Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Alliance HD-73

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 : Alliance HD-73
Reviews: 24MSRP: 499.00
Description:
Medium duty rotator
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.rotor-doc.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00244.8
KA4ETV Rating: 2010-09-13
GREAT ROTOR FOR THE MONEY Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This was the cheapest rotor on the market when I got mine in I believe 89' or so. It turned a 4 element 10 meter beam and stayed up for about 15 years. Planning to use it again for an a3s and a 2m beam soon. The only problem has been the rotor control box light. The bulb go popped in a surge/lighting hit. Norms rotor service does have them. Replaced and working fine. So for this kind of longevity, pretty darn good product.
W7VO Rating: 2010-09-10
20 years and still ticking Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought this rotator new in the early 1990's, and used it to turn a small A4S when I lived in CA. Three years ago I moved to northern OR, and now use it to turn a TH6DXX on a 50 foot Rohn 25 tower (with a Rohn thrust bearing), with a 10 foot mast with a 3 ele 6 meter beam on the very top. This is probably the limit of what this rotator will do, and I was expecting problems with our windy winters here. Hey, I already had the rotator, so if it broke I would replace it with something stronger.....

Well, 3 Oregon winters later it still works flawlessly. Sure, with not much of a brake (the Alliance uses a kind of "disc brake" system) the antenna can change bearings a few degrees with very strong winds, but at least the gears don't break from the wedges that the Hygain rotators use.

During storms I always turn the antenna to face the wind direction, which probably helps.

I have seen these at ham swaps complete with the controller for less than 100 dollars, and my buddy once bought one for $40. What a deal.....
I paid $100 for my "spare".....
N4ZAW Rating: 2009-05-01
Too bad they are out of production! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have one now and have had others in the past. The only thing I don't like about them is the lack of a "stop" on the motor. They are very reliable if installed properly and kept under the winload limit.
N5NPO Rating: 2007-04-21
Works for me! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hello all. I put this used HD-73 up back in late 2005. I got it on 70' of Rohn 25 with a 3 element 17 meter monobander with 2" od 19' boom made from a couple of DB-224 masts. I also have a 6 meter monobander on it with a 6' boom. I got this stacked on a 9' steel mast. Only problem so far is lightening took out a motor winding and some components inside the control box. I had some spare parts, so I re-built. She is back up and still going strong. I have a HAM 3 and a T2X that needs fixing and I may do that, but why hurry, the HD-73 is working great.
AA5TE Rating: 2006-10-24
Excellent for the price Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've owned two of these, got both of them at separate times for about $125 each, including the control box.

They never failed to work, are a better design than a lot of other rotators, and I've never had any problems with these unlike I have with HyGain rotators.
N5XYO Rating: 2005-11-12
Excellent Medium Duty Rotator! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had 2 to 3 of these up on towers at one time or another and I've only had to pull 1 rotor and that was only due to a lightning hit knocking out the bearing pot. (I only pulled it as I had to redo everything up there anyway...)It was on that 100 ft. tower for well over 10 years. Presently I have two in use and they just keep on ticking.
I keep a couple extra in storage for that "just in case" situation. The HD73 is underrated in capacity because I have more than 10 sqft of antennas on them and I don't use a thrust bearing. This was one one the best values I've ever found in amateur radio!
W6HB Rating: 2005-08-24
Good choice... Time Owned: more than 12 months.
...still a good rotator line and available from Norm's Rotor.
AB5GU Rating: 2005-08-23
can't break'em Time Owned: more than 12 months.
4 in the air for 13 years, no problems yet! Wish you could still get them.
KI6LO Rating: 2005-08-23
Keeps on working and working Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I picked up a used one on eBay a couple of years ago and it is mounted OUTSIDE the top of a small tower turning a 2 element 5 band Delta Loop quad antenna. It's been through 60-70+ mph wind gusts and exposed to subfreezing and 116 F degree summer temps and hasn't even flinched.

I had one years ago and same solid results. Only thing that kills these is Mother Nature and a solid lightning strike.
KB0GU Rating: 2005-06-24
Finally broke! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
After years of reliable service turning an A3S at heights anywhere from 20 to 50 foot in the air this rotator finally broke. We had 90 MPH winds come through this spring and the last 60 degrees +/- of due south will not work any longer. Am told by rotor repair place that this is due to gear or drive breaking due to being torqued. Rain or shine, cold or hot it just worked and worked for me. Think I got my money worth