[HCARC] Yaesu GA-3000 Rotor Shock Mount
Gary J - N5BAA
qltfnish at omniglobal.net
Mon Mar 17 13:00:00 EDT 2014
HMMM, I thought the K9AY Loop and the Shared Apex Loop Array were one and
the same. Now I have to go and research the difference - one I readily see
is that in yours one part of the loop is on the ground and the Shared Apex
has the bottom part of the loop raised above the ground. Has QST ever done
a test on the K9AY Loop so a comparison can be made??
When you say a "matching network" for your tower - what are you talking
about?? Is it anything like the Heathkit SA-2550 antenna matching system??
www.eham.net/reviews/detail/9417 My brother sent me one of those a couple
of months ago. Still am not sure what I might do with it, but the cost was
cheap enough.
BTW, the 10 meter beam he was asking me about is too corroded by the San
Diego salt air to be taken apart without using a saw to cut it apart. I
told him to sell it locally or send it to the aluminum scrap yard.
73
Gary J
N5BAA
-----Original Message-----
From: Dale Gaudier
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2014 11:32 AM
To: 'Gary J - N5BAA'
Subject: RE: [HCARC] Yaesu GA-3000 Rotor Shock Mount
Gary:
The HAM IV rotor and controller are perfectly good for turning moderate HF
arrays, such as a Cushcraft A4S. It's the combination I used for over 10
years at several different QTHs to work over 250 countries. The only caveat
is to remember to let the rotor stop when it gets to where you want it, then
release the brake button. Otherwise the brake will try to engage while the
rotor is still turning.
I believe there is an add-on kit for the control box that will automate the
release/engagement of the brake so it can't be applied while the rotor is
moving.
As the solar cycle declines, there will be fewer DX openings on 10m and 6m.
However, the bands won't be completely dead and there will be some openings
even during the solar minima. Listen for the 10m and 6m beacons to get an
idea of how propagation is behaving for these bands on any particular day.
I have a K9AY loop receiving antenna I bought from Array Solutions that I
use for 160m and 80m. It also will work on 40m, but my 40m beam usually is
better on that band. The K9AY antenna allows you to electronically steer the
main receiving lobe in four different directions. The closed loop design
minimizes QRN and reception of signals that arrive at high angles (usually
from nearby stations). It works remarkably well for something that is less
than 40 ft. in diameter and 24 ft. in height. You're welcome to come over to
play with it - evenings and nights are best because 160m and 80m are
primarily nighttime bands.
I had initially looked into putting in a pair of switchable bidirectional
Beverage antennas to cover NE-SE-SW-NW. I had the room, but couldn't figure
out where to put the two antennas where they weren't crossing under or near
a power line or a road on my ranch. I've used Beverages before and, if you
have enough room, they are probably the best in terms of signal to noise
ratio and directivity and noise reduction, but went with the K9AY loop for
convenience.
The new Shared Apex Loop Array shown in the April QST and sold by Array
Solutions looks interesting. However, I'd like to see a real world
comparison between it and the K9AY loop before deciding whether it is worth
the extra $$$ to change over to the SALA.
In any event, I think you'll find a separate dedicated receiving antenna
(loop or Beverage) to be the best way to go if you want to do any serious
160m or 80 DXing.
Right now I use an inverted V hung off my tower at 55 feet for transmitting
on 160m and 80m. I use the inverted V for transmitting and usually use the
K9AY loop for receiving on these bands. The inverted V is pretty marginal on
these bands as it is much too close to the ground to get a signal off at low
takeoff angles (15-30 degrees) for good DXing. It's mostly a cloud warmer
(NVIS). My next major project is to either build a matching network so I can
load up my tower on 160m and 80m and use it as a vertical, or put up a
dual-band inverted-L for 160m and 80m hung off the tower. Either one of
these arrangements should help get me the lower takeoff angles needed for
DX. Note, however, that either type of antenna requires a good ground. I
have eight 130 ft. radials already installed at the tower, but will likely
need to add at least eight more to achieve at least minimal coupling with
the "ground" (limestone).
73,
Dale - K4DG
-----Original Message-----
From: hcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:hcarc-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Gary J - N5BAA
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2014 10:43 AM
To: Dale Gaudier; hcarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [HCARC] Yaesu GA-3000 Rotor Shock Mount
Thanks Dale. I have heard of Green Heron Controllers, but for now the Ham 4
rotor I got from you will work fine with the A4S I also got from you and
probably will for quite a few years to come. The only thing I have thought
about adding is a 6 meter beam, but with the apparent quieting down of the
sun, I wonder if either 6 or 10 meters will be operative for DX much longer.
Concentrating on getting a good 160/80 meter antenna up is probably a much
better idea. That and one of the listening arrays from Array Solutions. I
could put up a beverage, but since my house and shack are literally in one
corner of a rectangular 7 acres (15 acres if I include my neighbors property
that I babysit) tends to make my choices for a beverage somewhat
uni-directional. I can run one to the 45 degree quadrant bounded by the
South and the west. At least I should be able to point to the South Pacific
and Antarctica and that is good.
73
Gary J
N5BAA
-----Original Message-----
From: Dale Gaudier
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2014 10:20 PM
To: 'Gary J - N5BAA' ; hcarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: RE: [HCARC] Yaesu GA-3000 Rotor Shock Mount
Gary:
I can't comment on the Yaesu G-2800 rotor or its controller (the GA-3000 is
the number for the shock absorber, I believe) since I have never owned one.
However, the Green Heron RT-21 controller I use for my M2 Orion 2800PX rotor
has a function where it electronically ramps down the speed of rotation as
you get near the stopping point. That prevents the stress you would
otherwise get if the rotor were to abruptly stop when it gets to the
stopping point. The controller also ramps up the speed when you start
rotation to also prevent stress that would occur if you were to abruptly
apply full power to the motor.
BTW, the Green Heron controller also has a USB port and can be controlled
directly from your computer. Many logging and contesting programs will
interface directly to the controller, giving a whole new meaning to "point
and shoot" when DXing or contesting.
73,
Dale - K4DG
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Tynan
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2014 2:35 PM
To: Gary J - N5BAA ; hcarc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [HCARC] Yaesu GA-3000 Rotor Shock Mount
Gary and all:
No, I don't have one, although I have had a 2800 for abt 15 years. It's the
best rotator I've ever had. Of course, I don't have a big 4 element 20 or a
40 meter beam, just the 50 ft boom M2 for 6 meters, the 36 ft boom 2 meter
and other assorted VHF and UHF antennas. If I was to have a big 20 meter
beam or a 40 meter beam, I probably would be worried abt the shock and would
have the GA-3000.
My $.02 worth.
73,
Bill, W3XO
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Gary J - N5BAA" <qltfnish at omniglobal.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2014 9:39 AM
To: <hcarc at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: [HCARC] Yaesu GA-3000 Rotor Shock Mount
> In CQ magazine I saw a reference to a Yaesu GA-3000 rotor Shock Mount
> that is designed to absorb the shock of a large antenna array stopping
> when using the Yaesu 2800 rotor. It supposedly absorbs the shock of
> stopping thus helping to prevent damage to the turning rings. While I
> don’t either have an array that is big, nor the ability to mount a
> 2800 rotor in my crank up tower, it was something I have not heard of
> in any of our presentations on antenna towers. DOES ANYONE USE THIS
> Shock Mount or is it some extra stuff that only the BIG GUNS with BIG
> TOWERS need to be concerned with.
>
> 73
>
> Gary J
> N5BAA
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