Hi Joel,
If you're into homebrewing something, instead of fixing a rotor
controller by making a new antenna, why not make a new controller?
The U1xx Rotor you have sounds like what I have. The controller is
simply a mechanical counter that moves a wheel either left or right 10
degrees per "click" of the internal microswitch, stopping when the wheel
aligns with the dial you set.
This can be done with a simple micro-controller chip and a bit of
software you can write.
My controller does full Az / El control of a pair of rotors, with both
manual and computer-controlled operation. A lot more than what you get
with the original controller, but you don't need to go that far.
Take a look at http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th at the top of the page
on the left is a link to the design document. You can get a much more
cost effective micro-controller chip these days, compared to what I
used, but the principles are the same. Experiment and see what you can
build.
Have fun,
Greg KO6TH
Joel Black wrote:
This is not going as smoothly as I had anticipated (does anything ever
go as anticipated?).
I had initially planned on using my Arrow II antenna without the
diplexer and an old Alliance U-110 rotor. As you'll read below, that
doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon.
Even though the group was helpful trying to get the Alliance U-110
rotor controller synced (sunc?) up, It does not work reliably. It will
turn in one direction, but not the other. I do not have the money to
send the controller off for repair and Norm doesn't repair the U-100's
and -110's. I could buy one from him, but again, that's money that
isn't in the budget. After this issue, I took the controller apart and
after a couple of hours, I finally get it to step in one direction
correctly, but I cannot get it to go in the opposite direction.
Shorting the shaft to the contacts in the controller rotates the rotor
correctly so I am fairly certain the rotor is good - I have a
controller issue. The online diagrams show a blow-up of the parts, but
not now to correctly put it back together (there is a tab on the back
of the black dial face and I'm not sure where that or the contacts on
the actual geared dial go. I'm going to reluctantly email Norm and ask
him, but he does this as a business and I don't want to interfere with
that. In the past, he has been nice enough to offer advice though. I'm
still playing with it and it hasn't "whooped" me yet.
For now, I do *not* have a rotor I can use. I am looking at purchasing
another controller if I'm too stupid for Norm to help ;) . They're
fairly cheap on the "Bay of E."
Without a reliable rotor, my pursuit has led me to QFH and Lindenblad
antennas. Which of the two would be the better performer? I have found
the pages with build instructions, but what do folks here think. I
know they will be poor performers compared to CP yagis, I'm not
looking for that comparison. I understand they're omni antennas with
CP. I'm okay with that. I realize I'm not concentrating all of my RF
in a narrow beam width. That's okay too. Yep, I will be disappointed.
I'm disappointed now with the rotor controller. :)
I had initially thought that I'd put whatever I got inside the attic.
With an omni, that probably wouldn't be prudent. I have enough coax
for two runs to the chimney about 60' away.
So, any thoughts comparing the QFH to the Lindy?
Again, thanks for all the help getting me going again.
73,
Joel - W4JBB
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