While they don't talk, the standard Yaesu rotor control boxes are blind user
friendly. The front glass comes right off by simply turning it
counterclockwise a very small amount. With the cover off, the needle is
immediately available for the blind operator to feel. I have been using
Yaesu rotors for perhaps 20 years now, and I am able to know what direction
the rotor is pointed in with great accuracy. And if you use a minimum of
force, the needle will not be moved by touching it. If you really want a
rotor control box to talk, buy a Green Heron and a hampod. When my new
tower goes up, I will switch from my present Yaesu G2800DXA to a prop pitch
from Kurt, K7NV. Most hams with prop pitches use a Green Heron control box,
and by simply adding a hampod to your station, you'll be in fat city. Also,
since I already have a hampod for my Power Master II, I won't have to buy
another hampod because each hampod provides support for two devices.
Alan - N7MIT
Alan R. Downing
Phoenix, AZ
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Pat Byrne
Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2015 9:43 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Audible rotor direction indicator
jim,
Handihams provided a very similar indicator. I used one on a Ham-m
rotor for many years. i put mine away after we moved and i moved in
to the wire antenna age; promised the indicator to someone on the
list and darned if I can find it again!! i found it on a shelf one
week and when I went back for it again, it had vanished!! I'm
guessing it was the man in the moon took it! But it sure made the
Ham-m accessible.
pat, K9JAUAt 10:47 PM 4/18/2015, you wrote:
>I don't think I have commented on this thread, but back in 1975,
>I had a HamAm rotor that turned my HighGain TH6DXX 6 element
>beam. There was no way for a blind person to know the direction
>the antenna was pointing because the rotor meter was of course
>under glass and probably had a very small needle. A friend at
>the time, built a small device, seems it was a voltage controled
>oscillator with a pointer knob on top that rotated freely 360
>degrees. I would set the pointer in the direction I wanted to
>point the beam and hit the keys on the rotor. When the tone in
>the speaker inside the attached box nulled out, I knew I was
>pointing northwest or where ever I needed to point. I am not
>aware of any similar audible rotor indicators out there today.
>Jim WA6EKS
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