Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Yaesu G450A Rotor

Category: Antenna Rotators & Accessories

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Yaesu G450A Rotor
Reviews: 9MSRP: 299.95
Description:
Our new entry-level rotator is perfect for small tribanders, or for VHF and UHF antennas. Its total rotation range is 360°.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=104&encProdID=9CD2145C24AE53C5A6C62D7D703A9F3C&DivisionID=65
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0094.2
VA3LUK Rating: 2021-10-09
Made in Japan Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am the owner of this rotor for a few weeks, I use it for the antenna for 2 m. The manual explains the operation very well, as well as the installation of the rotor and adjustment on the mast. The rotor requires only 4 conductor cable 20 awg with lengths up to 40 meters and 18 awg above. Made in Japan. Solid workmanship.
ZL2AUA Rating: 2018-07-28
Fine rotator for low-windage antennas Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought mine second-hand a few years ago. It swings a heavy-duty Spiderbeam and a 6-metre 5-element yagi with no worries at all.
It recently misbehaved, and I discovered that the pot in the rotator (which tells the controller where the antenna is pointing) has a tiny wire connecting the wiper to the centre terminal. This inconspicuous wire had broken off.
I took the opportunity to replace the slightly dodgy control cable with a new five-conductor cable. The book says you must use a six-wire, but the number one pin in the Molex connector on the back of the controller is not connected to anything—actually, it's not even present in the connector—so a five-wire cable suffices perfectly well.
It's also worth noting that the parts diagram published by Yaesu has an exploded view of the wrong controller, which is particularly unhelpful.
W0BKR Rating: 2018-02-15
Decent Rotor a bit over $ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had the predecessor and unfortunately got fried by lightning. This one is a cheap build but seems to work okay. I was looking for the rotor to mast plate/clamp and there isn't one. You use the u-bolts supplied to anchor the mast to the rotor. A bit concerning but will see how it works. Overall, seems like a nice enough rotor.
W2JUV Rating: 2017-08-01
Works Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This unit has been on my tower for just over 7 years and does the job in all types of weather. The repeat accuracy when rotating from east to west and back again is almost perfect.
K1PJR Rating: 2017-07-31
Very nice rotor. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I saw a youtube video and the op changed the console connector to a terminal block. I did the same. I just drilled two holes to attach the block and put a grommet in the hole where the original connector was. The internal wires were long enough to attach to the block. It was an easy install. Looks like it was factory installed and easy to attach the wires.
N2SLO Rating: 2017-07-31
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased this rotor for my main array. With three antennas (all VHF/UHF), the rotor handles the wind load just fine. As previous reviewer noted, a known issue is with the connector. I knew about this in advance, so I purchased premade rotor feed line with connectors. Saved me a big headache and time. Rotor performs as expected, no issues. For under $300 a bargain. You can see my set-up on QRZ.
K8QV Rating: 2017-07-31
Just Buy The Cable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have to agree that the control cable connector is a huge issue. The rotor is very competitively priced and performs well, but you might as well decide up front to just add in the cost of an appropriate length of dedicated cable with connectors already installed. It's well worth the savings in frustration. I have no clue why the manufacturer uses this odd connector scheme.
K4LIX Rating: 2017-07-31
Rear Cable connector Time Owned: more than 12 months.
The rotor is fine - BUT the tiny 6-pin molex is not acceptable - why didn't they use the standard 6-pin molex like is used on the older Icoms, Kenwoods, and Yaesus - I removed it, enlarged the hole and put in a 6-pin Cinch-Jones female and I mounted a 6-pin barrier strip on the back along with the Chinch-Jones - both in parallel with each other.
K6NXI Rating: 2017-07-31
Horrible connector. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The connector on the back of the controller is an absolute piece of crap. It's an incredibly chincy molex connector and even after soldering the wires to the delicate pins and inserting them it is next to impossible to get them to seat correctly in the connector and if you do get them to seat they will either not make contact, push the contacts in the controller side of the connector back out into the box or the wires pull back out of the cable side of the connector. The connector on the rotor itself ia much higher quality although a pain in the ass to solder.