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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
KE9K Rating: 2005-12-14
A REAL HYGAIN !!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Not a MFJ hygain will last a long time with no repairs. Mine has been working great for 17 years. Joe ke9k
VE4MM Rating: 2005-11-26
NO PROBLEMS Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This one is not MFJ.

So far so good.

Mike
W6FCS Rating: 2005-11-18
No more MFJ for me Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
After a little use, the direction indicator went out - ie - Brake, left, and right lites stayed on. Call tech support - he knew what the problem was right away. Because so many had that problem? It was the internal relay for the direction indicator. Sent it in and it came back fixed at no charge.
Used it for a few weeks. Then the indicator started to wander around, just drifting and flaky indication. This time problem is with pot in the top of rotator unit. Used w/TH3-MK4 Hy-Gain beam.
N7EKX Rating: 2005-10-28
Completely Reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased a Ham-IV rotator in 1996, for installation within the top section of a Rohn 40-foot tower, using a thrust bearing. The instructions said to place 1/16" shims on the sides of 2" masts before attaching to the rotator, but I ignored that point. The rotator has performed reliably for 9 years now, with the only minor problem being a slightly jumpy bearing indicator on the control panel. The installed antenna is a 2-element quad on an 8' boom, perhaps a little smaller than the Ham-IV's maximum rating. With Hygain being taken over by MFJ, why push your luck, right?
N5KGN Rating: 2004-09-29
Reliable old rotators Time Owned: more than 12 months.
My dad and I have both had Hygain Ham IV rotators for 15-18 yrs. Mine has never had a problem except for corroded screws on rotator terminal strip. (Who hasn't had THAT problem?)

My dad's rotator quit working a few weeks ago. We didn't know initially if it was the rotator or the Pro-Search controller he used with it. It turns out that the whole shebang took a power surge and the only things that died were the power fuse in the controller and the rotator motor.

I got a new motor, installed it, cleaned and relubed the bearings. Aside from a little balky operation from the new motor, after a break-in period all it now well with the Ham IV.

Extremely reliable and easy to repair.
AB7UW-MONTANA Rating: 2003-12-25
excellent Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
This rotator replaced a problem laden yaesu 800 series that I purchased first. Im here to tell you that the rotor has performed as promised. The installation and soldering of the connections was very simple. Overall a solid example of a simple straightforward American design that pervails because it hasnt been "improved upon" like so many other brands have been. It appears tht MFJ has had a hands off style when it came to owning and controling Hy-gain. Keep it up! A quality product! Vaughn N1XV ex AB7UW
WR8D Rating: 2003-10-11
25 years old Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I'm using one that is 25 years old with a big 2 meter quad..never has a problem at all. I put up a new tower 5 years ago and installed a big hf quad antenna with a new ham IV and the new one is just like the old 25 year veteran. "no problems at all"
AA4PB Rating: 2003-10-11
Reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've used a Ham IV for many years. The first one lasted about 15 years - then it was only a worn direction pot. Rather than do the tower thing twice, I purchased a new one from one of the rotor rebuild companies with the condition that I could return my old one for a rebate when I got it down. That one's been up about 10 years now and still going.

I seriously doubt that that MFJ jumped in there and redesigned the Ham IV to make it cheaper and less reliable. Direction pots have been a common problem for a long time - but they usually fail after years, not months.

I'd put in a call to one of the companies that specialize in rebuilding rotors to see if they can give you some pointers (the warrenty period has expired anyway). Check all your connections and wires. A bad connection could cause the break not to release and the rotor not to turn as could a bad motor start capacitor in the control box.
NX2R Rating: 2003-10-11
ham4 failure Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased my Hi Gain Ham 4 rotator 14 months ago and up until a few days ago it was working as expected, then my problems began. The control box direction indicator started to act very erratic and in a certain direction it did not register direction.I suspected a bad spot on a failing potentchiometer pot.

The rotator however did turn my beam despite the control box problem. Then two days later the rotator stopped functioning. For those of you who are not aware , the new owners are MFJ, and I suspect it is MFJ quality that is the root cause, but I digress.
I called HyGain time and again for tech help but each and every time I could not get through because the line was busy.

After afew hours of fruitless phoning I called MFJ who told me I should call HyGain, after explaining the busy signal I was given a 800 number. I got the same busy signal every time I called. So back to MFJ who now put me on hold while he attempted to call HyGain. When he returned I was told that they had a phone problem and it was fixed . I was told to call right away and I did. Still the same busy signal. I called MFJ again and re explained my dilemma. The gentleman asked if HyGain could call me when they were available. I am still waiting for that help call.Three days have passed without any response.I then tried calling when I knew they were closed for the day and no one was there to answer my call, as I suspected the phone now rang at the other end. Perhaps HyGain was so overloaded with service calls that they decided to take the phones off the hook so as not to be bothered.

Anyone who has ever installed a beam and rotator realizes that this is a BIG job that requires the help of at least one more person. Having said that I believe it is incumbent on rotator manufacturers to produce a trouble free product that will last quite a few years maintenance free. I decided not to spend any more money on a poor quality product as I no longer had any faith in it working for an extended period. So I have another brand rotator on order. I will not however attempt a product review on it as a year or two is no indication of its ability to perform over the long haul.
VE3YF Rating: 2002-07-17
Excellent & Reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hi:
I have been using mine for about 7 years now and not one problem with it. It has been working in all weather from -40 to +40 Celcius temps as well as some pretty good wind storms. I wish that all equipment was as reliable. I don't know what the quality of the current run of Ham-IV's are since being made by MFJ, but would definately buy another one.

73 De Mike
VE3YF