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You can
write your own review of the Idiom Press Rotor-EZ Kit - HyGain.
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K3AJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 28, 2011 15:44
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Waaaay cool - but not for faint of heart
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Very nice modification - I love the way it works. I had no trouble building the kit and modifying the rotor control box - it worked the first time - but this is NOT a beginner project. This is for experienced kit builders who can build a dense PC board and have the confidence to figure out how to connect things when your rotor control deviates from the instructions (as mine did). Also, installation requires gutting the original circuitry, and it would be very difficult to put Humpty Dumpty back together again if you wanted to remove the kit. My rotator control box is a late model version without a meter lamp socket, so I had to figure out how to locate and connect the transformer and meter lamp wiring - very simple but not for a complete rookie. One item in the instructions was very confusing - referring to "clockwise" and "counterclockwise" potentiometer lugs. Don't over think this - just go with "right" for clockwise, etc. and everthing will be fine. Also, my late model control box has the Cinch Jones connector - it was quite difficult to add wires to the lugs. My HyGain instructions did not inlcude a wiring diagram for the control box that reflected its actual circuitry - it showed the orginal, "dumb" wiring without brake delay, etc. (!!) Also, be careful when doing the "demolition" phase - make sure you only remove the wires that you are supposed to. If you read the instructions through several times, study the control box, and trace things out carefully before you start, you will be fine. If none of this scares you off, then go for it - it's a great product and project. BTW, I built the orginal Idiom Press keyer from a QST article many years ago and still have found nothing better.
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N0MN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 26, 2011 14:47
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Works Great!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I ordered the assembled Rotor-EZ w/RS232 interface to install in my brand new Ham-IV rotator. The instructions were very simple to follow and I had it ready to test in about an hour. I fully expected to have problems because of past experiences with electronic gadgetry but, much to my delight, everything worked perfectly. I tested it with Logic 8 and once I changed the default 2 stop bits to 1 stop bit, it worked great.
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NA1P
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 21, 2010 05:22
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Great product Great support
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought the Rotor-EZ kit plus RS-232 and the LED kit. It went together in about 3 hours. It took much longer wiring it up to the box then it did building the board. I had some problems with it and e-mailed Rob. He got right back to me and the support was great. We narrowed it down to the pic chip and he sent me a new one, at no cost, that arrived, cross country, in 3 days. That took care of the problem and the unit works great.
When I purchased the kit, I had questioned the support I would receive after viewing some of the reviews here. He said he did have some problems after taking over the company and assured me it was resolved. He sure was there when I needed help. Thanks Rob, great product and great support.
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WA7KGX
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 16, 2010 10:22
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Really cool
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Ordered one at the Seaside convention this summer.
The sale was delayed because the board had to be redesigned to avoid a part that had gone out of production. I've been on the receiving end of a chip EOL myself so I can appreciate the pain.
I installed it into a CDE HAM II control box. The meter's binding posts were too big for the board. I rearranged the box with the board ending up behind the switches. I also got blue LEDs for the directional indicators. They look really cool with red illumination on the meter.
This is not a beginner's Heathkit by a long shot. The board went together and worked the first time. I have been using it for some time now. I plan on using the RS232 part any day now.
I would not hesitate to get another if got another rotor. Hopefully I will be neater with the front panel next time.
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WB5VCE
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Rating: 1/5
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Oct 15, 2010 16:31
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Great until it breaks...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I own two of their products and they work as advertised. The Rotor-EZ works nicely but obviously like many things built today the current owner of Idiom Press must believe his products to be throw away. It's design is lacking in the protection provided the PIC chip from transients on the leads that read the rotor position pot. I have a well protected station with a grounding system close to cellular spec's. The rotor cable is protected at two points with ICE protection blocks. A near by lightning strike damaged the PIC chips ability to determine position due to this lack of transient protection. Nothing else in the shack damaged. I have been trying for three months to get a response from Idiom Press to purchase a replacement PIC chip at all the published numbers with no luck. It appears it's a sales only company. I am back to using my spare stock rotor control box. People complain about MFJ/Ameritron. I can call them and get a part for anything they make and have it within a week. Poor customer service is inexcusable. I will spend no more money with Idiom Press and can't at this point recommend their products.
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N1NCO
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Rating: 3/5
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Sep 14, 2010 12:00
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Great Kit. Easy to build, but their service is bad.
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I modified my HyGain rotator controller using the Idiom Press Rotor-EZ Kit. The instructions were very good and the kit was easy to build. As an antenna rotator it worked first time. The only problem I had and still have is getting the serial line connection to work. I have performed all the diagnostic checks suggested in the documentation, including removing the processor chip and joining together the serial input and output pins at the chip socket. It all works and I can loop back data by doing this showing that the intervening level convertors, wiring and cable are correct. This leaves the microprocessor chip itself, which seems to work in all respects except it's serial line interface. It's either the chip itself or a bug in the code that accesses the chips UART.
I have tried multiple times to contact Idiom Press, by phone - never any answer, but I left several messages - no response. Also by email a number of times, but no response whatever. I have given up at this point. I now have a very fine anntena rotator controller, much better than the original, but since the main purpose of buying this kit was to be able to contol the rotator from software, I am very disappointed.
Bottom line: It's a great kit, well thought out and easy to build and add on the and existing HyGain controller, but don't hold your breath about getting any help from Idiom Press, if something goes wrong!
If anyone from Idiom Press reads this, please feel free to contact me at n1nco@arrl.net , I'd love to get it fixed!
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WY3X
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 27, 2009 18:49
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Echo everyone else
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The kit contained less parts than most QRP kits. Took me around 6 hours between numerous incoming phone calls to get it all assembled. It probably would have taken only 4 hours if not for the interruptions. The circuit board is well-engineered, although mis-marked. They apologized in the documentation for a silk-screening error that could cause you to install some diodes backwards. All I can say is that I wish I had done this to my vintage 1979 TailTwister rotor a LONG time ago!!! I really have a slick setup now! I got all options; LED lighting and RS-232 interface. You may as well too, since you have to admit, it's a major undertaking to remove and re-install those 8 wires on the rear panel of the rotor control box! The factory bulb was not bright enough for me to be able to read the degree scale. No problem after installing the LED kit and setting it for medium brightness! It's really a winning combination!
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N0YK
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 4, 2009 22:43
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Turns the Ham IV into a Cadillac!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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When I read the description for this modification off Idiom Press's web site, I was a little skeptical on this working flawlessly with my ole Ham IV controller. I went ahead and ordered the kit with the serial option and the LED lightning kit. I did the LED mod first, was very easy and works well. Then onto the EZ rotor modification, at first glance, I was thinking I should have had Norms Rotor service do this. But, after about 3 hours of diligent work, with wires all over the place, everything came together nicely.
I would recommend this to anyone that doesn't mind basic kit building and is good with a soldering iron. This really is a great modification to the Hy-Gain rotors, works very well and I'm now controlling my rotor remotely via Ham Radio Deluxe.
Very Nice and worth the cash!
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KB1NXE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 19, 2009 19:02
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Now have 2!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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This is the easiest and cheapest way to move your old Hy-Gain rotator control box into the modern age - period.
You can buy the green bird, or you can save most of the money, spend a few hours stuffing a board following excellent directions and make your Ham-XX or Tailtwister work ten times better. Add the RS-232 option and control it from software like HDR! [If you use HDR and have a rotator, you gotta get the RS-232. Talk about click and shoot!]
Do yourself a favor. Order one of these and put it together. Reminded me of the Heathkit days. Oh how I long for the days when a new box from Benton Harbor would arrive.
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WD0EDO
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 25, 2008 13:20
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Smoooooooth
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This has to be one of the sweetest mods available to put real life back into your Hy-Gain rotor. Using the RS-232 option makes this a real treat to use. When utilized with Ham Radio Deluxe and DM-780 software, turning your antenna is just a mouse click away.
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