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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu G-450XL |
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Reviews: 23
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Average rating: 3.7/5
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MSRP: $600$
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Description: 10 sq. ft. wind load rotator
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More info: http://www.yaesu.com/
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You can
write your own review of the Yaesu G-450XL.
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WA4DOU
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Rating: 4/5
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May 17, 2008 17:40
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Can't complain!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had my G-450XL for a bit over 8 years, turning a Force 12 C3SS up 53 ft. In the past year or two I've occasionally had trouble with a sticking indicator, usually around north. Yesterday I finally experienced the failure of the CCW switch. Considering all things, I can't complain.
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VK5FDMR
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 13, 2007 02:12
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Excellent Unit
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi everyone,
I will keep this review short as some may see it as being in the wrong location however I did not find anything for "Kenpro". My unit is the Kenpro KR450-XL and by what I can see it seems to be the same as the Yaesu G-450XL, to look at anyway. I am very impressed with my unit and it turns my 5 Element 10m mono bander with no effort at all. I would highly recomend it. High quality construction and effortless operation too.
Best 73 de Dave VK5FDMR
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VE6TWN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 12, 2007 18:21
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Good looking controller and good rotator
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have been using this rotator with the MA5B mini beam for few months now.
Before I put up this rotator, I connected rotator with the controller to check and calibrate it. It is very accurate after calibration.
The MA5B and G-450XL both are working very well, not a single problem. Switches are both very solid, no problem at all.
Overall, I am very happy with this setup.
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KQ6EA
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Rating: 3/5
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May 14, 2006 12:08
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Update
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I finally got over to Yaesu to get the replacement switches for the control box for my G-450. The replacement switches are much higher quality, being a small toggle-switch (think "Alcoswitch") mounted to a small bracket that holds the plastic paddle that sticks through the front panel. Easy to change, reasonably priced ($7 each, plus tax)and it feels more like a "real" switch than the junk that was OEM in the controller.
Everything works fine again, and I no longer have the push-button switches I scabbed in there hanging out of the control box.
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N2WN
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 1, 2005 12:33
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Reliable, but Not Perfect
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I picked mine up from a frustrated ham. He had a problem with the connectors (as mentioned here). It took a little head scratching, but I resolved it. I like the 360 degree indicator. It has taken abuse from a microburst storm. It handles my 2 Element 5 band quad nicely. Documentation could be improved, connector at the controller should be improved. I would not call it plug and play. I've used CDE rotators, and so far like this as much or more than those.
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W2CDO
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Rating: 2/5
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Nov 11, 2004 19:29
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Controller wiring missing
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought this unit a couple of years ago and just now tried to use it. Pin 1 in the controller box was missing. Not wired. The rotor turned clockwise until it stopped; no CCW function at all. Piece o' junk. Seriously: anyone have a schematic of the controller so I can wire pin 1 and see if it turns CCW? Pls email me. Thanks in advance and 73.
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N0AH
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Rating: 2/5
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Aug 13, 2004 14:32
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Beware, Not Designed for Small Masts
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I decided to go with a higher rated rotor from that of a TV rotor to turn my MA5B beam. I made HRO aware of this at the time I purchased both the MA5B antenna and 450 rotor at the same time. Unexpected items I had to purchase to make this fit a standard 1 1/4 inch mast included a mast to rotor clamp for around $30, plates to make the mast fit the rotor, (which they were out of stock on)and a lot of trivial hardware. I finally gave up on the smaller mast, and went with 1.75 inch diameter which really increased my wind load due to width and mostly weight. More complaints include the awful plug connector pins you need to crimp and put into the wired up plug going to the receptacle plug on the back of the control box. They are cheap, and I had to give up on the wired up plug and just insert the pins directly into the receptacle plug. I used liquid tape to hold them in place. The reason for this is that the pins would not stay in the wired up plug housing due to all the bending and twisting to get them crimped. The rotor works now but what a hassle. They should just do it the old fashion way with the control cable. Wire to lug nuts on both ends of the control cable. Of note, the plug going into the rotor was easy to solder but it had to be taken apart, figured out, and soldered. Again, why this system? If you really want to keep your wind loand down, buy a TV rotor if it can handle your antenna. I feel like I know have a system that can handle 10 times the antenna I have but only because of all the reinforcing I had to do with guy wires, roof anchors, etc...to handle this situation. In the long run, I'll sleep better knowing I have a very strong sytem, but at the time and cost, extreme over-kill. I rated this so low because my expectations versus what I ran into were very far apart.
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K6HJM
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Rating: 5/5
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May 18, 2004 00:05
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Yaesu listened..better switches
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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As predicted by others, one of the switches failed. But the good news is that Yaesu has a new type of switch that looks and feels better. Only $6 direct from Vertex Standard (i.e., Yaesu) and delivered in 3 days. Looks like it should last a long time. SO...I am still a happy camper!
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MICHIEL
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Rating: 2/5
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Mar 15, 2003 13:15
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Where is he now...?
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Via this way I hope someone can helpes me with my "problem" with the G450XL. I have this rotor for about 6 years now and I am very pleased with it. BUT the last year from time to time the clock constanly change direction. When I see my antenne is hading 180 dgr. my clock shows 120 dgr. Later it will put itself on the right posistion but somethimes is takes days...Who know's what this can be?? Please mail 19AT292@zonnet.nl
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W2WO
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 11, 2003 13:24
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No problems.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Works well turning a 5-band quad at 40 feet. No problems with the switches thus far. The manual could be better about providing practical usage information, how-it-works information, and diagnostic information but it is no worse than the manuals for most ham gear.
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