[Yaesu] G-1000SDX Problem(s)

[Tom Hammond]

Greetings:

First posting to this list...

FIRST PROBLEM

I've had a G-1000SDX rotator for a number of years. It's worked decently well,
but I've always(!) had a problem with the PRESET feature 'hunting' 
for the final
resting position after it's initially ground to a stop AT the desired 
direction.

By this, I mean that after the rotator has come to a complete halt at 
the preset
azimuth, all of a sudden the rotator will (periodically) start back up and want
to swing the antenna back and forth about a 3-4 degree angle, often 
not stopping
this action for periods of time in excess of 5 minutes IF left to continue.

It's as though there's not enough hysteresis built (adjusted) into the current
rotator sensor settings to allow the rotator to remain at the selected position
without it trying to 'correct' for some supposed inaccuracy.

I can halt the 'hunting' by briefly pressing the LEFT or RIGHT 
direction bar, but
sometimes (if I have headphones on and can't hear the relays 
clicking) I won't 
notice hunting until it's probably gone on for 
quite a while... not to mention
what might be happening if I happen to leave to shack for a period of time and
failed to disable the PRESET feature by pressing manual direction bar first.


SECOND PROBLEM

The accuracy of the PRESET control has become pretty badly out of calibration.
I have attempted to re-cal the control using the instructions in the manual,
but it's no better, and possibly worse... to the point that setting PRESET to
270 degrees (due west) results in the rotator actually positioning the beam
to about 230 degree or so.  Preset va. indicator accuracy is generally better
when the preset direction is easterly (e.g. 90 degrees usually gives me about
83 degree positioning), but it's still not all that great. And any attempts
at recalibrating, using JUST the instructions ind the Owner's Manual, result
in one direction being relatively close while the other 180 degree opposite
direction being WAY OUT OF WHACK (a 1950's technical term, meaning OUT OF
WHACK).


I've called Yaesu Tech Support but, other than them telling me to 'send it
in', they've not been able (or at least willing) to offer any(!) technical
support for either problem.  I was told that, "We have several JA technicians
in the back who mess with this rotator. All of the nomenclature on the PC
boards is in Japanese and they're the only ones who can read it and there are
no(!) English service manuals for these rotators, so they have to work on them.
There are several (semi-unmarked) pots on the PC board and these techs will
'tweak' them until they get the rotator properly calibrated."  That's almost
a verbatim quote from the Tech Support person with whom I spoke.  Not very
impressive nor reassuring. Needless to say, if no one at Yaesu really knows
HOW to properly calibrate these rotators, sending mine in for service might
result is (literally) HOURS of service charges if they only know to 'tweak'
until fixed.

Does ANYONE on this reflector have any experience with these rotators that
might be of assistance to me?

Thanks for your time and attention.

73,

Tom Hammond   N0SS