Idiom Press makes a controller for the Ham-M-style rotor control box.  It 
adds brake delay, and changes the function of the small meteer calibration 
knob to that of a directional control.  You turn the knob to the desired 
direction, then tap the center lever, which initially was only for the 
brake.  You can also turn the rotor in the conventional way, holding down 
the center and right or left levers to turn clockwise or counter-clockwise. 
This controller board can also have an RS232 interface added to it, and I 
use this, through a USB-to-serial converter, to set and indicate direction 
in the N1MM rotor program.  At my station this is controlling a TailTwister 
T2X which turns the KT34XA six-element triband beam.  It is probably still 
possible to derive a DC or pulsating DC voltage from the potentiometer in 
most rotors, in order to determine direction with a DC voltmeter, properly 
scaled.

-----Original Message----- 
From: Jim Gammon
Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2013 2:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Accessible rotators?

Hello list.  I have the oppurtunity to acquire a crank up tower
and am wondering what kind of accessible rotators people on this
list are using, or ways of making rotators accessible? I used to
have a HamAm I think it was, that had 3 keys on the front.  The
middle key would unlock a break so the antenna would turn when
you wanted it too, but keep stationary when locked in place.  The
left and right key would obviously rotate the antenna in said
directions.  I had a small external box that produced tones using
a VCO I guess it was, that a local ham made for me.  I sold the
system some 35 years ago and am wondering what folks are using
today.  At that time I was using a High Gain TH6DXX and would not
put up such a large beam today so don't need anything
particularly heavy-duty.  Thoughts please? Thanks and 73, Jim
WA6EKS