Hands Free Rotor Control
plus RS232
For CD45, Ham-II, Ham-III, Ham IV and all TailTwister Rotors
Rotor-EZ starts by adding a really neat and unique Auto-Point feature, which
is easier to use and more accurate than the "preset" capability offered by any
competitive rotor or rotor control. This allows you to quickly, simply and accurately
point the antenna, then press the brake paddle momentarily and let go, freeing
your hands for other things, perhaps such as panic band change thanks to a
packet spot called in for a needed station.
Rotor-EZ protects your rotor, with electronic end stops, provision for
coasting, and start-up jam prevention, especially useful for TailTwisters. You
lose no utility with these features, but add significant protection for your
rotor, antenna and tower. These features can be deleted if desired.
Full RS232 control is an available option for Rotor-EZ, offering full
compatibility with all the popular logging and contesting programs.
Rotor-EZ is offered as circuit board kit or prewired and tested board that you
add to your rotor control unit. Everything needed except solder and tools is
included. Featuring sophisticated microcircuitry and firmware, the board can be
assembled and installed in a few hours. All functions are accomplished in the
control unit, and no tower climbing is required to fully implement Rotor-EZ.
The board fits in and works with all Ham-M, TailTwister control units that have
three control paddles on the front. If you do not have the time to add Rotor-EZ
to your rotor, contract assembly and installation are available. Contact Idiom
Press for further details.
If you're interested in the Rotor-EZ enhancement, you might also be interested
in the Rotator Illuminator, a three-LED
replacement board for the incandescent bulb in your rotator control box.
Never have to change the bulb again! Operating modes:
Manual Mode: The rotor control works as
before; pressing the brake and a paddle turns the antenna. However, Rotor-EZ
provides an automatic 5 second time delay before the brake resets after paddle
release, allowing the antenna to stabilize before the brake locks. (Note that
after Rotor-EZ is installed, the LED's - if supplied in the original
configuration of the box - do not light when the unit is manually controlled,
although the meter functions as before. However, normal operation using
Rotor-EZ will rarely require manual operation, and when using the Rotor-EZ
features, the LED's do illuminate as appropriate.)
Auto-Point Mode:
What was the calibration knob becomes your pointing control. (The calibration
function is now an internal one) When you turn the knob, the meter function
automatically switches from reading the existing antenna bearing and instead
becomes the aiming pointer, captured by the aiming logic of the circuit. Rotate
the knob, moving the needle easily, precisely and accurately to your desired
bearing. Then, a brief press of the brake paddle begins rotation, and your
hands are free! The meter needle returns to its normal function, tracking the
antenna as it moves. When the antenna reaches the new bearing, rotation stops,
and after a 5 second delay the brake sets. LED's signal the motion, and how
near the antenna is to the new bearing.
If the TailTwister program option is selected, (All program options are
selected by PC board jumpers) when command execution begins the rotor first
pulses in the opposite direction for 1 second in case the brake is stuck,
pauses 1 second, then turns in the proper direction.This routine virtually ends
Tailtwister start jams. If the antenna still does not move within a few
seconds, an LED signals a rotation problem and the rotation command is
cancelled.
Another program option adds electronic end points. If enabled, this Rotor-EZ
option limits the rotation range to exclude the last 5 degrees on either end of
the scale, preventing the rotor from jamming on the end stop. The rotor can
still be manually turned into these areas if needed.
RS-232 Mode:
RS-232 is an extra cost option for Rotor-EZ and adds a computer interface to
the circuit board. With the RS-232 option, Rotor-EZ works with any logging or
contest program that recognizes the HyGain DCU-1 protocol. A nine pin RS232
serial port connector offers access to your computer.
90-degree Offset Capability:
now standard in all units. When active, the offset moves the meter needle 90°
right or left, supporting the offset antenna. The plus or minus offset is
controlled by a circuit board jumper. Grounding a circuit board lead, either by
a switch added to the control box or by an external control such as a set of
relay contacts, activates the offset capability. While active, an LED blinks to
assure recognition by the operator that the control is in offset mode. (This
notice can prevent some stupid mistakes of the type that tend to occur at 2
AM.) The 90° offset capability is fully supported in each of the three modes
(manual, auto-point and RS-232). Note:
It is possible to buy a computer board or interface
for your PC that can drive your rotor and replicates many of Rotor-EZ's
functions. However, this type of hardware solution does not and cannot offer
the "auto-point" function that Rotor-EZ features. If you do all your operating
via your PC keyboard this may not be a factor. If you like to do "hands-on"
operating other than through a computer keyboard, but still wish to retain full
RS-232 computer capability, you will surely find Rotor-EZ your preferred
choice.
What differences will Rotor-EZ make to your operating? Active operators using
Rotor-EZ tell us that they find they use their rotors a good deal more because
of the greatly enhanced convenience. Checking out long path, looking down
secondary propagation paths, or testing for crooked path signals are all
easier. Also, they find themselves tuning different bands more frequently,
because turning the antenna for the optimum path on a different antenna is so
easy and painless. In short, they wonder how they ever got along without it!
You will too! Features:
Also, read the QST magazine product review for Rotor-EZ in the March 2001
issue, in Adobe PDF format here:
Pricing and Ordering
Important note: if you have a newer-style control box with
solder terminals instead of threaded studs on the back of the meter, then you
will need some additional parts. The additional parts will be provided at
no extra charge if they are requested at the time of the order. To
request the additional parts, please ask for the "Newer-Style Control Box
Adapter Kit" in the "Comments or Instructions" box on the order form. Kit Building and
Installation Assistance
Ham-M, TailTwister, Hy-Gain and DCU-1
are registered trademarks of Hy-Gain
Do you own one or more of
these fine rotors? If you do, you know that for all their faults they are still
some of the best rotors available. Now, by adding Rotor-EZ to your rotor
control, you can bring these units up to date, with all the features of rotors
or rotor controls costing hundreds of dollars more, while eliminating the
faults!
Rotor-EZ offers full support for antennas set at 90° to the main antenna.
Ground a circuit lead and the meter needle moves 90 degrees to show the bearing
for the offset antenna. And, an LED lamp pulses to remind you that you are in
the offset mode. Perfect for the forty meter "shorty-forty" or the WARC band
offset antenna sharing the mast with your tribander!
Note: the Rotor-EZ works only with CD-45, Ham-M
series & Tailtwister Control Boxes having 3 control paddles. Also note that
the knob in the photo at the top of this page is not supplied as a part of the
kit. Most units have an existing knob which is normally used.
The Product
Rotor-EZ is supplied either as a kit or as a
preassembled board, with or without RS-232 capability. The preassembled board
must be wired into the control.
Product Reviews
We know the Rotor-EZ kit is great, but you don't
have to take our word for it. See what your fellow hams are saying about the
Rotor-EZ on the eHAM.net Product Reviews Web Site:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/849
QST Review of Rotor-EZ
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