[amsat-bb] G5500 Azimuth Rotator Update

[David Palmer KB5WIA]

Hi Everyone,

Here's a quick update on my G5500 Azimuth rotator story.  (Recall that
three weeks ago I stalled the rotator after switching antennas.)
Yaesu Parts USA is still backordered on the replacement motors,
possibly some will arrive from Japan in a few more weeks (or possibly
not).  The company that I sent the motor to in LA (Eurton Electric)
just gave me a quote today for the rewinding cost:  $365.  That's
close to $3X what the motors go for new (if you can find one!), so at
least with them it's not cost-effective to repair the motor.  I'm
having the motor shipped back, and I'll either try to rewind it
myself, maybe someone else who can rewind it, or buy a replacement
sometime in the future.

To get the antennas back on the air, I decided last week that it would
be good to have a spare -- so I ended up purchasing a replacement
G5500 system and installing the azimuth rotator this last weekend.
Everything's working great so far!  I also added a thermal cut-out
switch to the motor to prevent a similar stall-induced-motor-burnout
in the future.  If anyone is interested in how I installed the switch
(or what a G5500 azimuth rotator looks like inside), I've added
pictures to my blog at:

http://kb5wia.blogspot.com/2012/03/az-el-antenna-system-new-70cm-yagi-and.html

73!

Dave KB5WIA