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You can
write your own review of the Green Heron Engineering RT-20.
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K5MM
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 7, 2009 18:25
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Excellent Product and Support
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I bought the Green Heron RT-21 to use with a new OR-2800P-DC. The RT-21 replaced an Orion 2800PX which, I discovered after installation, required shielded control cables for my installation. The RT 21 works flawlessly with my unsheilded control cable. The RT-21 installation software is excellent and the unit is easily controlled with DXLabs and other popular software. Green Heron support is also excellent--my emails have been answered the same day I sent them. I'm very pleased.
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N2EHG
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 9, 2009 14:59
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BlackRT21
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just got the controller in black, looks great has a very solid feel. The pre sale support was fantastic, and that is most important to me. So far my rotor is on the floor testing is flawless.
I'll update the review once I get the antenna in the air but i am confident in the controller. I'd definately recomend it.
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NC1I
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 20, 2009 16:51
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Great Product
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Time owned: months
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I purchased my first RT-20 from green Heron Engineering (GHE) back in 2006. This controller was purchased to replace the stock M2 controller on my Orion OR2800DC. The Orion rotor was setup on a sidemount for VHF/UHF antennas. I found that the M2 controller was not very user friendly. It also did not provide the features and flexibility of the RT-20
The RT-20 was fairly easy to set-up and program. It is very intuitive and easy to use, has a very large display, and has just about every feature you could ever need or even think of. The controller was well packed and the quality and workmanship was immediately obvious. The manual was complete, well though out, and easy to read.
After using the RT-20 for a few months I decided to take the plunge and order three more for my HF stack (3-Bencher Skyhawk's). The top rotor is a Prosistol PST-71D and the lower two are TIC Rings. Again it was pretty straight forward to swap out the stock Prosistol and TIC controllers and set-up the new GHE boxes.
On occasion I have had some slippage in the Prosistol mast clamp (turns the top Bencher and an OptiBeam 4-element 40 meter yagi). The RT-20 allows for recalibration without climbing the tower (as long as you have enough slack in your flex lines/rotor loop). This has saved me several trips up the big tower.
One nice feature for a stack is the ability to program any one of the controllers to be used as a "Master". All antennas can then be directed to the same azimuth beam heading with either a simple turn of the knob on the Master unit, or via computer. I have N1MM setup with rotor control via serial port and with a single keystroke we can send one or more antennas spinning to the desired beam heading.
In the fall of 2007 my station took a lightning hit and three of my four RT-20 controllers were damaged along with a lot of other equipment in the shack and on the tower. The three controllers were sent out to GHE where they were quickly repaired. While back for repairs I had Jeff update the control boxes to the newer RT-21 model (less the USB port which is not practical to add to early RT-20's). The cost for repairs and updates was very reasonable.
I have since purchased three more RT-21's. These three units are all used to control a very large (48 yagi) 70cm EME array. Two of the RT-21's control large prop-pitch motors used for azimuth and polarity rotation. The third controller is used to control a 120 VAC linear actuator for elevation.
The Rt-21's used for prop-pitch control include the optional RPU, a more robust power supply that can be mounted remotely (at the tower) or in the shack. The RPU is housed in a very nice weatherproof enclosure. For position feedback, one of the prop-pitch units utilizes a pulse counter on the drive motor shaft (many thousands of RPM's) and the other uses a precision multi-turn pot mecahniaclly coupled to the mast. The GHE controllers allow you to easily choose either pulse or pot configuration.
The controllers also provide for user programable ramp-up and ramp-down transitions speeds which are necessary for large arrays (about 100 sf in my EME system).
The azimuth and elevation controllers are configured to use Green Heron's "GH Tracker" software. This program combined with F1FEN's "EME System" package has provided a reliable and almost plug and play auto-tracking system for a very large EME array. We are able to automatically track the moon (or most any other celestial object) down to a couple of tenths of a degree. In reality the accuracy is only limited by the linearity of the precision pot used for feedback and the mechanics of your system.
Over the three years I have been using the GHE controllers there have been questions and issues that have required communication with GHE. I can honestly say that I have never before experienced better communication or support from any ham radio manufacturer or vendor.
The controllers are not inexpensive but I do think they are an excellent value. They have added incredible flexibility to my station and I now have many usefull features that would have not otherwise been available to me. The fact that the RT-20/21 is a universal controller allows me to keep a single spare controller in the shack that can be used to replace any of the seven controllers currently in use.
I highly recommend the GHE controllers for anyone that is not satisfied with the performance or features of their current rotor controllers.
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W5JON
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 18, 2008 18:07
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Priceless
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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After more then a year using the Green Heron RT21, the only problems have been either operator "cockpit" or external to the Green Heron. The Green Heron operation has been flawless.
Jeff's knowledge of his product, the Green Heron, and the rotors that connect to it is priceless.
Today within moments, Jeff was able to give me all the voltage and resistance values to determine there was water in one of the outside cable connectors going to my Prosistel.
Jeff's technical support, and patience are second to none.
GREAT PRODUCT and SUPPORT.
73,
John W5JON
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K6CF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 8, 2008 11:17
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Very Impressive!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I purchased an RT-20 to control my K7NV prop-pitch rotator. Contruction of the unit is first rate and the controls are easy to use. It combines a relatively compact size with a nice, easy to read display. I connected up the wires and the rotator worked perfectly, right out of the box. The point and shoot feature is great.
Jeff is very helpful and commited to providing excellent customer service. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to use most of the popular controller and rotator combinations on the market. The Green Heron RT-20 coupled to a K7NV prop-pitch has been the easiest and most trouble free system that I have owned.
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KB9WL
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 28, 2008 08:59
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great product
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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installed the RT-21 two days ago along with a new M2 Orion - the product works very well, is easy to setup once you get by self-generated fog, and Jeff is friendly and quick to assist.
"Point and Shoot" is one of those features like having a spectrum scope on your rig -- once you start to enjoy it, you don't want to operate without the feature. Jeff's setup software is a delight to use and most helpful. The unit is well made, looks good, and delivers on the promises of gentle array motion. Swinging three big ole antennas is a challenge. a tip of the cap to Green Heron and M2 -- KB9WL
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KM4BS
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 27, 2008 05:42
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Great Product
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Purchased the RT21 for use with my Hygain HDR300 rotor. Hygain controller bit the dust and the price of a new one was in the same area as the GH. The RT21 only takes up a third of the space the original did plus it has the point a shoot which is great. It has so many features the original did not and is a very nice addition to the desk. Jeff responds very quickly if you have a question. I would recommend this controller to anyone. Especially the Yaesu rotors you can't get controllers for without the purchase of a complete rotor system. If you need a controller you will not be disappointed with the Green Heron. Thanks Jeff for a fine product.
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WA2ODO
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 16, 2008 07:39
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Superb!!!!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Bought 2 of the RT-21 in Black w/ green Flourescent screen. Works even better than it looks. Jeff at GH is helpful and courtious and very quick to answer all questions and emails. Thanks for a great product.
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VE3NFK
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 3, 2008 16:02
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Most Excellent Service
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is my second report on the Grenn Heron.
I have owned a 'Green Heron' for my Alfaspid rotator for more than a year - and decided to get the latest firmware RT-21.
It installed fine - but there were some issues with it. Jeff went well beyond what I would expect of a vendor to ensure the problem was diagnosed; fixed; and replacement parts shipped. I cannot say enough good things about both the product and service.
The new chip offers even more control over the rotator's spin-up and down - which is nice as the 4 El SteppIR with 2 x 30/40 elements has a lot of momentum. You won't go wrong choosing a Green Heron!
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K6TA
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 28, 2007 08:06
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Outstanding Product
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Received a Green Heron RT-21 for Christmas to replace the M2 Orion controller. Installation took 15 minutes as Jeff of Green Heron Engineering had provided the unit pre-programmed. I love the M2 Orion rotator and the RT-21 adds "point-and-shoot", excellent ramp-up/ramp-down control, accurate direction tracking, and easy programming. The instruction manual is excellent and provides information for interface to all the popular ham radio rotators.
Jeff provides excellent and friendly customer service. He responded to all my e-mail queries prior to my request to Santa. I highly recommend Green Heron Engineering.
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