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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
K3MH Rating: 2003-12-16
Outstanding system, amazing support Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
A few months ago I reviewed most all the systems on the market for rotor control with Azi/Ele to control my satellite system. I have been real busy lately, so I decided not to build an FODTrack or kit based systems.

After all the reviews I read, I ordered the "Antenna Rotator System (ARS)" made by Pablo Garcia, EA4TX based on a suggestion on AMSAT-BB. It is a board-only, not a complete system. I purchased this system based on the availability of 10 and 12 bit A/D and it's very wide compatibility list and relatively low cost. It plugs right into the back of my G-5500 with 1:1 wiring (ie., didnt have to open the controller, yeeah) and plugs right into a parallel port. This is another strong positive, since I have an 8port serial adapter almost all filled up...!

I have to say, I am really really impressed with this little thing and would strongly suggest anyone wanting satellite or EME control to consider this unit with the 10 or 12bit A/D option.

One measure of how well designed a product is, how far along I can get without reading the manual. It was a snap to configure, calibrate and operate the supporting software. It works seamlessly with Satscape using WispDDE. It contains all cables, software and documentation. It works extremely well tracking Sats in real time and is fun to watch in operation. It has watchdog timing to protect against rotor binding or jams. The manual is really good and except for Pablo's fun use of the english language, it is an extremely well written guide. Pablo is incredible at responding to questions. I think 12 hours was the longest I had to wait for a response. Try that with other commercial manufacturers.

So, there it is. I am now routinely on AO-7 and FO-29 using my pair of 18' beams...! Visit: http://www.ea4tx.com/products/ars.htm . I have photos available of the completed system if anyone wants.

Michael K3MH K3MH@ARRL.NET
K2LCA Rating: 2003-11-23
Great, simple product Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I had the ARS for about a three months and just got around to installing it. The manual is straight forward, and if you follow directions carefully, you shouldn't have any problem getting it to work. I have it running on an XP Pro machine with no problems. One word of caution - if you're using a Yaesu rotator, spend the time calibrating the unit at each 15 degrees of rotation. I found a 20 - 25 degree drift depending upon which direction I had the antenna. Once I got it set up, it works fine and interfaces with several logging programs and MixW for digital modes.

Radio Shack (for you US people) has a nice project box that the unit fits in quite cleanly.

k2lca@weca.org
F5SXD Rating: 2003-07-02
Ars, it's the best Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Fabulous, absolutely fabulous, it is the qualifier which one can employ for the unit of EA4TX. I have two of them, one which orders my T2X with WinEqf and the other which orders my G-5500 with Wxtrack. In more of to have made an interface of quality and performance professional, Pablo and a man of a great kindness. What does not spoil anything.
Christophe F5SXD.
LC3WAT Rating: 2003-05-27
Proud owner! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have now been using ARS RCI board (AZ/EL) for more than a year without any hardware problems. It is in daily use together with Yaesu G-1000SDX and G-550 tracking mainly Oscar satellites, but at times also weather satellites. Together with WXTrack it have been a reliable system.

In this period of time I have had two software problems, one serious and one minor, the serious one was solved within hours after it had been reported. The minor problem was solved in a couple of days, the delay mainly because I was away from my email and missed an important question.

I did buy this controller because it had received a lot of positive feedback and it has not disapointed me.

I would not hesitate to recommend this product to anyone in need of an reliable antenna rotator controller, the product is above average and the support is just outstanding.

LC3WAT - Per
DM2PG Rating: 2003-04-20
A perfect interface! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've bought the RCI-SE with 10 bits resolution some weeks ago to control my 144 MHz EME array with this.

With the RCI-SE there are delivered all neccesary accessoiries (CD-ROM with dirver and software and also a ready to use 25 pin connector cable). This is not a matter of course.

The small questions with setup I've send to Pablo via e-mail and they are replied within some minutes, that's the fastest service I have ever seen!

The software works great and some problems with offset correction - it's a problem with the linearity on rotator - could be solved easily.

I think the RCI-SE and the supported program's to control is is the best ready to use solution on the market, not only for EME, also to control your antenna array in all situations. Last but not least there is the possibility to control the antennas via telnet, that very great, now I can turn my antenna's when I'm out of my shack and I can prevent damages because I can turn them every time into wind.
KO7N Rating: 2003-04-10
EA4TX (Pablo) Service Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If there was a catagory 6, EA4TX service would nicely. I had a problem with a AZ / EL combo and Pablo was very timely in assiting at board level troubleshooting. After determining it was a board problem, he sent a new RCI-SE to me and installed and dialed it in nicely and very quickly. RCI-SE (10bit) is the BEST solution that I have seen. I highly recommend this product and outstanding service.

73 de KO7N Richard Ewing CN84ia
NS1Z Rating: 2003-01-28
Support -good and fast! Better than all the rest! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought one of Pablo's original units that had the daughter board for elevation. This worked great but I ended up burning a trace off the elevation board and needed a new one. Pablo to the rescue! In the emails back and forth, to insure he got me the right part the first time, he mentioned that he had a new board that had both az and el. I bought it along with the replacement board for my original. It promptly arrived in One land in less than a week. Up and running and working without any problems. There are a lot of antenna controllers out there (I have bought or built most of them!) but no where have I found better support than Pablo. He sets a standard few can come close to.
K2ESE Rating: 2002-12-05
Caring support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Support for this Product is exceptional! I had some difficulty interfacing my new Yaesu G-450a as a second rotor with TRX-Manager(first one is using a Sartek interface & Yaesu G-800s).
Pablo, and I worked out the issue via his on-line Live support link. You can't get better support anywhere! He seems genuinely interested in satisfying his customers concerns.
I am going to add the Elevation Mod to this board soon. I will post those comments later.

If you are using a Yaesu G450 rotor, Pablo has some updated information on using it with the ARS. I suggest you contact him for the specifics.

BTW-The problem we worked on together, turned out to be a Bug in the TRX-Manager program. See my report named "Two Rotor Bug in TRX" at :
TRX-Manager@yahoogroups.com for more on that issue.
N8DZM Rating: 2002-11-12
Great Interface for Beginner Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just getting started using satellites and was looking for an economical system to track the satellites. I was ready to move up from handtracking in my driveway.

This is truly an unversal interface. It can be used with virtually any tracking/logging program and rotator combination. Using with a old HD73 (AZ) and old Ham M (EL). After explaining to Pablo that Nova would not flip the antenna for passes past the stop, he created an update to ARS Win that has a manual flip mode in it. He also has helped me with configuring the two rotators I have to work with it.

I think Pablo EA4TX really cares about all ARS users. I can not thank him enough for all his help and patience.

Dan N8DZM
G6HFS Rating: 2002-10-02
ARS Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I was looking for an upgrade to my tracking software and control interface, while doing research and looking at various tracking software ie: Satscape, WiSP and WXtrack the rotator control interface that was being returned in my reshearch was ARS by EA4TX. I emailed Pablo got the info on the product and placed an order. It arrived in 3-4 days as Pablo said it should, a complete kit of parts. CD rom disc, LPT cable for connetion to a PC, the Interface hardware (AZ/EL) unit PCB assembled and tested. It also had a QSL card with message and signed, after reading the documentation and having tools to hand I took up the challenge. In two hours I had done all the work and took to setting it up and testing the interface, My only comment I can make as it worked first time is:

A worth while investment for any person wishing to control an aerial system.

Excellant.

Brian G6HS