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Reviews For: Idiom Press/Ham Supply Rotor-EZ - Hy-Gain Controllers

Category: Antenna Rotators & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Idiom Press/Ham Supply Rotor-EZ - Hy-Gain Controllers
Reviews: 105MSRP: 99.95 - 149.95
Description:
Point and Shoot” Rotor-EZ (with or without computer control RS-232) for ALL 3 paddle Hy- Gain Controllers by Idiom Press/Ham Supply
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.hamsupply.com/rotor-ez-hy-gain-rotor-control/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001054.9
W6DKN Rating: 2001-03-06
A Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had been wanting a Hy-Gain DRU controller for some time, but the price was hard to justify. When I saw the Rotor EZ package, I couldn't resist giving it a try.

The kit is first class, the parts and pcb are first rate. The instructions were clear and precise, although the section on calibration was a little confusing.

Assembly was a piece of cake, and total build time was about two hours. Calibration took a bit longer than expected due to the fact that I have my rotor centered on South instead of North.

This made the calibration instructions confusing at first because they assume a North centered rotor, but after I figured out the logic of the calibration steps, it was easy to adapt the instructions to my configuration.

Overall, this is a great addition to the Ham IV. It works as advertised and provides many of the features of the DRU controller without the expense. Don't tell anybody, but these guys are selling this thing too cheap - something rarely found in this hobby.

W0VX Rating: 2001-02-22
Excellent Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The kit is exactly as advertised. The PC board and parts were high quality. The assembly and installation instructions were easy to follow. Given the variety of Ham M controls over the years, the installation instructions are designed for first time success no matter which version you have.

Operation with the Rotor-EZ installed is also exactly as advertised. The ability to set the beam heading, tap the brake release, and forget it adds a new dimension to operating. It seemed like I was perpetually one hand and one eye short when I needed to swing the yagi, tune the radio, grab the key, and check the cluster all at once in order to pick up a new one or a needed contest multiplier. After a few days of using/playing with Rotor-EZ, I don't know how I got along without it.

73,
Dave, W0VX
W6LAR Rating: 2001-02-17
Software for Rotor EZ Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Here is the Software release by AA6YQ, Dave Bernstein called DXView.
A Mercator world map you can point and click to point to, an entry location to enter call sign and may other information windows. Also does DXCC and Grid Squares, has country maps, short path and long path. Lots of other nice things. Download it and enjoy with your Rotor EZ HyGain Rotor. Get it at http://www.qsl.net/dxview/


73 Larry W6LAR

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by W6LAR on 2001-02-17

Like many of the previous reviewers, I got my kit around xmas and was anxious to get it going. I've been an avid kit builder all my life and found the Rotor-EZ to be well thought out and easy to assemble. Directions were very clear with only a few instances for haveing to read it over a few times for complete understanding. I thought the included parts and board were first class. Working with the RS-232 option was a lot of fun so I went looking for a good program to control my new addition. It has added ease of rotor control in my shack!

I wanted to control through the RS-232 port with a program that would move the rotor when you entered a call prefex or even better yet just point your mouse to a spot on the map and your rotor would go there! Some logging programs would do the prefex thing and could control using the HyGain DCU-1 commands. But I looked everywhere for one to do both. I found a GREAT program called DXView but it only controlled M2 and Yaesu rotors. After contacting the author he agreed to try and add the DCU-1 command "HyGain" rotor option to DXView. Well after a week of being his"beta tester" I think we have it working well. He will be releasing the improved version with HyGaiin control (read Rotor-EZ) sometime this week (02/16/2001). I will post back here as soon as it is released. The program has the functions mentioned above plus can send the Unstick, Endpoint and Overshoot commands, turning them off or on. This makes the Rotor-EZ really shine. If you don't run a loggin program with rotor control then this combination is for you.
K6CTA Rating: 2001-02-03
Great product! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had seen the prototype last year at Visalia,
and thought that it was a pretty good idea. After
reading the reviews, I called Bob up, and had the kit in 2 days. It was easy to put together (the
hardest part was realizing that my 50 year old
eyes aren't what they used to be!). No problems
with the instructions; the large page with the
pc board layout is a good reference. Be sure
that you have the right sized soldering pencil;
it will make things easy.

The calibration took a little longer than I thought. I had a few problems getting the CCW
limit set, but once I did, all worked perfectly.

It's alot easier to just twist the knob and go rather than watching the meter and waiting for the right spot to let go. The tri-color led is fun to watch, too!!

A nice improvement to the station.
N7TM Rating: 2001-01-02
Thumbs up! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got a Rotor-EZ kit (with RS-232 option) for Christmas. By 11:30 pm that night, I had the kit finished and in operation. I had no problems putting together the kit. Everything worked perfectly the first time. The instructions are good, but not up to the foolproof standard set by Elecraft.

I'm very impressed with the design of the Rotor-EZ and the way the simple analog board in the rotor control box is replaced with a microprocessor controlled digital board. I'm also impressed with the board's built-in software.

The old experience of "manually release brake, hold motor control switch until approximately at desired bearing, release switch, wait for beam to stop turning, and engage brake" has been replaced with "turn dial to desired beam heading and tap brake release switch."

Given the innovation of this product and the depth in which the technical problem was solved, I'd love to see more kits from this company.
KC8IOR Rating: 2000-12-10
GREAT ! ! ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I got the Non-RS232 version
Kit was very easy to put together. All of the parts were there. Once I got the pencil iron heat correct soldering was a breeze.
Had a question about one instruction and emailed Idiom and in no time I had my question answered.
NEEDS
A good ohm meter for resistor comparison, variable heat pencil iron with pointed tip for the small connections, a couple spring clothes pins for holding the leds to connect leads, an insulated screw driver 1/8 wide blade for calibration.
Calibration was simple and the antenna was right on with the old units settings
Worked perfect first time power was applied to rotator

Get one for each of your rotators you won't be disappointed!!!
AA1JD Rating: 2000-11-30
Hnads free operation and it's idiot proof. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I liked everthing about the kit. The assembly time for the board was ~2hrs. and another hrs. to install it into the controller housing. Works great every time. Thanks Rotor-EZ, now I can keep calling while the antenna is turning.

73's

Matt / AA1JD
NC3Z Rating: 2000-11-25
Cool! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Wow! What a cool option. Works like advertised.
The PCB went toghether very nicely. A few complaints: Where is says "Once you reach this point, the actual installation of the board will go quickly and easily" don't beleive it. That was the hardest part of the installation. And I think better claification of wiring the "Set" pot is in order, left or rightside, or near meter or away from meter would be better than CW and CCW.

About 2 2hour nights to build and calibrate.
KE5C Rating: 2000-11-12
Point and shoot Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
To borrow a phrase from photography, this neat controller added point and shoot capability to my HyGain (MFJ?) TailTwister. How many times during a contest or listening for DX do you skip a contact because you don't want to hold the rotator control switches for seemingly forever and then have to do it all over again to return to your prior heading? While operating the ARRL DX contest at N5TW's contest station, I learned how easy it is to punch a heading and let the controller do the work - if you happen to have an M2 Systems Orion or Prop-Pitch controller. Now the rest of us smaller guns can enjoy similar functionality with the Rotor-EZ.

Like most other reviewers, my only criticism is that the instructions, while complete and adequate, could be improved. The kit board and component quality was superb. The support was there when I needed it - after assembling the kit while I had the flu, it didn't work. I called and spoke with Bob and rechecked my work - I had missed soldering a pin on the PIC chip socket. Once that was attended, presto, away we turned!

The design is inspiring - you add at most four holes to your control box - three for LED's and one for the RS-232 option if you purchase that (I didn't). In the case of my TailTwister, it was only one hole for an additional LED. A new PC board replaces the one attached to the meter lugs, and some rewiring is done. Even cable ties are included to dress the new cabling. I can't imagine anyone who used a rotator with the Rotor-EZ installed would ever be content to (re)turn back to manual control.

73, de ke5c, op john
KB9UWZ Rating: 2000-11-05
Great CPU for my rotor control! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The Rotor-EZ kit was fun to assemble. The instructions were good. All the parts were there and on completion, all of the functions worked on the first try. I did have one question on component identification. I sent them an email about 10:30 Saterday night. Bob sent me the answer less than two hours later! IMHO that's customer service!
If you have a TX2 and would like to give it's controller a brain, the Rotor-EZ is a fine way to go. The "point and click" method of beam directing is easy and accurate. I will be buying another one when my second tower goes up.

Bill KB9UWZ