I had the exact same rotor here in western Washington on the edge of Puget
Sound.  We got some serious winds and I was turning a Hy-Gain Explorer 14 4
element tribander on a 14ft boom up at about 60ft.  I didn't have any ice to
deal with but the rotor did fine around here.  If I remember right it can
turn up to 10 square feet of wind load but I am not sure I would want my
th6dx on it in your conditions.  I would think for your purposes it would be
fine although it is a "worm drive" so there is no mechanical brake as in the
Hy-gain ham 4 rotors.  I also found with the Yaesu the compass style dile
has a post that sticks out through the glass and a simple home made pointer
was easily attached and I could easily tell where I was pointed and the 450
degree turning radias was handy too.

Brian, k5in.

Oh yes, if I remember right it is backlighted but that didn't help me at all
being a total that was just a fyi for you partials.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Ryan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2003 4:27 PM
Subject: Yaesu G-450A Antenna Rotater


> Hi all:
>
> Is anyone familiar with the model of rotater mentioned in the subject
line?
> I'm interested in knowing if it can handle a Cushcraft A-3S tri-band or
> similar type HF beam in a pretty good wind and icing condition.
> I checked the EHam reviews but they more or less discussed the rotater it
> self and not what they were turning with them.  Judging by that, the roter
> is a pretty good one but would it handle my beam up here in NFLd?
> Up here, Old Man Winter typically deals us 60/70MPH winds with
> -10DGC/-20DGC temps with -25DGC-35DGC wind chills.  Not to mention the
Snow
> and icing conditions!  I contacted some dealers up here in Canada and they
> recommended the G-800SA which is overkill for my needs.  I should have
> figured out that a $580 rotater would be recommended over a $430 one.
>
> 73 to all:
> Michael VO1RYN