Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Yaesu G-800S & SDX

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 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
W5AJ Rating: 2004-11-22
mis-represented Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
hopefully U are reading this before U buy.
One ad says 17sq. ft. rated but the manual has the very limiting Yaesu "K" factor that you must calculate.
While the ad says 17sq.ft the antenna for example the 2 element cushcraft 40 is slightly above the "K" limit but the antenna is only 5.5 sq ft.
This maybe more of a function of dealer - check Yaesu web page for K factor data.
My rotator box only uses FOUR of the pins for the rotator cable so check that out before you run out and buy 5 or 6 wire cable!! and the 450deg with 90degree overlap. U can't pick the overlap area is fixed in the SW quarter - while other SE qtr would be much more useful imho.
the other item is my friend with busted rotator tells me Yaesu uses nylon main gear rather then steel.
F1BZF Rating: 2004-05-26
Good rotator Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bought used but in fine condition 7 years ago. Used to rotate KLM 13LBA (6 meters boom) and 50Mhz 5 elements yagi. works always fine. Added Idiom Press RS232 computer control (Best buy). May be oversized for this use, but problem free.
Only spray with WD-40 for protection.
ON4MGY Rating: 2004-05-26
Does the job. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've bought a 800S rotator 3 years ago to turn my 50 and 144MHZ beams.
The rotator is maybe oversized for the antennas, but works just great.
I haven't had a single problem with it. I used to have only Yaesu ham gear in the shack, but I've left Yaesu for the radios. I'll keep my Yaesu rotator!!

73 ON4MGY Nic
N3YV Rating: 2004-02-11
after all this years!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
after all this years still like new ,not rust anywhere in the rotor the paint on it still like the day I open the box ,and the control box looks and works perfect and it`s been 4 years since I got it,,,simply a super rotor.
ON4ZY Rating: 2004-01-18
Very good rotator at bargain price. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought my G-800 DXA just a little bit more than three months ago from HRO.
At 400$ (that's 322 euros!).
Just for example, the G-650C has a list price of 550 euros or 681$ in UK... Good to know, the 110VAC to 220VAC conversion is easily done by just moving a wire on the transformer.
This should convince the european dealers to reduce their prices on the low range of yaesu rotators as more and more fellow european HAM's will now buy them in the US.
It is now turning a TH3-JRN at 45 feet and two phased 11 elements 144 MHz antenna (similar to cc 13B2) on a 15 feet boom. The winds we have in south Belgium, 1800 feet AGL can sometime be very strong, not to mention icing problems. The previous rotator was a AR-303 from Hy-Gain and it passed out after only 1 month, rotating the TH3-JRN only.
I'm extremely happy with the G-800 DXA and even if it's true that the preset function is a little bit pricy, the variable speed is a must on VHF when precise antenna pointing is required. I was really surprised that, even during strong winds, the pointing direction didn't change at all, on the contrary of what can be seen with cheaper rotators as the G-450.
I truly recommend this rotator to those having modest antenna requirements, as it seems to be built to last for a while.
BRUCE Rating: 2004-01-07
Terrific Rotator Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I live on the tiny remote Island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean and I have owned the G800S for 4 years at 40' on my tower, it supports (indirectly) a Force 12 C4E, a Force 12 WARC 2/2 & a Cushcraft AR270B. During tower maintenance a while back I took off the rotator and inadvertently turned it upside down, one of the ball bearings came loose from somewhere and ran about - but a couple of years on it's still

turning. As someone previously pointed out it does turn much faster than some rotators (like my previous Alliance - don't hold your breath, which in the majority of cases is very good - like chasing a DX station. I opted for the cheaper version the G800S without the presets, nice to have, but perhaps not worth paying extra for (just my opinion). Value for money though this rotator can't be beat @ $319.00.
Living on a remote Island far from civilisation means purchasing reliable equipment - so I always check out Eham.net to see what other hams have to say.
It's got my vote
DL0USB Rating: 2003-10-11
Works well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In the past years prices for these rotators exploded. The only bad is ergo the price. We got this rotator several years ago for about € 350 (KENPRO, not YAESU). Today one has to pay twice as much here in DL.
It works very well and it really makes not much noise. No failure within about 7 years.
N1JAO Rating: 2003-10-08
Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is a great rotor. What I like best about them is the ability to control the speed at which you are turning your antenna. This is so valuable as far as I am concerned, if you know how to read that is. I recommend these rotors, oh and look at the specs for yourself and decide. Oh yeah check out the picture and not the "speed control" feature for yourselves.
http://www.rrcom.com/pictures/Rotors/g800sa.html
Robert
N1JAO

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N1JAO on 2002-12-24

My G-800DXA has been turning an A3S at 52 feet since July,2002. So far it has been trouble free, and I really like the cool display. I turn it pretty slowly, and do not change directions quickly, so I hope that helps it live a long time.

Robert
N1JAO
K5YC Rating: 2003-09-30
TURNS TOO FAST! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
OWN G800SA rotator turning TH5 5 ele tribander and 13 ele vhf beam. Easliy turns them but with lightning speed. Any way to slow unit down? Can't pin point vfh stations. ALSO have trouble with indicator direction being wrong after a few rotations as the KG4 station above. Didn't have any trouble with wiring cable. Unit should last a long time. Will know when high winds come next year! Mounting hole different from old Ham iv. A little tricky to get everything aligned in tower.
Can't give it a 5 because of turning speed and indicator error.
KQ4KK Rating: 2003-07-02
NO problems in 10 years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had a 800sdx on a pole turning a Mosely 53 since JULY 1993. Works great, never have had a problem with it. Thinking about adding a low cost computer control to it.