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Reviews For: Hygain Ham IV

Category: Antenna Rotators & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Hygain Ham IV
Reviews: 44MSRP: 529.95
Description:
15 sq. ft. wind load rotator
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.hy-gain.com/products.php?prodid=HAM-IV
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00444.2
WD8OOJ Rating: 2016-07-28
5 Stars Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Ive had mine in a tower at 45ft with a TH6DXX since 1978 and still turning with no service required.
And id buy another one .
PY2KNK Rating: 2016-07-28
Medium Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I expected more from a HAM IV, HAM's many around the world say it is the most famous, robust and simple rotor there.

Good bought a HAM which used for less than 6 months (almost new), and sold me, was purchased in 2012, according to the manufacturer label.

Not had much luck, problems with brake solenoid, fought the rotor in a certain position, stop turning suddenly, made a noise in control, something seemed wrong.

I decided to investigate, opened the rotor found that between one of the wheels was missing a washer, then worked rubbing a gear in the other without lubrication, and the rotor was engaged in various positions without having any antenna weight.

Well, put the washer between the gears were also replaced with brake solenoid, did the tests, made a new lubrication when turned held hands and I could not stop it, looks very strong and functioning normally.

Now he is saved, you will get a spare rotor or perhaps for portable operations.

MFJ quickly sent all the required parts, and provided a good service.

I hope to in the future to a better grade for HAM IV.

73

PY2KNK
EA5OM Rating: 2015-10-13
About 30 years and like first day. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Mounted 30 years ago inside tower with a heavy 25,5kg 3 Elements AH-15 10-15-20mts , 9 Elements VHF, 15 Elements UHF and Yaesu Satellite rotor without any problem. Congratulations Hy-Gain.
K9PLK Rating: 2015-03-18
BEST ROTATOR Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Had mine up 25 years no problem! Have a Mosley TA 33 m full size up on for 25 years no problems ! This when HY GAIN owned them not sure about the new ones! Had to rebuild the Mosley but not the rotator! Mosley still play well!
FORMER_W3AMF Rating: 2014-12-21
It Works and Works Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Mine has a CDE label and is mounted on a rotor plate inside a Universal 9-40 tower. I have a 2" 10-foot steel mast installed on the rotor. The antenna load includes a Mosley TA-33JR, a Hy-Gain 4- element 6 meter yagi, and a 3- element vertical 2 meter yagi. The brake keeps it pointed true north at all times. It works as a rotor should.
KE4WY Rating: 2012-05-05
In use 30 years Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Update 2012, it's now been up 30 years. No issues.
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Well I bought my Ham IV in 1982 when it was CDE before Hy gain bought them out and it's turned several beams over the past 27 years with the heaviest weighing 105 pounds. It's been trouble free other than changing a metering bulb in the control box.

I have thought about having it rebuilt since it's 27 years old but why mess with a perfectly working rotor.
W2MV Rating: 2012-02-15
Excellent but have concerns Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Used a Ham IV for 20+ years without a problem, until hurricane-force gusts damaged the brake. I really can't complain about that.
Replaced the rotor/controller in 2010 after that incident, and so far, so good, but I'm not crazy about the plastic-cased control box. The built-in 5 sec delay is good, however, I'm turning a 60-lb X7 beam and it takes generally at least 10 seconds for it to settle down and stop oscillating back and forth. I usually keep my finger on the brake for at least 10 seconds because of that.
My main concern is the fact that the Ham IV is now under MFJ's umbrella, and the associated quality issues. My Cushcraft is also now under MFJ, although I purchased it before then...not too happy about that either.
N4JA Rating: 2012-01-08
1 BAD 1 GOOD Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I was using an Alliance HD-73 For years to turn several different antennas: TH-6DXX, Lightning Bolt Quad, and a 3-element SteppIR. It worked perfectly until it got hit by lightning. I wanted it to be repaired, but Rotor Norm said he would not repair it if I was going to use it on a SteppIR. Since I have a Green Heron universal control box, I ordered a HY-GAIN Ham IV rotor only from Rotor Norm. Installed it and it worked for 15 minutes. The brake solinoid shorted and would not work. After arguing with Rotor Norm, I sent the rotor back to him and he refunded my money. I ordered another HY-GAIN HAM IV from HRO in Atlanta and it worked perfectly from the get-go. Another case, in my opinion, of shoddy workmanship and materials from a company owned by MFJ.
K3AJ Rating: 2011-03-15
Almost DOA, but fine since... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My Ham IV has been in service almost 2 years. When I received it, I hooked it up and ran it on the bench. It was a good thing I did. It jammed at one end of rotation on its third or fourth round trip. I sent it back to Hy-Gain and got very fast turn-around, an explanation as to what was wrong, and the failed parts. One of the limit switches failed or was loose, and it bent the limit switch bracket and jammed. It has now been up for almost two years with no problem (mounted on a 40 ft Universal tower with thrust bearing turning a Hy-gain Explorer 14 tribander, a 4 element 6 meter beam, and 9 element 2 meter beam). I lived in constant fear of another jam and avoided the end limits religiously. Recently, I modified my controller using the Idiom Press Rotor EZ (see my positive review of that product) which stops the rotator a few degrees short of the limit switches. Bottom line: this is an industry standard product with a long history of good service. Go ahead and buy one, but run it hard on the bench before you put it up. Consider the Idiom Press Rotor EZ to help keep it off the limit switches. It is not a good idea to be running up against them in any case, even if you stay with manual operation.
W2NLS Rating: 2010-11-19
N+New Controller Is Nice! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is my third Ham IV in about 25 years of turning an old TH5-DX. The tower I have has only a top plate for mounting so I can't use a thrust bearing and so I consider 3 in 25 years to be pretty good. Anyway, got the latest one with the built-in brake and the LEDs on the control box and the plugs instead of stripped wires. Assembly of the plugs went very quickly and I love the built-in brake. Also, the new box has two lights instead of one making the meter look a lot nicer. Only problem I had was that the control box was "missing" and LED! I called Hy-Gain and they asked me to pop off the bottom of the box and sure enough the LED had been pushed inside during shipment. All I had to do was to push it back through the panel and it clicked into place. All in all this was always a very good product and now it is better than ever.