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Reviews For: Yaesu G-800S & SDX

Category: Antenna Rotators & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Yaesu G-800S & SDX
Reviews: 47MSRP: 275.
Description:
17 sq. ft. wind load rotator
Product is in production
More Info:
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15474.5
K3ICH Rating: 2006-11-18
Second Owner and STILL works great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this rotor from a friend who had ZERO problems over about 5 years of service. Same with me for two more years. I think it's a very good value when compared to what has happened to Hy-Gain/MFJ. I especially like the over 360' rotation feature.

As to Yaesu warrantee, try buying a car off the lot and telling the dealer a year later that there's a problem. Get real!!
K9IUQ Rating: 2006-11-17
4 years and Still ticking Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Anyone who buys new Equipment and doesn't at least check it out deserves the "too bad response"
Have had my G-800DXA for 4 years, NO problems, its accurate and reliable. Also compared to Hy-Gain offerings it is priced reasonable. Buy one - but don't wait a year before trying it out - thats not too smart.
K3ASK Rating: 2005-12-28
Excellent Rotor Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Excellent Rotor, well worth it. Has gone through a lot of wind storms and survived well. Would recommend to anyone wanting a fairly inexpensive rotor.
N2UOG Rating: 2005-11-13
800S Good Rotor Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my 800S back in 1993 when I was first licensed and I've been using it ever since, It's gone through some cold winters when I used to live on Long Island and a couple of hot summers now that im in Florida. The only problem I've experienced is that sometimes the direction indicator will sometimes do a "little Dance" back and forth on the controler and a couple of times the needle swung all the way to the left to the bottom (South) position when first turned on, The beam was pointed North but never turned. I shut the controler off then turned it on again and the needle returned to the correct (North)position where the beam was pointed in the first place, I wonder if anyone else has had this problem if yes, I'd sure like to hear from you and what you found out, I kinda suspect that one of the little copper threads of connecting wire might be touching another pin on the rotor connection and that might be causing this problem. I'd like to hear from anyone with their comments on this issue. please contact me at N2UOG@AOL.COM Thanks
K3ROJ Rating: 2005-09-18
Confused at first Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I purchased my new 800SA last month (August 2005) from HRO along with 60 feet of 6 conductor rotor wire. What a surprise I had when the plug only had 4 pins to wire up. HRO wasn't aware of this change but luckily they took the expensive wire back. I then went to Home depot and got some #16 4 wire cable. This rotor will only be used for setting up in the field or while roving so the cable exterior doesn't matter. A small inverter from Wal Mart was used to operate the rotor from the vehicle batteries. It worked perfectly during the ARRL VHF/UHF contest turning three beams including a 5 element 6 meter beam. Once set up the calibrated dial can be accurately set when the 6 digit grid section is known.
KB5PQL Rating: 2005-06-14
Excellent Time Owned: more than 12 months.
It've had the G-800S since 1998 and have never had a problem with it. Last year I took the HF beam down and installed the rotator back up in my new QTH and learned a few things about the rotator. First, after about 7 years of service the bearings were dry. I cleaned and repacked the bearings with grease and it was good-to-go. This rotator is well built on the inside. I also learned that the harsh south texas weather will corrode aluminum quickly. However, stripping down the lose paint and repainting it just gave it at least another 10 years of service. This new QTH doesn't allow for towers so the rotator was mast mounted and is now moving a 2m SSB antenna. This rotator is so versitle you can use it in heavy duty or light duty applications. If you're thinking about a rotator I give it a 5. Yaesu rotators are nice and do the job.
NK6R Rating: 2005-05-19
Very Impressed Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have always use the "usual" (H-4/T-twist) rotors and service them regularly. The past few years all the antenna weight has been supported by the thrust bearing, so the the only [work] the rotor had to do was turn the Mosley TA-53M+40M add-on, mounted on a 32'x3" boom, with two Force-12 40M elements as reflector and director, plus a 15' boom supporting a 6-el 6M quad w/ 10el 2M (inside the 6M elements) on an old windsurfing mast, and about 14' above the HF hy-brid. I have at the LEAST 12 SQFT up there! About a month ago I fell into a deal to get this 800DXA for a few pennies. Reluctant to change out what was "working", I wanted the nice Yaesu control box added to the shack to go with my ICOM gear. This posting is about the excellent torgue I see capable and all the antennas, my entire array mounts to a US Tower MA-550/55' tubular crank, resting on a thrust-bearing. The winds here during storms or the Spring time can get very gusty and the Yaesu rotor moves it slow or fast like the antenna is not even connected! For the first few days I felt compelled to look out the shack window and check that the antenna did indeed move! Very quiet and effective, just the best rotor I have vere owned!!
W3OZ Rating: 2005-04-29
Over worked but great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Just like the famous watch, “it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.” I am really ashamed of myself how bad I have treated this rotator over the years. Listen to this. I have 10 meter, 15 meter, 20 meter and 40 meter (2 element) beams on one mast sticking out of a 60 foot tower. All being turned by this Yaesu G-800S rotator. It has been operating like this for over 8 years. The 20 meter beam has a boom length of over 32 feet. Just figure out how overloaded it is and it has never ever broken down or missed a beat.

I had planned on putting it up to see how it would work out seeing that it was about 1/3 the price of a rotator that I should have gotten. I figured that I could replace it 3 times for the same price. I did put a thrust bearing on top of the tower and one just above the rotator. If it breaks down tomorrow, I am still way ahead of the game. Could not recommend a rotator more than this one. By the way I broke up 2 tail twisters before I got this rotator.
K5TUE Rating: 2005-01-27
reliable as garage door opener Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Always there, always works.

N5RNY
N0GW Rating: 2005-01-07
Works Great! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been using my G-800SA for a year now. I use it to rotate a Tennadyne T6 at 55 feet. It has held up very well with that light load.

As for the comment about overlap in a previous review, The overlap may be placed anywhere you like. You simply mount the antenna in the rotator so that the travel stops are where you would like them. You then simply pull the control box indicator needle and reinstall it so it points to whatever bearing your antenna is pointing at the time.

For reference, the K-factor thing is calculated as follows: Turning Radius in meters multiplied by the sum of antenna and mast weight in kilograms. For the G-800 series rotators, the K-factor must be 180 or less. This calculation provides an approximation of the rotating mass that rotator must deal with.

In addition to the K-factor limit, antenna wind load limit is about 21 Sq Ft when a mast bearing is used above the rotator. (as with in-tower rotator mounting) Maximum allowed wind load when no bearing above the rotator is used is much lower, as is the case with all rotators.