number is NJW-207-PF10 CONNECTOR (NANABOSHI). If you Google it, you will find some distributors.
Dave Johnson W9DWJ
On Mon, Oct 5, 2020 at 4:59 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
I don't think anything is wrong with the rotators themselves. They turns fine. It was only used a few times for field day. I have never had an antenna on them though. Got it used.
Also, I am aware of the many posts about these products. The most common issue with the control box seems to be the meters don't work but readings are okay to PC interface. Both meters and readings are bad on my control box.
Does anyone have a good source on the connectors for the cables into the rotators?
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Mon, Oct 5, 2020, 09:12 [email protected] wrote:
When I looked at this message again I thought it might be the loose drive gear set screw issue . Does the rotor sound like it's turning, but antennas not moving? If so you will have to take it almost completely apart to get to the drive gear set screw to apply Loctite, like Yeasu should have done when they assembled it. I had to do that to one of my 5500 a few years ago. If you do take it apart for another reason for the failure, make sure to apply the Loctite anyway.
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [email protected] On Behalf Of Burns Fisher via AMSAT-BB Sent: Sunday, October 4, 2020 7:19 PM To: John Brier [email protected] Cc: AMSAT BB [email protected] Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G-5500 meters and readings to LVB tracker not working
Oh, you were tapping the CONTROL BOX! I totally missed that.
One problem I have had is with those darned screw terminals. It is really easy to get the wires shorted--I put all of my wires in eye terminals, but I had a strand of wire sticking out in one case, and in another the angle of the terminal moved around and touched another. I finally bent them so the wires all feed in at 90 degrees to the screw/loop. Maybe a bit obvious, but...
73,
Burns WB1FJ
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 9:04 PM John Brier via AMSAT-BB <[email protected]
wrote:
Thanks Jim.
So, I did that a dozen times for the azimuth side and it didn't make much of a difference. It did start reading (instead of staying at around 0), going to about 180, but never much beyond that that. And eventually it seemed to get stuck again.
However, when I started doing the same for the elevation rotator I noticed that the cable jacket was falling out of the connector. The rubber and the connector wasn't compressing the jacket so there was presumably stress on the wires. When I pushed the cable in the connector the meter started reading right.
There is a similar issue on the connector on the cable I am using for azimuth but pushing it in towards the connector or wiggling it doesn't seem to help.
I think I am going to redo these cables. They came with the rotator and there is also a disconnect a few feet from the rotator connectors. Not sure what for. The connector there is wrapped in electrical tape so I am not sure what state it is in.
One question: If the issue is in the rotator or a connection issue at the rotator, why would tapping the control box affect the issue?
The only thing I can think of is there could be another issue in the box (connection or otherwise).
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020, 18:12 Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
<snip>
Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are dirty. That does make some sense with it not being used for several years. Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while watching the needles. If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this method. The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving up on it. If you have to resort to the second method, I will let someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give instructions.
-- 73
Jim Walls - K6CCC [email protected] Ofc: 818-548-4804 http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/ AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
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-- David Johnson
I may have figured this out. Since I noticed pushing in the connector on the elevation rotator caused the readings to correct, I took the connector apart. One of the wires came unsoldered so I resoldered it and now the elevation reading is perfect and barely, if at all, moves when I tap the box. The azimuth reading does bounce up/right a little when I tap the box but it always comes back to the actual reading. I tried resoldering/heating up the pins on the connector used for the azimuth rotator but it didn't make any difference.
I still plan on removing the connectors completely, removing the disconnect and reinstalling them, so perhaps if there still is some flaky connection in the azimuth cable I will fix it in the process of doing that.
I also took Burns' advice bent the terminals that connect at the control box, too.
BTW, it took me a while to figure out how to open these connectors since I never installed them myself. They don't pull apart, they unscrew.
As of now SatPC32 is tracking sats and the rotators are moving as expected.
Thanks for all the help everyone!
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 7:58 PM John Brier [email protected] wrote:
Thanks Jim.
So, I did that a dozen times for the azimuth side and it didn't make much of a difference. It did start reading (instead of staying at around 0), going to about 180, but never much beyond that that. And eventually it seemed to get stuck again.
However, when I started doing the same for the elevation rotator I noticed that the cable jacket was falling out of the connector. The rubber and the connector wasn't compressing the jacket so there was presumably stress on the wires. When I pushed the cable in the connector the meter started reading right.
There is a similar issue on the connector on the cable I am using for azimuth but pushing it in towards the connector or wiggling it doesn't seem to help.
I think I am going to redo these cables. They came with the rotator and there is also a disconnect a few feet from the rotator connectors. Not sure what for. The connector there is wrapped in electrical tape so I am not sure what state it is in.
One question: If the issue is in the rotator or a connection issue at the rotator, why would tapping the control box affect the issue?
The only thing I can think of is there could be another issue in the box (connection or otherwise).
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Sat, Oct 3, 2020, 18:12 Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
<snip>
Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are dirty. That does make some sense with it not being used for several years. Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while watching the needles. If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this method. The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving up on it. If you have to resort to the second method, I will let someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give instructions.
-- 73
Jim Walls - K6CCC [email protected] Ofc: 818-548-4804 http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/ AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (6)
-
Burns Fisher -
David Johnson -
Gary -
Jim Walls -
John Brier -
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