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| Reviews Summary for EA4TX Antenna Rotator System |
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Reviews: 38
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $120. USD
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Description: The ARS will allow to control ANY antenna rotator (Azimuth &
Elevation) from a computer. Even if you are only interested on HF arrays,
the ARS will allow it. Supported from most programs as DX4WIN, WriteLog, Nova, ...
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More info: http://www.ea4tx.com
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write your own review of the EA4TX Antenna Rotator System.
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G8DQZ
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Rating: 5/5
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May 23, 2006 04:00
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GREAT SUPPORT
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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After my earlier review I would like to make this addition.
Within the software there are a number of pre-sets for parking the antennas. I like to park mine at 195 degrees for various reasons. Last Friday I e-mailed to Pablo to see if this could be done. Further I asked him if I could have a button on my desk top, which I hit at station closedown, and that would park the antenna to where ever I wanted.
Pablo said leave it to him over the weekend and he would see what he could do. On Monday I received an E-Mail with a programme called ARSTURN. After installing that (with a few hic cups, my fault not Pablo's) I now have what I want. At station closedown I hit this new button, my antenna moves to the parking position (which the user can select) and the software switches off.
NOW IS THAT SERVICE OR IS THAT SERVICE??
I absoutly 110% reccommend this programme!
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G8DQZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 21, 2006 03:06
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Great Product Great Support
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have the original model with just azimuth control, this is operated directly from my logging software DX4WIN. It has worked very well and been everything that I had hoped for. Pablo has replied to my questions within minutes sometimes but never with anyform of delay.
I have had this unit up and running for many years now, I housed it in a small alumninium box hard wired it to my Yaseau DXC1000 and forgot about it! Last saturday my computer crashed, I lost all my loaded programmes and it took me and PC World 2 days to get it running again.
So I spent time reloading all the software, including ARSWIN, this time I loaded the latest vesrion 2.2a, having checked with Pablo first that it would work. So I am an old customer only made this one purchase from Pablo and years later he replies within hours! This new software works perfectly with the older board, just a few words of advice from Pablo was necessary.
One other issue is that I needed 2 LPT ports, using an XP computer the software does funny things to the address for any add on PCI LPT cards, Pablo's new software now allows for this and makes communication easy using a custom LPT port!
The software also now alows the 90 degree overlap to be used.
This product just gets better! Well done Pablo, I 100% recommend this product, go for it !
Tony G8DQZ/M0DQZ
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M5BXB
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 7, 2005 03:18
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Simply superb!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Recently I decided that an excursion to the satellites were in order as a way of trying something new. Working the sats is great fun, but hard work if you don't automate your station.
After finding a suitable satellite tracking program called SatPC32, I set about the task of finding a rotator interface. My rotator is a Yaesu G-1000DXC. Yaesu manufacture a unit called the GS-232A which in the UK is priced at £449 which is the same as buying the rotator! Not prepared to spend this much money, I came accross the RCI-SE and ARSWIN by Pablo, EA4TX.
I had questions so I emailed Pablo a few times before buying the board. Pablo has always been very responsive and informative in his replies. I purchased the RCI-SE AZ 8 bits unit. It arrived within one week of ordering online in a very tidy, but strong box with foam padding to protect the board. Also the board was enclosed in a special anti-static bag. Enclosed with the board was a CD containing the ARSWIN software, instructions in PDF format, details of other compatible programs, and a good quality lead(DB25 to DB25)to connect the board to the PC's parrallel port.
So far so good. I wired the board to my controller, and installed the software. I found the unit would not function correctly. After corresponding with Pablo, we realised the pin-out meanings for the controller were back to front, so after re-wiring, the unit worked. There was still one problem. The speed control was stuck in slow. Again Pablo came up with the answer that the AUX relay needed +V instead of being grounded. So now I have the unit fully working and is intergrated with SatPC32. The RCI-SE needs to be calibrared when you first use it so that ARSWIN and the controller show the same beam heading. This proceedure has been made very simple and takes just a couple of minutes.
ARSWIN has 10 memories which can be easily edited so you can select directions preset by the user by pressing one of the funtion keys with the shift key. You can also get the direction by selecting a country name, prefix, or locator.
This integrates great with SatPC32. Working together, tracking the satellites is very easy and very accurate. My controller has a 90 degree overlap facility which ARSWIN cators for. I know of another interface from Germany (Winroter) which will not allow for overlap. Not good if a satellite travels from NW to NE through north.
Using the interface via the ARSWIN control program has made a world of difference to myself. I suffer from arthritis and holding the left or right buttons on the controller is a thing of the past and means less pain!
Thanks to Pablo for a truly great product and for his helpful assistance both before and after the purchase. Great price too!
Steve M5BXB
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K0KVR
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 20, 2005 09:22
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Great product and support
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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After learning that I could control my 35 year old Cornell-dubilier rotator with the old style HAMM M control unit from my computer, I purchased the EA4TX RCI-SE rotator board and installed it with the Arswin software. It arrived at my QTH within a week of ordering and was well packed. The documentation is great with examples for wiring almost every rotator known to man. Mine, however, had been modified with a homebrew addon due to a faulty switch and bad breaking system so I had to do some extra work to figure out how it would be wired. I emailed Pablo, EA4TX, at least 10 times and he always responded within hours to answer my questions. I used the circuits in the right, aux, and left relays as well as the second circuits in two of the relays to control all the old manual switching. It works great, even with the homebrew control box added by the prior owner. The software installed without a hitch and also works well. In addition the ARSWIN also interfaces to TRX-MANAGER so, now, when I see a spot I can right click for the azimuth from my QTH, and then click on the rotator and it turns my antenna to the exact location I need to be at to work the station.
Thanks Pablo. Great job.
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VK4ZV
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 15, 2005 08:02
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My experience with Ars az unit
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have the Az unit only.
My dealings with Pablo have been by e-mail. Any e-mail I have sent has been answered expeditiously and pleasantly. The same applies to the unit I ordered. It took just ONE week to arrive at my QTH in Australia and I do not live in a city. On opening the package I was struck by the neatness of the RCI-SE. It didn't take long to work out the method of interfacing to my rotator a KR400 (probably 30 years old) and my computer. Horror of horrors, the unit would not move the rotator! A bit of fishing led me to the conclusion that I needed to have the AC motor start capacitor across the motor. This wasn't shown in the documentation, but once I moved it from the rotator control box to the output of the RCI-SE everything ran smoothly. I decided that because the RCI-SE connected via a parallel port I would install an add-on PCI card to use with it and my AEA ST-1 unit. I made the mistake of trying to give LPT2 and LPT3 parallel port addresses when they should have been given an address from the PCI card Resources list. My next error was not to contact Pablo when I was unable to change the address in the Custom address field in the ARS software. When I finally did I was sent (post haste I might add) updates to the software to allow me to do this. All is now operational with ARS using Parallel port 3, AEA-ST1 Parallel port 2 and the printer Parallel port 1. I am pleased with the product. Any glitches I have had have been of my own making - not reading directions properly or reading what I wanted to read and not what was there in front of my eyes. I would certainly recommend Pablo's product, in fact I am thinking of buying the Az-El unit in case my AEA-ST1 becomes unreliable.
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WA3GIN
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 27, 2005 06:00
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Well Engineered HDWR and SFWR
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've been using the EA4TX rotor control for over three years. The system is installed in a remote location in my barn in the country. No HVAC. The hardware is exposed to freezing temps in the winter and over 100 degrees and high humidity in the summer. I use it as part of my Internet Remote Amateur Radio (IRAR) station. It has performed flawlessly throughout this period of time. Over the years I have upgraded the software without problems. If I have a question Pablo is quick to answer them.
This unit is operating a Tailtwister rotator.
It doesn't get any better than this! I highly recommend this product to anyone thinking about building a remote station or even for a less challenging installation.
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VR2OH
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 26, 2005 21:31
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right on target !
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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When you add system simplicity and reliability, top documentation, adaptability of the system and the devotion-like service of EA4TX, you are happy with your reasonable spent for the product. As simple as that
73
Olivier
VR2OH, now 9V1OA
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W6WTG
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 30, 2004 12:11
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Great product for the rotor
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have purchased a 10 bit ARS board for EA4TX to work on the Ham IV Rotor and it has worked 100 percent. I havent had any problems and it makes it a breeze to control the antennas via the ARSWIN program.
I was so happy with the product that I purchased a second ARS board for Yaesu G5500 rotor for the satellite system.
I did have a couple of questions and emailed Pablo and recived advice back the next day. Wished everyone would respond this fast.
I am using these on the internet remote base and they dont miss abeat.
THANKS PABLO for the great product and service/
Terry W6WTG
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KB6MHK
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 13, 2004 14:24
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If you work with amateur or weather satellites go get EA4TX ...
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I ordered the 8 bits controller before the day Pablo was going to take his 2 weeks vacation. He was nice enough to mail the unit right away. I pick the 8 bits unit because I cannot take advantage of the 10 bits precision given I can neither level the antenna or align the antenna precisely. Anyway, the package arrived in 1 week. I studied the well written document carefully. The English is bit CONTINENTAL. Given my foreign background, I have no problem understanding it. Finding a enclosurer is a problem. However, I found an outdated modem box that has a rs232 connector opening, a DC input connector and a 3/4 in hole. That works well for the controller for I can fit the parallel connector on the board thru the rs232 connector opening. I use KR-5400A for elevation control (the az motor was weather damaged so unused). I use the Yaesu-800 for az controller. Connecing the controller to the 5400 is duck soup for the 5400 has external control using DIN as connector. Interfacing to the 800 is far more complicated. There is no step by step (the Heathkit type) instruction. However, the given circuit is quite clear to any practising ham. I put in a 9 pin rs-232 female connector at the back of the 800 replacing the removable metal plate. I cut some internal wires and connect some to the 9 pins connector. When I first tested the whole setup, it did not work. Then I realised I had to connect V- from the az & el pot inputs to the ground the problem was resolved. For software, I use Satpc32 running on an old IBMThinkpad 380ED with Windows 95. Now I can enjoy FO-29, Echo.. with both my hands free. Thanks! Pablo!
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W4MY
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 20, 2004 22:06
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Outstanding Product, Outstanding support
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I read all the other reviews, would never have sent my money overseas had it not been for the many good comments here.
My application is simply azimuth to turn my tribander. Great documentation, quality materials, best customer service on the planet. I know Pablo has many customers, but felt as if I were the only one!
Depending on your rotator this is not a "plug and play" device. A soldering iron and Fluke meter is definately needed! I got it calibrated and going in one day, next is getting it packaged for its permanent place.
Buy this product with confidence.
73 Marty W4MY
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