Phil,
Thanks for the info.  I had already heard about Norm's Rotor Service and I
sent him an email earlier today to see what he had and if he had any
suggestions.  My antennas will have about 13 square feet of wind load so I
will need at least a Ham 4.  

73, Gary, N5GD
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Phil Scovell
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 6:59 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: accessible rotor

Gary,

Norm's Rotor Service is

www.rotorservice.com/

and he does repairs and sells rebuilt rotors as well as new.  He's a great
guy.  I bought a tail twister, used, from him many years ago, 160 feet of
heavy gage 8 conductor cable, and 160 of coax, plus the rotor came with the
Brailled control box.  A tone sounds steady as the antenna turns and stops
when it reaches the position you pointed it using a large knob with raised
lines and Braille markings but you don't have to read Braille to figure out
directions.  There used to be a talking rotor available years ago that did
exactly what you suggested.  I forget it's name or manufacturer and I don't
know if it is even made any longer.  It also had a voice to read the exact
digital reading and 8 programmable settings.  I think you would find Norm's
rebuilt rotors worth the money and the control box more than adequate.  If
Gary Jackson has a ham 4 to sell, even if it needs some repair, based on
today's new prices, you might be wise going that rout, even if you have to
send it off to Norm.  It would come back a brand new rotor, that's for sure.
I was glad to see Norm still in business after 44 years and he is really a
helpful and friendly guy.  I have one of his ham 4 rotors and control boxes
myself now because I sold my tail twister and 40 meter beam to a friend
years ago.  I used an old ham M rotor without a blind marked rotor for years
but back then, I ran a 4 element 20 meter beam and you could literally hear
the signal drop off because the forward lobe was so narrow.  When I sold the
4 element 20 meter beam and went to an old TH6 triband six element beam, it
was so broad in its directivity, I had a super hard time trying to point the
antenna on the signal so I eventually went to one of Norm's rotors.  See
what Gary Jackson is asking for because you'll drop your false teeth when
you price a brand new ham 4 rotor.  Getting Gary's rotor, shipping off to
Norm to have them go over it, might still save you a ton of money.  A ham 4
turns about anything you'd ever use unless you are getting monster antennas.
I believe the ham 4 rotors handle 10 square feet of antenna.  My tail
twister handled 14 so for a couple of two meter and 450 beams and a hefty
tribander, and maybe even a rotatable dipole for 30 or 40 meters, the ham 4
will still do the job.  I think I am wrong.  I think the ham 4 is 14 square
feet and my tail twister was 20 or something like that.  That sounds more
like it.  Norm's website gives all that information, however, so check him
out.

Phil.
K0NX



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Smith" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 3:48 PM
Subject: accessible rotor


> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm in the process of putting up a tower and beam.  Is there any such
thing
> as an accessible rotor controller?  Maybe one with voice readout or one
with
> a keypad so you can just put in the direction you want the beam to go and
> press enter?  Any suggestions would be appreciated.
>
>
>
> 73
>
> Gary, N5GD
>