[CVCC] Fw: [PVRC] The PVRC Discount Purchace of Green Heron ControllersExtended to May 6

Thu Apr 26 09:39:57 EDT 2007

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <K4VV at aol.com>
To: <PVRC at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 26, 2007 9:21 AM
Subject: [PVRC] The PVRC Discount Purchace of Green Heron 
ControllersExtended to May 6

The 15 to 20% discount of Green Heron Engineering controller purchase
opportunity was
publicized on the reflector and in the March Newsletter.  Twenty two units
have been
ordered so far.  Our final order will be submitted on May 6.

An upgraded version of the controllers which adds a USB port has become
available for the
standard rotators, with $10 increase in cost and availability in about June.

If interested, suggest you read this message carefully, and get more detail
on the web site
listed below.

To order, please email me with your order including the controller you want
(with or without
power supply), the specific rotator to be controlled (with model number),
payment method
(note the 5% discount for check or money order), and confirm that your
mailing and email
addresses are correct (as I will use that info in the order).

Our discounts are better than the ones at Dayton next month, because we are
doing a lot
of the admin work to consolidate the orders

Jack Hammett.

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--------------------------------------------------------------
The PVRC Green Heron Engineering Purchase for Rotator Controllers

Frank Donovan and I have discussed a group discount purchase from Green
Heron Engineering.

These systems are especially interesting because of the capability to
1) control all the common commercial rotators adding digital accuracy and
convenience if at all possible (and be configured for others), 2) be linked
to
move individual antennas together as a stack, 3) "point and shoot" azimuth
pointing, 4) ramp up and down rotation, 5) can be configured with a
fail-safe for TIC RIngRotors, Pro-sis-tel, Alfa-Spid etc. that have no
mechanical
limit switches to prevent motor runaway, 6) Use the latest Power MOSFET
components that are nearly indestructible, 7) Are field software upgradable
for special applications if desired, and 8) They look great and are only 4"
high
with a large bright LCD display (Optional Vacuum Fluorescent Display for
the ultimate look)

A software solution is also in testing to enable control of these devices on
a network using a software utility in the individual PCs at each position in
a M1 or M2 station (or control from a remote location).

Many of you know Jeff Ach, W2FU, a serious and accomplished contester
and the founder of Green Heron Engineering.  I met Jeff last spring at 
Dayton
when he gave me a good rundown on his controllers.  The time has come for
me to order.  Frank and I together will order 12 units, and Jeff has
agreed to offer a PVRC discount of 15% off the Amateur Radio Net pricing
for his standard products.

If you are interested in joining this discount order, please email me with
your
interest. For more info on the products available, look on the web site
(greenheronengineering), and download the manual for details, or contact 
Jeff
at [info at greenheronengineering dot com] or (585) 217-9093.

Here is more info from Jeff about his offer to PVRC:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We would be happy to offer a group discount program to the PVRC. 15% on 10
or more is fine and as long as each buyer pays his own shipping, we can just
ship direct.  UPS ground to the DC area is only about $11 or so, and we have
a 2 pack box that makes a pair about $16 to ship down there.

We have been working on some software that allows multiple stations access
to the same controller depending on the band.  This is an ideal solution for
M/S and M/2 applications where you don't want to keep reaching to other
locations to turn the antennas.

The standard unit (universal) runs all the standard commercial rotators.
This
includes AC and DC motors up to about 40+ volts and 5A.  For Prop Pitch
(10A or more) or for 1/3 or larger AC motors (or 90 VDC motors) we have 
other
solutions of which there are many options, some of which have limitations.
The cheapest solution is to use external relays to control the motor CW and
CCW directions BUT when you do this without going to additional external
hardware, we lose the ability to speed control and ramp up/down.  More
sophisticated methods (we manufacture a remote drive system that works
great with 90 VDC motors of up to a couple of HP) allow retention of the
PWM speed control.

I use a system like this here on my rotating tower.  1/3 HP 90 VDC motor run
directly from a rectified AC line at the base of the tower.  We control the
motor
with 2 relays and a MOSFET power control board.  The cable to the tower is
all small #22 wire, 6 conductor as I use a mag switch at the rear of the
motor
for heading indication.  It would be 7 wires if we used a potentiometer. 
The
MOSFET driver runs the motor, the ramp up/down is so good, that the tips of
my 40 meter beams don't even wiggle when the antenna starts and stops, yet
we turn 360 degrees in about 45 seconds!  We get 1/10 degree resolution and
accuracy with this system.

All of the solutions retain the same operator interface, box and display, 
but
we have various remote power control methods.  And, if you don't mind
giving up the 'universality' of the standard controller, we do make a model
that
has no rotor power supply inside at all and can save a bit more as we
eliminate the 5A transformer and power control from the inside box.

RT-20 $549.00
RT-20 (w/o internal rotor motor supply) $499
RT-20pp Prop Pitch (Internal 28VDC 10A supply) with balanced mag spinner
kit (K7NV Systems)   $659
RT-20D Deluxe (Black front panel, VFD display)
adds $150 to any version.

Remote MOSFET driver board for integration into a remote power systems
$129, Requires customer to add relays and appropriate voltage source based
on his need.  (DC Motors only, must specify < 48 VDC or > 48 VDC motors)

The PVRC discount only applies to the above standard products.

We can do complete custom packages integrating this technology if needed.

Note that Jeff has recently offered USB Upgradeable Versions soon and
Integrated
USB Versions later this year.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------
Jeff also told me that if we purchase about 20 units, he would be willing to
deliver the controllers to the DC area (saving the shipping cost), and to
meet
with those interested in a discussion of the setup, applications, and a demo
of the remote control software.  His opportunity to deliver and visit would
depend on the timing of our order completion and other commitments.  Many
of us will see him at Dayton, and we might be able to set up a time to get
together there.

I will consolidate your orders and collect your checks or credit card info 
to
consolidate and forward to Jeff.  A $5 additional discount will apply for
cash
equivalent (check or money order).  After a few weeks of ordering time
(target
is Thursday, March 22), the orders will be submitted to Jeff for delivery
(which
may take some weeks, depending on his inventory at the time of our order).
I will keep Jeff informed of the total order status for his planning.  Jeff
will not
be able to deliver all the products at once, so we may keep track of who is
in a hurry for units, with first order-first delivery. After the initial
large order,
Jeff  will accept additional individual PVRC discount orders until the end 
of
April.  The cash and carry prices at Dayton will be higher than our costs 
per
unit.

Jeff will need to know the rotator with which you will use each controller,
so
that he can preconfigure each unit.  This will save a little time when you
first
receive the units (unless Jeff is here to configure each one and 
demonstrate).

More shipping rate info for RT-20 (standard or D) follows:
1 shipped to residence = $13
2 shipped to same residence = $17

1 shipped to commercial address = $10
2 shipped to commercial address = $14

For follow-up, contact k4vv at aol.com

************************************** See what's free at 
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