[amsat-bb] Trying to get back on the sats... but G-5500 Failure

[Hasan al-Basri]

As a temp solution that could turn permanent,  forget the elevation side
and just mount it at a fixed elevation of 15 degrees. As long as the gain
of your antennas is not too great (no more than 10 dBi approximately), it
will work perfectly for the LEO birds. Your gain at the horizon will only
be down 1 dB,  and your gain at 65 or 70 deg will be more than adequate.
The small time the bird is >70 deg is of little consequence and because the
bird is near TCA (time of closest approach) then the signal is quite strong.

If your antennas are too high gain, take the front part of the boom off,
(removing directors), and the gain will drop.

I have been using this exact setup and work all the Low Earth Orbit birds
right down to the horizon.

73, N0AN


Hasan

On Fri, Mar 27, 2020, 5:17 PM Burns Fisher via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
wrote:

> So far, my problems with the 5500 have all been with the cables.  One time
> a mouse chewed through it.  Another time I discovered the bolt on my surge
> protector terminal was not tight.  Not to say the 5500 never has hardware
> problems.  One thing I'd look at is whether it is literally not rotating
> when power is applied, or whether it is the feedback pot/wiring that is
> bad.  Worth a check so you can trace the wiring better
>
> But one interesting question is what elevation your antenna is frozen at?
> You could be successful for a while at either end of the pass if it is
> horizontal (depending on the beam width of your antennas).  Maybe a bit
> more challenging if it is vertical.
>
> On Fri, Mar 27, 2020 at 5:50 PM Michael Hatzakis Jr MD via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>
> > Jerry,
> >
> > Just for perspective.   That rotor has been up for 15 years or more.
> Been
> > through multiple major storms, snow, ice, etc and has been flawless for
> > that entire time.  This is the first failure in all that time, and more
> > than likely related to sitting dormant for 6 years.   So, I would say,
> that
> > is pretty darn good.   Can’t speak for others, but I don’t have an issues
> > with that duration of a failure free period.
> >
> > Michael Hatzakis Jr MD. K3MH
> >
> >
> >
> > > On Mar 27, 2020, at 2:21 PM, Gerald Witalec <jplanner at sbcglobal.net>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Michael,
> > > Been reading a lot on the AMSAT-BB and amazed about how many of you are
> > having problems with such an expensive rotor.
> > > I have decided not to purchase it and going to build my SAT station
> > instead with servo motors.
> > >
> > > Jerry...W8RQM
> > >
> > > On Friday, March 27, 2020, 4:58:27 PM EDT, Michael Hatzakis Jr MD via
> > AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi guys/gals,
> > >
> > > I used to be very active on the Sats, and for years; have a great
> > set-up, but thanks to life events, went dark for about 5-6 years.
> > >
> > > Trying to find a silver lining in this COVID crisis, while my business
> > is in the tank, thought I would get back to my love of the birds.
> > >
> > > Unfortunately, I turned on my G-5500 controller and suddenly find the
> > elevation portion of the rotor isnt responding. Rotation is fine.  Thanks
> > to my fearless days of my 40’s, the antenna is up on the chimney in a set
> > up thats a little challenging to service, so I am looking for what I can
> do
> > on the ground to try to debug and prepare first, before embarking on a
> roof
> > expedition.
> > >
> > > What are the common reasons for the elevation rotator to stop
> > responding?  is there much I can do on the ground to debug, and/or
> prepare
> > when I go up on the roof to check the rotor out?  What are the repair
> > options?
> > >
> > > Michael Hatzakis Jr MD  K3MH
> > > mail at hatzakis.net <mailto:mail at hatzakis.net> <mailto:mail at hatzakis.net
> > <mailto:mail at hatzakis.net>>
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
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> AMSAT-NA.
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