I've been in Amateur Radio since 1974, and still find new and interesting things to do. I like to build, restore, and operate on the air. This blog has been running for many years, so be sure to check out "Jump to Posts on Specific Topics" in the RH column to drill down and find lots of stuff. Visit www.WB4IUY.net, email to wb4iuy@gmail.com, or leave comments here directly on my blogs.
While working on some repeater stuff, I pulled all of the old repeater construction notes together and put them in a book, before they were lost in the scramble of 50+ years of ham radio.
Much of this split-site repeater was built from bits and pieces of what I had, and I scratch built the rest. This was probably the most fun of any repeater I've ever worked with, working hams from the middle east in the morning hours, and out into the south pacific late in the day.
I plan to detail this a lot more in the coming days, as this 30+ year old system gets a face-lift.
The Hy-Gain HDR-300A Conversion from 180° satellite elevation control to 360° antenna azimuth controller is finished. I added a few final touches... new 3-wire power cord, new cabinet feet, and reinstalled the refinished cover with black Tapered finishing washers. I got it installed in the shack and calibrated. I'm loving this thing already!
Debbie AC4QD has been crafting for many years. Recently, she started working with Sublimation. This is a process where permanent inks are transferred into material, making a durable custom printed item. This is infused into a non-slip neoprene substrate with a durable polyester top layer. These soft, flexible pads that can be washed if they get dirty.
I find that I'm often referencing an Azimuth chart, when my logging program, QRZ, DXcluster, etc displays a heading in degrees. That helps me wrap my head around the direction of an HF contact from my QTH. Debbie made this for Studio A. Call signs, etc can easily be added. Email wb4iuy@gmail.com if you want one. These are a great gift item for the radio folks in your home. Here's a couple of videos and pics...
I made a little more headway on the rotator controller conversion... The rear panel conne lions are finished, I painted the front panel to cover the 0-180° dish markings, installed a run capacitor across the CW and CCW winding connections, and finished the repairs and paint on the cover. I was finally able to test the motor control, and get the position display calibrated a bit closer. Here's a few pics and a video...
The previous blog demonstrated the ability of this satellite dish elevation controller to be converted to a 360° azimuth rotator controller.
I mapped the HDR-300A wiring to the rear receptacle, changed the receptacle to screw-type terminal strips, installed a pot for "zero" calibration, and tested this setup on another HD-73 rotator motor. So far, so good! Here's a few pics and video...
First, I mapped the various terminals and their function...
Here, I made a chart of the internal wiring colors to the output connector, and their function.
I installed a 300 ohm pot for "zero" position calibration...
Down below is the output connector location, when it was removed.
I installed to terminal blocks...a small block for feedback pot connections, and a larger block for the higher current motor and brake connections.
I mapped the original Alliance rotor controller connections and their motor functions.
More mapping the old vs. new controller cross reference...
Feedback pot not yet connected, while sorting the motor control functions.
The gearmotor and feedback pot assy from the Alliance HD-73 antenna rotator.
The motor run capacitor that must be used, the HyGain controller originally connected to a basic ac motor that required no capacitor.
