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Reviews For: Yaesu G-1000DXA

Category: Antenna Rotators & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Yaesu G-1000DXA
Reviews: 17MSRP: 500.00
Description:
This new, high-performance rotator is ideal for heavy-duty applications. Its slim-line constructions is ideal for many crank-up tower installations. Rotation range: 450°, with presets.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=104&encProdID=tHLUWYhbsj0%3D&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00173.9
KA4ETV Rating: 2022-11-06
hope this works Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Rotor has worked well for a number years.
AA6VB Rating: 2018-02-16
Totally Reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've had this rotator since about 1995. It was first installed at the bottom of a rotatable tower (MA-550) for a few years and, when we moved to a new QTH, mast mounted for the last 20 years.

On the tower it first rotated an Force 12 DXer on a 24 foot boom below a 10/15 meter beam. The DXer was later replaced with a Force 12 20/40.

At the new QTH I had a Force 12 C3 and now a Mosley MP-33 Warc.

The rotator has worked perfectly the entire time, and is still in use. The only issue is with the bolts. If I were to replace this rotator, I would replace them with stainless steel, because the heads of the stock bolts show signs of spalling. Other than that easily remedied issue, the rotator has been flawless for nearly three decades!

KI7M Rating: 2017-09-06
Good Rotor but connectors suck! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I just bought my third G-1000DXA rotor from Yaesu. I love the features on it and the 450 degree turning. Worked on anything from 3 element 20-6 meter Steppir to 30 foot boom 5 band quad array. Got the power and especially if installed down in the tower works good.
That said, I hate the connectors on the rotor and to a lesser extent the controller. Even though I've gone through Tektronix's solder class and been at this game for over 40 years I'm always challenged to solder on the wires! Especially on these very small pins of the rotor connector. Took repeated tries to finally get the wiring working (about 3 or 4 tries). Wish they had some kind of screw down connector maybe closer to the Hy-Gain tailtwister or Ham-4. Not that those screw down connectors are prefect but at least you can work with them. Soldering a 16-18 gauge wire on the head of the pins is something I will never look forward to because I know I'll find it challenging. I even looked for some kind of crimp on connector to slip over those pins without success.
Anyway, I'm happy with the operation of the rotor once the wiring has been sorted out. These rotors are strong, worm gear style that can hold a large array and turn it well. I like them better than my tailtwisters which always develop problems with the indicators. One thing though, trying to find a shop to rebuild/repair Yaesu rotors I believe is a useless cause. The only one I know of is Yaesu itself IF they will do it. But my rotors haven't needed that thank the Lord!
W9RAS Rating: 2017-04-24
Just got a new G1000DXA Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Installed my new Yaesu G1000DXA yesterday . Tilted the tower down and installed it using a 8 foot stepladder. The short bottom rotor bolts to the Rohn 25 G tower plate were a perfect match there was no play to slide the rotor motor around thats GOOD it was centered perfectly without fiddling around . I dipped the bolts in grease as recommended in the installation instructions . Drilling the hole through the mast and through the existing top bracket holes was tricky and I missed a little coming out the other side making the hole elongated a little I don't know how a guy could get this perfect with a hand drill working on top of a stepladder with the tower down sideways. I used a couple of washers under the nut for this long bolt through the mast then because the supplied bolt would not fit in between the bracket ribs with the hole off center so the large washers I put on over the top of the bracket ribs and the bolt worked fine that way . I did drill with a small drill bit first it was a 3/16ths as I RECALL THEN I drilled it with a 21/64ths bit dipping the bits in the grease occasionally for a bit of lube . Tightening the top bracket caused problems the lock washers slipped into the bolt holes and the lock washers were tilted and did not work correctly SO 4 more small washers with 5/16ths holes were placed on these bolts so the lockwashers could work properly against a flat surface . It was difficult to observe the lockwashers compressing as stated in the instructions so I just tightened the nuts up snug with a small end wrench . Soldering the 7 pin connector to the existing 6 conductor rotor cable was another difficult task up on the step ladder the pins the wires go into in the connector are are quite small and are very loose mounted They have a slot in one side for soldering and they kept spinning and wiggling around as I tried to flow solder into that slot,hold the wire in place and the solder and the soldering iron all I needed was 4 hands to do it . Finally I got a pair of vice grip pliers taped the pliers with electrical tape around and around on the top of the ladder and gently gripped the connector with it . It took awhile but I got the connector on OK . Then it was the connector on the other end that was another difficult task .These pins are tin plated pins and TIN corrodes after a couple of years in normal humidity air thats why most computers have gold plated connectors the pins supplied are so SMALL as well I finally got that done and was rewarded by the rotor working smoothly just like it was supposed to . I did put a teeny dab of clear silicon grease on each connector pin at the box and at the tower end of the cable to prevent the tin corrosion loose contact effect . This works good and I have done it for 30 years with very good results . Remember Tin plated connectors are a loose connection waiting to happen ... SO for these aforementioned reasons I gave the rotor a rating of 4 because it works so good ... I don't know why Yaesu Company did not use bigger connectors on the rotor box they are very cheap and it would not cost any more than the tiny pins supplied . I worked at Heathkit engineering and we used Molex connectors that were larger and easier to use . The American made rotors have screws to connect to in my opinion this is a better arrangement much easier to do up on a tower . I certainly hope this rotor lasts a long time it was certainly not cheap to buy but as Paul Harvey used to say "That is the rest of the story " 73 B0B W9RAS
WX2CX Rating: 2017-01-14
Good rotor Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Good rotor, control box is ok. I replaced control box for a Green Heron RT-21 that is more accurate. Overall I like this rotor.
PY2KNK Rating: 2016-07-28
excellent rotator! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
One of the best antenna rotators I have in my station.

I own 3 rotors, the first bought in 2001, never had any problems and any maintenance (currently works with two Yagis 7.5 meters boom for 10 meters band stacked), the second was recently purchased and works with an antenna 10 meter boom for the band of 40 meters, and the third rotor's newest family works with 3 antennas one AS3 (12.17 m), down a monoband 15 meters (home made 6,8meters size boom) and other below the same for the band of 20 meters.

Photos of antennas in my qrz.com

Here is a region that windy, and endured difficult conditions, I am very satisfied.

73

PY2KNK
VE7KKQ Rating: 2012-09-05
That damb controller connector Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Got mine this summer. Had everything all set up ready to go for when the beam was installed. Tried it one last time and nothing. Spent an hour running up and down basement stairs checking this and that, then remembered all the reviews commenting on the controller connector.Yup, it was one of the contacts. So off to the local supplier and picked a 6pin mic (Foster) connector and installed it, shouldn't fail now for quite some time!
K5SL Rating: 2012-08-20
Good Rotor-Bad Support! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned an 800 and now a 1000DXA. I have fixed my 1000 when the set screw on the main gear backed out. I have been inside the 800s and 1000DXA control boxes. I have no problems with the tower side of these rotors. Be carefull tightening the mast clamps. Being able to move up to a 1000 from the 800 series rotor just by just bolting it in- is nice. We like the slow turn ability of the rotor with big HF yagi's. My 1000DXA controller went bad and that is when the story goes bad-real bad. Yaesu's documentation is confusing. I had revision C another box had D boards. We had to figure out what schematic went with what board by the components on each board. Yaesu service will not let you talk to a tech to try and diagnose anything yourself. The ps board (<30 parts)is the smaller of the two in it, and and they want $340 for replacement? Come on!! The more complex controller board must be $1000 then? Even the nice parts lady said "better off buying a new rotor for $550". That gives you a good feeling! I had heard from another ham in town his anger filled story when he called Yaesu service on his rotor. I now believe him. Five other hams in town have these rotors and are starting to fear they will soon go extinct. Come on Yaesu America-you can do better than that! Wonder if they really care?
W8TRN Rating: 2011-08-02
Controller Problem Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Three months after purchasing a new G1000, the controller went south really. Using the "preset" or rocker switch to turn the rotator, the indicator needle on the controller spins wildly soutn or north and eventually turns a normal speed. The antenna, during the controller spasm, turns at normal speed. I sent the controller and rotator to Yaesu (twice) and no trouble found. This is an intermittent problem. I've changed the pins at the controller and plug and the rotator - same problem. The problem is unquestionably at the controller. FWIW, I purchased a commercial product used mainly by computer manufacturers to ensure contact between connectors/pins etc. This product did not solve the problem. Addy is mcelmer1@netecin.net
K8DXX Rating: 2010-06-03
Fine! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Mine has worked for 6 years rotating a Force 12 C4EXL beam (40 - 10, 11 elements on a 30 foot boom). Had no problem with assembly, testing or installation. F12 beam is mounted inside the tower with a 10 foot steel mast through a Glen Martin thrust bearing.