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You can
write your own review of the Alfa-SPID rotor.
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2E1RDX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 13, 2006 13:54
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so far very pleased
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I purchased a Alfa-spid Rotator to replace an aged Yaesu G400RC it went up very easily no drama
it wired in very easily and only needs 4 core cable it comes with everything required apart from the 4 core cable I have it running via my Logging/digital software Mixw and it all worked first time just click on the world map and the antenna turns to that point it has made life much easier no need to press any buttons just click and go I purchased it from Braeside Communication Services in scotland David gave me outstanding service answering my emails very quickly even over the christmas holidays and shipping was very fast I am happy to recommend the Alfaspid as an excellent rotator and Braeside Communication Services (Scotland) for excellent service
many thanks Ian 2E1RDX
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K1YZW
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Rating: 1/5
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Jan 3, 2006 17:13
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Unreliable product-poor technical support
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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My experience with the Alfa-Spid machine is in direct contrast with some of the glowing reports I read. My device was short-lived, the service from the Canadian agent was poor and misleading. Some minor annoyances: lifting the antenna mast into the output tube is inconvenient. In heavy winds my 17 sq ft antenna slipped; I had to drill a couple of indentations into the steel mast to seat the clamping bolts. The thing is heavy, being made of steel rather than cast aluminum. RFI problems were severe; on occasions the RF pickup would actually turn the antenna! I had never experienced this with any of my earlier rotators. Heavy by-passing inside the control box eventually provided a fix. After less than a year's use, operation became erratic. Using an external higher voltage supply through a resistor seemed to temporarily break down the film of dirt on the commutator.The root cause was ingress of water. There was a lot of moisture under the plastic cover - wires from the motor go through upward facing clearance holes (not proper feed-thru terminals) so that any water would run straight into the motor. The seating of the plastic cover is poor, as is that of the (too short) plastic tube over the wires leaving the machine. I live right on the East Coast - winds from the east are salt-laden, from the west we get acid rain caused by factories in the mid-west. I limped along with the external power supply to the motor, using a stopwatch to estimate antenna position. I wanted to avoid removing the rotor for repair at all costs and was told by Alfa-Spid that I could clean up the commutator after removing the motor cover. I was promised replacement brushes; these never arrived. When I pressed the issue, the Alfa people changed their mind and said the machine had to be removed. In the meantime, I sent my control unit back to Alfa for inspection; they told me it was OK, yet it was never returned to me. Eventually I gave up, wrote a report for the Alfa people asking for compensation (copy available on request). Their reply was "We will get back to you shortly." After 2½ months and one reminder, I am still waiting. They also have no interest in examining the failed unit. By not returning my control unit, the Alfa people effectively stole it, and their product support is worthless. A couple of good points which hardly matter: the device is powerful and setting up and correcting the directional display is easy.
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SQ5EBM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 2, 2006 05:51
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Heavy Duty,tough as a tank,polish made
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi!
I have a SPID rotator since 1996. One of the early models if i am not mistaken. It turns a Th5DXmk2+9el on 2m + vertical on 6/2/70. Never had any problems... solid, heavy duty polish-made rotator. Customer support from SPID in Zyrardow (http://www.spid.alpha.pl/) was always top notch. Yes, it is noisy... controller could be better, menu could be smiplier... but for the price of a 0.10 of some Yaesu rotator it is much better.
I would not buy any other rotator... this one is as tough as a tank.
73
Maciej "Miles" Muszalski
SQ5EBM
WWW.TEBY.NET Team
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HB9DRV
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 21, 2005 09:38
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Excellent
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just put the AlfaSpid RAS (AZ/EL) into operation via computer software. An excellent product, well built and ready for computer use without requiring any extra interfaces.
I would buy another immediately.
Pictures at the bottom of http://www.hb9drv.ch/photo.htm
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VK5JJJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 21, 2005 05:39
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Excellent Product!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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A nice compact rotator with lots of torque. The control box is nice and small. One of the best features is the ability to power the unit with either AC or DC up to 24 V. You can reverse polarity it! More volts means more speed and less current.
Also you only need 4 wire cable - 2 for power, 2 for data (not polarity conscious). Interfaces with TRX-Manager in Alfa Spid 1 mode at 1200 baud. Just click on the DX spot and away she goes! Cost effective too!.
I'm impressed. Now to get it up the tower
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KB2HUK
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 11, 2005 00:04
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The best rotator I have used period !
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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after using yaesu rotors and having break downs I investigated other companys . I searched long and hard for just the right rotor , strong , accurate , problelm free I have found it with the Alfa Spid ! I have been using it for two years in the tough Western New York winters it has performed with out a hint of problelms. I would recomend this rotor to any one . John kb2huk
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PA2FB
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Rating: 4/5
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Jun 13, 2005 23:57
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Rotor great, controller could be better
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Rotator is heavy duty so no problems and that should be 5 like SP5QIP said.
No problems at all, strong etc. great 5!
But I run also into these problems with the controller:
1 - very noisy (work most of the time at 144 Mhz SSB, strong noise here) will try the fix GM4JJJ suggested. (just saw it)
2 - I have tried to block RF butt did not succeed complete yet, when I use HF (80m) the box changes still. So when I am working at 80m I turn the controller off. This is annoying (sometimes I forget and have to recalibrate the north again)
Will try to block RF better, note: my longwire for 80m is starting next to the rotor so that is probably the cause.
3 - I have to put the controller off before powerdown the 12V supply, it is an big supply takes forever to powerdown so slow decrease in voltage, sometimes the controller changes the setting when powering up again.
Average: Great rotor, controller could be better.
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GM4JJJ
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 9, 2005 03:12
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Noise Comment - a fix
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is not a review, I don't want to do that as I am a dealer for SPID in the UK and I could be accused of bias :-)
For those that have found RF noise from the controller, I found a cure (at least on my test unit).
I found noise on 50MHz every 50KHz but ONLY when the computer lead was plugged in (even with the computer off and unplugged from the power). This noise is probably from the DC-DC converter in the MAX232 level shifter IC.
Anyway I found a cure - make sure the DB9 connector on the SPID is properly grounded to the spid case. On my unit it was isolated because of paint on the case. I temporarily hooked a wire between the self tapper that holds the rotor connector to the case and the case of the DB9 connector and the noise was totally gone.
I have informed the manufacturer and asked them to make sure the paint around the connectors is masked off in future.
Hope that is of some help to others.
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W0NCL
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Rating: 5/5
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May 23, 2004 20:07
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A Great Product!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I finally have enough time with this rotor to write a credible review. I put this up in November 2003 on a Triex LM470D crankup tower. I moved to a new qth last year that’s atop of a hill with no trees around. A real antenna paradise I thought! But, the wind is very brisk here in Iowa almost all the time. I didn’t think my tailtwister would cut it for the long haul so I started looking around for rotors. My search led me to the alfaspid. I started talking to the folks at Alfa in the spring of 2003. I was concerned about the rotor fitting into the tower. My concern was justified; it just barely fits into the top section of the 470. Don at Alfa was very helpful getting me pics of installed rotors to see how it would work for me. I looked at the rotor at Dayton last year and was very impressed! I ordered the rotor and finally got my project(antenna and tower) up by November. I should also mention Im turning a Hygain 205CA(5 element 34 ft boom 20 meter monobander) that sits between 23-70 feet.
Im very impressed with how this rotor has behaved. We have had at least 2 instances of 60mph winds at my qth with no movement by the rotor. The mouse works great with the controller box, its really a nice feature! Im running this with just about 15 vdc off a regular power supply. It takes a while to turn at that voltage, but Im not usually in a real big hurry to move anything quickly. It can be used at 24vdc and maybe someday I will get around to supplying it with that voltage so it can turn a little quicker. Ive had no controller noise that others have complained about and Ive used it on 2 different HF rigs, the 850 and Mark 5. This is a tough rotor and should be considered by anyone who wants a reliable way to turn some pretty big antenna systems. Highly recommended.
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SQ7DQX
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Rating: 4/5
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May 15, 2004 17:11
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Yes - its noisy
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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1. - I found "cold" solder in connector box. No problem. I resoldered it (on the roof).
2. - NOISY - on 50MHz and on 144MHz !!
3. - I dont like this mouse. Memory switches should be mounted in front panel of driver and/or little device connected to driver (but not inside computer rebulid mouse). I will do it by myself.
4. - Very easy setup and N calibration.
5. - 6 memory, correction, 1 or 0,66 degree step
6. - construction seems to be easy repaired.
7. - good for all antenna system - lightweight and heavy yagis (and verticals on the top of the mast).
Its works well, except p. 2 and 3.
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