[amsat-bb] AlfaSpid issue

[Dave Webb KB1PVH]

That procedure works on the rot2prog that's why I sent it.

Dave-KB1PVH


Sent from my Galaxy S9

On Sun, Oct 21, 2018, 11:55 AM <kb2mjeff at att.net> wrote:

> Someone just emailed me a reset procedure for a ROT1, does anyone happen
> to
> have the procedure for a ROT2 ? Thanks...
>
> 73 Jeff kb2m
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kb2mjeff at att.net
> Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2018 11:08 AM
> To: Amsat
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AlfaSpid issue
>
> After going over the schematic (Thanks Dimitry) I see nothing wrong with
> the
> hardware, in fact I wonder if there was ever a hardware issue. I used the
> EL
> cable to move the antennas CCW about 1.5 turns. When I fired it up after
> replacing the relays it was stuck in CW on. I had to do this in an odd way
> ,
> by resetting the el down 20 degrees at a time to bring the antennas back
> to
> north. Now I get no tactile(relay click on CCW AND EL up with the cables
> disconnected. All 4 relays seem good, this to me appears to be in the ROT2
> firmware. Jerking around with the buttons in the setup routines in a
> meaning
> less way will get all for relays to click, but when I go to operational
> mode
> I’m back to CCW and EL only. Monday I’m going to try and contact someone
> who
> represents this company in the US. Anyone have a contact for AlfaSpid in
> the
> US? It seems there are lots of issues with this controller...
>
> 73 Jeff kb2m
>
>
> I had similar problems to this over the last 18 months with the SPID ROT2
> controller.
>
> It was replaced 3 times and showed the same issue as you have
> intermittently
> over this time. I am using MacDoppler and my supplier and the manufacturer
> were convinced it was software.
> On returning to the manufacturer and taking the trouble to get my concerns
> and issues translated into Polish. I track numerous satellites, some one
> after another and listed all of this. So I returned the controller and
> rotor
> to Poland (at their expense) but they only tracked the ISS over a couple
> of
> days and found nothing wrong. Not wanting to continue with the ROT2 as I
> was
> convinced this was the issue I upgraded to their MD02 controller. Although
> this has its own quirks I have not suffered from the same relay related
> issue since.
>
> There are also several YouTube videos of the problem that yours is
> exhibiting https://youtu.be/GWbhez5vadM
>
> Sorry I haven’t got the cure.
>
> Best 73
> Pete G0ABI
>
>
>
> On 20 Oct 2018, at 23:37, kb2mjeff at att.net wrote:
>
>
>   Here I go answering my own questions. I think I found part  of my
> problem.
> The buttons don't
>   line up in the case very well and caused the rotor to hung up turning in
> one direction. That was problem number two, I fixed problem number one the
> bad relay that started all of this.To fix this temporality  I have the
> board
> out of the case to test and what is now  happening is that I still can't
> turn CCW. All buttons work ok except for the CCW  button. I tried a reset
> thinking that I'm over some set location in the firmware that I cant go
> CCW,
> but the reset doesn't work. I replaced all 4 relays. With the rotor
> completely disconnected I can get a relay click for every rotational
> control
> button except CCW, it has to be a glitch in the firmware I can't clear, as
> I
> replaced all four relays.  And no I really don't want to spend the $900
> for
> the green heron controller. Any other ideas?
>   Thanks for your help...
>
>   73 Jeff kb2m
>
>   -----Original Message----- From: kb2mjeff at att.net
>   Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2018 3:37 PM
>   To: Amsat
>   Subject: [amsat-bb] AlfaSpid issue
>
>   I’m back at my winter home in Florida and decided today, to work on my
> AlfaSpid rotor control box issue. I replaced two relays to fix the
> Elevation
> issue but in testing it before I replaced the other two relays I’m now
> having a problem with the azimuth that’s been working 100% until this
> point.
> When I turn on the rotor control the elevation now seems to work ok, but
> now
> the azimuth immediately goes into a clockwise rotation. No matter what I
> do
> to the controller, upon startup it starts turning CW, only way to stop is
> to
> power it down The azimuth was working fine this morning when a worked a
> couple of sat passes. Anyone have any ideas? Does anyone know where I can
> send this to have it fixed? I have no schematic, or even simple
> instructions
> on how to reset, etc.
>
>   73
>
>
> ---
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> _______________________________________________
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> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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