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write your own review of the Hygain Ham IV.
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N4JA
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 8, 2012 13:03
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1 BAD 1 GOOD
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I was using an Alliance HD-73 For years to turn several different antennas: TH-6DXX, Lightning Bolt Quad, and a 3-element SteppIR. It worked perfectly until it got hit by lightning. I wanted it to be repaired, but Rotor Norm said he would not repair it if I was going to use it on a SteppIR. Since I have a Green Heron universal control box, I ordered a HY-GAIN Ham IV rotor only from Rotor Norm. Installed it and it worked for 15 minutes. The brake solinoid shorted and would not work. After arguing with Rotor Norm, I sent the rotor back to him and he refunded my money. I ordered another HY-GAIN HAM IV from HRO in Atlanta and it worked perfectly from the get-go. Another case, in my opinion, of shoddy workmanship and materials from a company owned by MFJ.
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K3AJ
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Rating: 4/5
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Mar 15, 2011 17:57
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Almost DOA, but fine since...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My Ham IV has been in service almost 2 years. When I received it, I hooked it up and ran it on the bench. It was a good thing I did. It jammed at one end of rotation on its third or fourth round trip. I sent it back to Hy-Gain and got very fast turn-around, an explanation as to what was wrong, and the failed parts. One of the limit switches failed or was loose, and it bent the limit switch bracket and jammed. It has now been up for almost two years with no problem (mounted on a 40 ft Universal tower with thrust bearing turning a Hy-gain Explorer 14 tribander, a 4 element 6 meter beam, and 9 element 2 meter beam). I lived in constant fear of another jam and avoided the end limits religiously. Recently, I modified my controller using the Idiom Press Rotor EZ (see my positive review of that product) which stops the rotator a few degrees short of the limit switches. Bottom line: this is an industry standard product with a long history of good service. Go ahead and buy one, but run it hard on the bench before you put it up. Consider the Idiom Press Rotor EZ to help keep it off the limit switches. It is not a good idea to be running up against them in any case, even if you stay with manual operation.
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W2NLS
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 19, 2010 13:25
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N+New Controller Is Nice!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is my third Ham IV in about 25 years of turning an old TH5-DX. The tower I have has only a top plate for mounting so I can't use a thrust bearing and so I consider 3 in 25 years to be pretty good. Anyway, got the latest one with the built-in brake and the LEDs on the control box and the plugs instead of stripped wires. Assembly of the plugs went very quickly and I love the built-in brake. Also, the new box has two lights instead of one making the meter look a lot nicer. Only problem I had was that the control box was "missing" and LED! I called Hy-Gain and they asked me to pop off the bottom of the box and sure enough the LED had been pushed inside during shipment. All I had to do was to push it back through the panel and it clicked into place. All in all this was always a very good product and now it is better than ever.
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N5GOD
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 31, 2010 21:08
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Great Rotor
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought my rotor used around 20 years ago. Have not had any problems at all with it works great. I took my tower down and while down took it to Hygain at Starkville they did a great service on it very quick. I know there are many MFJ bashers but my experience has always been good with them. Ameritron Amps or any other thing I have had done I had my rotor on a Mosley CL36M for years now I am putting it back up one a Force 12 C4XL. It is a workhorse no doubt about it.
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KE4WY
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 14, 2009 06:00
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Just keeps on turning
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well I bought my Ham IV in 1982 when it was CDE before Hy gain bought them out and it's turned several beams over the past 27 years with the heaviest weighing 105 pounds. It's been trouble free other than changing a metering bulb in the control box.
I have thought about having it rebuilt since it's 27 years old but why mess with a perfectly working rotor.
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K9FON
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 13, 2009 20:10
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Look for an older one
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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My H-4 is from 1994 or so and has never failed once. I have heard the new MFJ made rotators are cheaply made as compared to the older Hy Gain "made in Nebraska" rotators. My H-4 used to turn an Avanti Moonraker 4 beam when i lived at home and was on CB (yeah yeah i know) and now turns a Cushcraft A-4 tribander. I know a ham that has one that he bought in 1980 and had never been taken down, until recently. He moved and had his Kt34 and the rotator removed. He regreased and cleaned the H-4 and it still works 100%. I just hope my H-4 lasts another 15 years.
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K5ADF
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 2, 2009 16:01
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great service so far!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Reading the last few reports about the Ham series rotors, It has made me wonder. I have a Ham 3 rotor that I put up on the tower in 1978 turning a 10 element 6m array and 2m 10 element twist. It is still operational with its medal clad controller. No repairs needed. The 6m array was replaced with a 5 element in 2002.
In 1999 I decided a dipole and vertical was not enough for HF, so I put up another tower with a Ham IV rotor that I bought reconditioned from Norm's rotor service saving $$ over a new one. It is turning a cushcraft 3 element array (another story about the yagi). I have not had a problem with the newer rotor. Unfortunately I cannot say the same about the HF yagi.
I do not have any RFI problems with the rotor controllers even though the new controller has a plastic case and is physically setting immediately under the 600 watt HF amp on the next lower shelf with two inch vertical clearance.
Living in San Antonio, we do not have the harsh conditions that the northern tier of the country experiences. We do have high wind at times, rain and sometimes hail. Snow and ice are foreign concepts to us!
I would recommend the Ham IV rotor for use down here in the southwest.
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WW0D
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Rating: 1/5
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Apr 2, 2009 13:53
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Look Elsewhere for a Rotor.
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I've been licensed since 1970 and am using my third HAM-IV rotor. My new 40-15 Universal tower and HAM-IV rotor and Cushcraft 3-element tri-band yagi antenna system were installed last October. We live in an area in Minnesota where the winds blow 20 to 30 mph with gusts into the 40 mph range. My rotor quit working in March after 6 months of use and now my beam is locked in a SE position. I get excellent signal reports from Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, etc. but not much else. I had similar non-functioning issues with HAM-IV rotor #2 and considered using something else last fall but decided to go with it again. Big mistake! The ultimate consumer question is "would you buy that product again" and my response to anyone is "definitely not"!
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W8SPM
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 10, 2008 06:29
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Good Product
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had 3 Ham 4 Rotors in 30 years of Ham Radio! I ordered a new Ham 4 from R+L Electronics in Dec 2007! When it arrived I had no parts bag or Instruction Manual? I called MFJ and talked to the Service Department ! In 3 days I had the parts and information I was lacking!
The problem was corrected very quickly and there have been several Upgrades to this rotor !
Anyone considering buying a rotor should consider the Ham 4 ?
Sam W8SPM Parkersburg,WV
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KC9GUZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 3, 2007 11:50
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Great!!!!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Back in 1995 i bought a H4 to replace a CD 45II that i had. I got the H4 simply because it had a break. The rotor was up a solid 12 years with no problems. I just recently removed my old tower and rotator that sat at my folkses unused and after rewiring the rotator to the control box it still works F/B. This after the rotator sat up in the tower unused and never turned for almost 5 years! Thats called longevity! I dont know if that can be said for the newer MFJ made rotators. Ive heard and read about some real horror storys about the new Ham 4s.
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