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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
HB9FAQ Rating: 2002-08-26
Simple Perfect !! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Using ARSwin with Swisslog and for the first time has simply worked perfect !!!!
After i wanted to use SATSCAPE having option for elevation,but unfortunately Satscape used a non compatible WispDDE for ARSwin,write to Pablo and explained my problem,AFTER 3 DAY i have a new version ARSwin for Satscape and work very a lot of good.Now to work the fast satellites and'become easier!!!
TNX Pablo for the excellent support.
DL2YED Rating: 2002-08-12
Excellent Interface Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Using ARSWin for some weeks now I must notice that it works really excellent with my old Kenpro rotators. It was easy to wire all because the documentation was detailed. No problem to get it run. Here it works with TRX-Manager and Swisslog.

Tracking satellites with Satscape over WISPDDE I needed a little help from Pablo, EA4TX, who answered promptly and solved the problem. Everything is working well and I enjoy watching the turns of the rotators perfectly.

TNX, Pablo, for this interface and Your excellent customer support.

Ralph, DL2YED
EA5DY Rating: 2002-07-16
excellent!!! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This is the best rotator computer control available for radioamateur use.
It is extremely well documented with plenty of examples and step by step guidelines.
Software support is also very good. It can work with almost all logging and ham programs available for the ham community.
Customer support by Pablo EA4TX is also excellent.
IK4IDF Rating: 2002-06-01
ARS? yes the best! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Not many to explain, the interface work immediatly on my homebrew rotor, after a little
problem on 1 wire for my error,now is all ok, the manual is easy with many example and a
good explain of all wire attach and the Ars programm is easy to use with many function.
The best is the memory to go in your prefer direction, i use only the azimut RCI 8bit,
and i have interface with dx4win, now if i have "P5/" i simply press F11 (shot pass) or
CTRL-F11 (long pass) and the DX4WIN-ARS go in this direction!!, wow!.

Tnx Pablo for this interface, simply to mount and use.

IK4IDF Raf.
ON4VP Rating: 2002-01-31
Update : even better Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
If you read my former posting you'll notice I talked about a 'first time' encounter, opposit voltage (CCW in stead of CW when voltage at max).

This is not completely true. The problem was we (Pablo EA4TX and myself also thanks to ON7WP) that the schematics showed us the wrong pin numbers to connect the voltage input for the ARS RCI. I changed the wires and had the exact voltage as many other models, only the CREATE provides current both to the potentiometer line as to the engine. Needles to say that the voltage line is fluctuating and is't hard to calibrate the ARSWin software.

A 5,1 Volt, 1,3 watt zener diode solved al the problems. I now am even more impressed by the accuracy and performance of this nice interface. Solid as a rock, always ready to turn your antennas to the opposit station. I use this ARS with my logging software, works like a charm !!

I recommend this to anybody thinking of automatistation !

Phil.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by ON4VP on 2002-01-30

I ran into this interface on the net looking for a compatible interface for my CREATE RC5A-3. The 'P' model comes with plug on the back of the controller but mine didn't.

As I understood that almost any rotator with potmeter where you can readout the line voltage can be used with the ARS RCI, I ordered one via PA4FP in Holland.

I ordered the 8bit version (standard) with has a resolution of 256 for 360° so accurate enough for HF and VHF beams. (aprox 1.5° per logic step). If you like you can upgrade to an 10bit or even 12bit A/D converter for finer heading and also elevation is optional installable.

The packages comes with the interface, ready db-25 pin connecter cable and cdrom (software, drivers, 3th party soft).

The documentation is clear to understand, and you need some basic skills to measure voltages, but hey, we're licenced hams, aren't we ?

I encountered a 'first time ever' problem. Pablo (EA4TX) told me he never encountered this before, I had +22 VDC when fully CCW and 0 VDC fully CW.
Almost all rotators work the oposit way.

So I mailed Pablo and he was VERY helpfull, asking me to double check all connections, mailing the voltages, and testing some out. After ONE night he mailed me a new DLL file that inverted the A/D readings and reversed them into software.

All problems solved and I now have a wonderfull software controller that is compatible with most logging programs, has a nice own interface, and is compatible with a large range of rotators.

More info on my web www.2die4.be
73, Philippe, ON4VP

N9AB Rating: 2001-11-02
Great replacement for the KCT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Since new computer motherboards no longer support ISA cards, I needed a replacement for my Kansas City Tracker rotor interface. In additional to a non-ISA interface I wanted:

* Improved resolution (10 bit instead of 8 bit)
* Expanded pointing error correction
* Output flexibility (which is not limited to specific rotors)


The ARS unit meets all of these expectations. The unit uses a parallel port interface, 10 bit resolution is a standard option, error correction is available every 15 degrees, and the output uses form-C 5A 220V relay contacts. In fact, each relay includes an extra set of contacts. The rotor position "reading" circuit is also very flexible with the ability to handle a wide voltage range and both positive and negative voltages. I would have liked to seen multi-turn pots on the board to adjust the analog input. However, this is actually irrelevant in my installation since I set those adjustments externally in the rotor control boxes.

The unit is very well constructed and very easy to install. Just add your own box, or perhaps, install it in your rotor control box, and connect the required wires. My installation includes external LEDS to duplicate the indicators which are on the board.

Good and complete software is included for both Windows and DOS. In DOS, a special driver is included to emulate the KCT. Windows programs use DDE to interface with the ARS. I am especially pleased with the setup programs for both DOS and Windows. They are simple to use and it is very easy to make small updates or changes. For example, you can independently change a correction factor or endpoint in azimuth without disturbing your elevation settings.

I also received OUTSTANDING technical support. All of my questions were immediately and clearly answered via e-mail. There is also a good WEB page which includes the latest software and help files.

Bottom line- The ARS not only replaces the reliable and standard KCT, it provides some nice improvements also.

Andy N9AB