Yaesu G-5500 rotor assembly

Welcome back! Join me as I assemble the Yaesu G-5500 rotor.

[@Supercazzola]

When assembling the elevation on top of the AZ in the bracket, how did you know which way to install such that when the base is pointed north, the Elevator and antennas in them will go up versus down when you point the antenna to the north? I always get it backwards and have to reinstall the elevator motor. I must be missing something

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

Great question!! I put the rotator on a pole in my vise, hooked up the control cable and control box on the work bench. Then ran the rotor fully each way several times. Once I knew I had maximum Travel each way, I marked the housing to face North when the rotor had run fully left and locked at North according to the stop and the rotor Box. Then mounted the Elevation rotor and ran the same test for elevation with it and marked the perfect mid point of travel for 90 degrees and zero lock. Once that was done I test fitted the antenna array and leveled everything off and set the rotor voltage according to compass headings with corrected magnetic declination

[@reubengeorge220]

When putting the bracket on the bottom rotor. Make sure that the what I call the bell housing top is up if you don't the rotor will fill with water when it rains I found that out the hard way

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

Great suggestion! For my information did you see that done correctly in this video?

[@g1egz]

This unit is even more remarkable, that when connected to the computer control unit, it allows you to control this via any computer program, automatically,

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

You are correct! I have several updated video on the channel showing this in action using the CSN Technologies SAT controller. If you get a chance check out the new videos of the system. 73!

[@g1egz]

Yes, l saw that, l would get that system tomorrow, but they have not done the cvi interface for a kenwood TS2000x yet, they are in progress in doing one, this unit of theirs would do everything that l need , so fingers crossed ,it might be available in a year or two,

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

@@g1egzAh I see! My fingers are crossed for you! I love Kenwoods! I’d love to have a Kenwood for the house again. I currently have a 480SAT for mobile. I’m jealous of your 2000!

[@g1egz]

I believe that this is a wonderfully made unit, let down only by vertex/yaesu, if they bothered to use a marine or waterproof grease in the unit, it would stop half the failures,using more robust potentiometers, especially the elevation unit, l mean the damn thing is nearly a grand here in the UK, so l do expect some sort of quality control, ?

[@g1egz]

You can also buy an optional kit for mounting the elevator assembly separately from the rotator, l had this set up on my first g5500, but my latest one l have it mounted on a base plate,

[@astroEnthusiast1]

Will the Yaesu G-5500 handle a 2 meter mesh satellite dish and what is it's maximum load capacity. That may not be the correct term, but before purchasing one, wanted to know can it handle 80 - 100 pounds of weight from a satellite dish, with extra electronics loaded on it? By the way great video!! Now I know how to assemble the unit, thank you!

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

I do not have the specs off the top of my head, but 100 lbs would be way too much I would guess. Mine is loaded with around 25 lbs or so total with that being almost perfectly balanced. You also would need to account for flex in your mast pipe. Mine is guyed in a triangle and still has an ever so slight amount of wobble.

[@g1egz]

You forgot the long bolt that goes through the lower clamps and pole assembly, the hole is shown for it, most important,if you are using lower clamps, mine is mounted on a base plate on the mast,

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

I just didn’t put it in there. I didn’t see the point for the video at the time of filming, but looking back you are correct I should have shown it to complete the build. 73!

[@timaustin577]

thank you 73

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

73 Tim, thanks for watching!

[@barndweller4573]

Thank You! I have a question if you can answer it. I am mounting on a tripod on my garage roof. Do I need to make it high enough so the antennas can point down? I would like to make it lower so my friend and I can handle it without being on a ladder. At 90 degrees it would be great but if I have to make it high enough for the antennas to point down I will need to give it more height. Thank You for your time!

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

You should have no need to go lower than 0 degrees, which would be level. Anything less than around 5 degrees, and you are on the fringe anyway. Mine is around 35' off the ground on a house mount and even being surrounded by trees I can get to around 5 degrees then the sat goes away quick. A standard roof tripod with about a 3' pole out the top should be perfect and very manageable.

[@barndweller4573]

I know that but does the rotor do it when it calibrates?

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

No. It will only go maybe 1 degree below level.

[@g1egz]

The motor casing has limit switches which will stop it going down, l use a g5500, and the elevation part of it only goes 180 degrees,

[@soodwah]

Can I remember shipping weight of this?

[@W0CYC-HamRadioEndeavors]

It was around 30 pounds total.