[amsat-bb] Yaesu G-5500 meters and readings to LVB tracker not working

[John Brier]

Thanks Jim.

So, I did that a dozen times for the azimuth side and it didn't make much
of a difference. It did start reading (instead of staying at around 0),
going to about 180, but never much beyond that that. And eventually it
seemed to get stuck again.

However, when I started doing the same for the elevation rotator I noticed
that the cable jacket was falling out of the connector. The rubber and the
connector wasn't compressing the jacket so there was presumably stress on
the wires. When I pushed the cable in the connector the meter started
reading right.

There is a similar issue on the connector on the cable I am using for
azimuth but pushing it in towards the connector or wiggling it doesn't seem
to help.

I think I am going to redo these cables. They came with the rotator and
there is also a disconnect a few feet from the rotator connectors. Not sure
what for. The connector there is wrapped in electrical tape so I am not
sure what state it is in.

One question: If the issue is in the rotator or a connection issue at the
rotator, why would tapping the control box affect the issue?

The only thing I can think of is there could be another issue in the box
(connection or otherwise).


73,  John Brier KG4AKV

On Sat, Oct 3, 2020, 18:12 Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
wrote:

>
> <snip>
>
> Sounds like the position pots in the rotor (not the controller) are
> dirty.  That does make some sense with it not being used for several
> years.  Step one (the easy way) is to use the manual control levers on
> the controller and repeatedly move the rotors from end to end while
> watching the needles.  If you are a bit lucky, after a few passes back
> and forth, the needles will start responding correctly. Keep trying at
> least a dozen full passes back and forth before giving up on this
> method.  The next method requires disassembly of the rotor - now you
> know why I suggest giving the first method lots of tries before giving
> up on it.  If you have to resort to the second method, I will let
> someone who has done that more recently than I (about 20 years) give
> instructions.
>
> --
> 73
> -------------------------------------
> Jim Walls - K6CCC
> jim at k6ccc.org
> Ofc:  818-548-4804
> http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/
> AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> 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!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>