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Reviews For: EA4TX Antenna Rotator System

Category: Antenna Rotators & Accessories

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Review Summary For : EA4TX Antenna Rotator System
Reviews: 76MSRP:
Description:
The ARS-USB is the easiest and highest performance Universal Rotor Interface for handling any Antenna Rotor (Azimuth & Elevation). You'll be able to control your Antenna Rotor from your computer (local or remotely). Also you can use it as a replacement of the original rotor controller.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.ea4tx.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
25764.9
K0KVR Rating: 2013-12-19
Best product Best Support Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have owned the original ARSWIN produc for 8+ years and have never had one issue and always had superb support. I have used this with both a Ham IV and Yaesu FT800DXA rotor. In 2002 I built my own PC. It is ready for retirement since XP will no longer be supported in March. I purchased a new PC with Windows 7 and am installing all the old products if possible. I obtained ARSVCOM and needed to get it working with my old ARSWIN control board. He provided me with personal assistance since I am using an LPT port. What a great person. I works like it did under XP, perfecttly.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by K0KVR on 2005-08-20

After learning that I could control my 35 year old Cornell-dubilier rotator with the old style HAMM M control unit from my computer, I purchased the EA4TX RCI-SE rotator board and installed it with the Arswin software. It arrived at my QTH within a week of ordering and was well packed. The documentation is great with examples for wiring almost every rotator known to man. Mine, however, had been modified with a homebrew addon due to a faulty switch and bad breaking system so I had to do some extra work to figure out how it would be wired. I emailed Pablo, EA4TX, at least 10 times and he always responded within hours to answer my questions. I used the circuits in the right, aux, and left relays as well as the second circuits in two of the relays to control all the old manual switching. It works great, even with the homebrew control box added by the prior owner. The software installed without a hitch and also works well. In addition the ARSWIN also interfaces to TRX-MANAGER so, now, when I see a spot I can right click for the azimuth from my QTH, and then click on the rotator and it turns my antenna to the exact location I need to be at to work the station.
Thanks Pablo. Great job.
F1RAF Rating: 2013-07-14
ARS-USB great product ! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was a bit afraid since I am a Mac user and usually this kind of product is poorly supported on non Windows computers...
The first step was to wire it with my old KR400RC (the wiring for each kind of rotator was explained in a pdf file that came with) , I first failed but Pablo EA4TX successfully helped me (the Kenpro rotators are not all exactly wired the same way !). After, came the soft calibration and I had to borrow a PC since the calibration software does not run on a Mac, it was a bit tricky since I am not a Windows specialist... Now it works perfect with my Macbook pro 13" (calibration is saved in the Eprom) using MacLoggerDX (OS 10.6.8). Really a great product. Just plug and play on Mac !
KB6MHK Rating: 2013-04-25
Great people behind the product! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Like our family trip to Barcelona I have SWEET experience in using the system for 9++ years.It is EXTREMELY reliable. Quite a few time, the system did not work and I always "traced" to problems beyond the board. Couple of days ago, the board "did not" work. After couple of days of "debugging" I realized by changing the backup battery in an old but reliable IBM Thinkpad laptop computer, the settings of the printer port had changed.So always look beyond the board. Meanwhile like always, Pablo and Stan Stockton were quick to respond to my SOS with PASSION.Thanks ! Pablo ! for the fun I have with ham satellites!!

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Earlier 5-star review posted by KB6MHK on 2004-08-13

I ordered the 8 bits controller before the day Pablo was going to take his 2 weeks vacation. He was nice enough to mail the unit right away. I pick the 8 bits unit because I cannot take advantage of the 10 bits precision given I can neither level the antenna or align the antenna precisely. Anyway, the package arrived in 1 week. I studied the well written document carefully. The English is bit CONTINENTAL. Given my foreign background, I have no problem understanding it. Finding a enclosurer is a problem. However, I found an outdated modem box that has a rs232 connector opening, a DC input connector and a 3/4 in hole. That works well for the controller for I can fit the parallel connector on the board thru the rs232 connector opening. I use KR-5400A for elevation control (the az motor was weather damaged so unused). I use the Yaesu-800 for az controller. Connecing the controller to the 5400 is duck soup for the 5400 has external control using DIN as connector. Interfacing to the 800 is far more complicated. There is no step by step (the Heathkit type) instruction. However, the given circuit is quite clear to any practising ham. I put in a 9 pin rs-232 female connector at the back of the 800 replacing the removable metal plate. I cut some internal wires and connect some to the 9 pins connector. When I first tested the whole setup, it did not work. Then I realised I had to connect V- from the az & el pot inputs to the ground the problem was resolved. For software, I use Satpc32 running on an old IBMThinkpad 380ED with Windows 95. Now I can enjoy FO-29, Echo.. with both my hands free. Thanks! Pablo!
KD8BZY Rating: 2013-03-18
Just what I was wanting Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Am building a 2m EME station and wanted to have automatic moon tracking via computer control. Digital controllers are so expensive, it seems, and especially so for both AZ and EL control together. Pablo's ARS-USB fell within my price capability and I was able to get one from CYCLE 24 Antenna here in the U.S.A.. In fact I am the proud VERY FIRST customer of a U.S. distributer for the ARS-USB. I have mine hooked up and controlling a Yaseu G-550 elevation rotator and a T2X azmuthal rotator and have the ARS-USB interfaced with the computer. I am using EME System V.7 software and it does track the moon for me. I do have a situation with the T2X (nothing to do with the ARS-USB) in that the T2X rotates a bit too fast for the EME software. I am trying to figure a good way to slow the rotation of the Hygain T2X. My antenna boom is 23 ft. and that provides a lot of enertia. Again that has nothing to do with Pablo's ARS-USB controller. Take care in ordering yours as there are two models available, one for Amuth rotors only and one for both azmuth and elevation. I LOVE MINE. Look up Cycle 24 Antenna on the internet if you wish yours from a U.S. distributer. I highly recommend this controller and also Cycle-24.

73 and best DX to u all. Roger
K5NAA Rating: 2013-03-10
Great Support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Being new to having a rotator and wanting ability to click and rotate I opted for EA4TX's ARS/USB. And I was very happy with his support of his product and the assistance he provided me.

If you want a great product with superior workmanship and superb support this is the product for you!
VE7EPP Rating: 2013-02-26
Works perfectly, excellent support Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Well, I have have to say that I am very happy with my AE4TX controller. I have the latest USB version, which for some reason isn't the one shown in the picture above.

I initially configured the AE4TX controller to work with my Yaesu G-5400 Controller and AZ/EL rotors. I have now configured it to work without the Yaesu controller and it operates both rotors perfectly.

Pablo was excellent with his communications and support and within a day my questions were answered and controller wired up. Thanks again Pablo.

OK1UMX Rating: 2012-09-01
Perfect device Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Great device, which does everything as declared. Pablo's reactivity to questions is excellent.
W0DHB Rating: 2012-07-24
Excellent Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am using the ARS-USB product in conjunction with a Yaesu G-5500 AZ/EL system. It is replacing an LVBTracker. The LVBTracker is a good product also, but could not stand up to the lightning/static we have here in Colorado.
The main features of the ARS-USB product that caught my attention were.
1) It utilized relays rather than transistor switching to control rotation.
2) It will work with with any rotator.
3) It can used to replace the manufacturer's Controller if need be.
4) It's support for 450 deg AZ rotators is done in such a way that it will work with programs that only support 360 deg rotators.
5) It speaks Yaesu's GS-232

Both pre-sales and post-sales support have been excellent !
EA5SX Rating: 2012-05-24
FB Time Owned: N.A.
The EA5TX RCI-USB I can say is a most reliable unit having had it installed and working for a year now. It replaced my faulty EMOTO 1200FXX control unit although I still use it to provide 29 VDC to turn the rotor.

The "After-sale-Service" from Pablo, EA4TX, is 2 nd. to none! One receives a quick reposnse. Muchisimas gracias Pablo

Hal EA5SX-G3NMH
VE4NSA Rating: 2012-02-04
Outdated Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Sold mine a long time ago. Finding PCs and/or laptops with a parallel printer port is more and more impossible. The unit really needs at a minimum a serial port interface or USB support.