Rotors for OTA: Channel Master, Nexxtech/Archer, Yaesu, Hy-Gain, Others

[stampeder]

No, I don't know of any that have antenna positioner controls like some FTA satellite systems do for dishes.

[HDTV101]

Originally Posted by stampeder

Do you have the RS catalogue number for the digital box?

Remote Rotator Controller with Infrared Signal
$54.99
Model: 15-1213
Catalog #: 15-1213

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

[stampeder]

I tried plugging 1501213 into The Source's web page with no luck.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by HDTV101

The US Radio Shack does sell the digital control box with remote for another $54.99US so maybe the Source will do the same?

Out of curiosity I went to The Source a couple weeks ago and they said that they do not sell the digital control box.

On a related note, a few years a go my parents’ neighbour’s house (in BC) was being demolished and they had antenna with a rotor on the roof and I asked my dad if he could salvage the rotor for me (should I ever decide to switch to a directional antenna) so I now have a rotor but no controller. I had a look at it and I can't see a make or model number on it, but it looks like the Channel Master. My questions are:

1. Is there an easy way for me to test if it works or not?
2. Should I bother keeping it, or would I be better off getting a new one should I ever need it (i.e. how reliable are they)?

[stampeder]

Originally Posted by roger1818

1. Is there an easy way for me to test if it works or not?
2. Should I bother keeping it, or would I be better off getting a new one should I ever need it (i.e. how reliable are they)?

I wish I could give you a definitive answer to number 2, but it depends on whether you can test it. Check through HDTV101's prior posts about rotors and you'll find great info on rotor wiring - without a controller for it you are dead in the water, as far as I know.

[roger1818]

Thanks for the response. I had previously looked through HDTV101's prior posts (I read this entire thread before posting), but it doesn't seem obvious how I could test it without a controller. I guess I will just keep it for now. Maybe sometime when I am in the US, I will stop off at a Radio Shack and pick up a digital control box (unless someone knows of a better source).

There really is no rush, as I doubt if I will be able to convince my wife to let me get the current antenna out of the attic any time soon, let alone replace it with a directional antenna. I should start a thread on this.

[HDTV101]

You can't really test it without the control box... it's not a standard AC or DC motor. It's a Phase Shift AC motor. All 3 wires are used to drive it... one is common and the other 2 are the phase wires. Between the 2 phase wires there is a phase shift... by reversing the 2 phase wires the motor will reverse. This is the most practical way to make an AC motor reversible. The same technique is used with Elevators and Escalators to reverse their motors that are AC powered.

[roger1818]

Thanks HDTV101. That makes sence. As I said earlier, I will probably keep it for now. It doesn't take up that much space and it may be useful one day.

[gmark2000]

The re-branded Channel Master rotors are on sale again for $89.99 at The Source (sale ends August 27th).

http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Pr...roduct=1501245

[AMD]

Hi,

I am new to the board here and I just read a lot and found lots of interesting information!

Here is my problem...

At home we are still using an outdoor antenna to receive analog TV signals, but living in Montreal's suburbs and using a signal booster, we are able to get a lot of American TV and are quite happy with what we get. HDTV will come soon, when we decide to upgrade our TV.

We have always been using chimney mounted antennas with a Channel Master rotor and a "knob" controller.

A few months ago we decided to go with a remote controlled rotor controller and bought a Zenith ZENRTR1. Well the first one we got was dead in the box and the second one we got lasted a few months, as with the last wind storms, the rotor itself broke apart, the antenna falling on the roof, broken in two and it also made a whole in the shingles... Anyways not fun!

So we are now looking at going back with Channel Master as the Zenith stuff was really bad in terms of quality...

We have been looking to get a Channel Master 9521A (the whole kit) or at least a 9537 because our old rotor still works, but we'd rather install a new one...

The bad thing is we have only found one place in Montreal that sells them, but they are backordered since February and have 61 orders on them!

So I'd like to know if there are any retailers (online or not) that have them in stock and can easily ship it in Canada.

Thanks a lot!

Also on a side note I'd like to know where I could see what people are getting in terms of HD signals near Montreal.

[stampeder]

I found a PDF manual on line for The Source's Nexxtech 1501245 rotor:

http://download.orbyxelectronics.com...als/manual.pdf

[HQS]

Hello Folks...

I just picked up my new CM9521A and installed it on my 10' mast with a CM4228 Antenna. Everything was working well until I decide to perform a sync so the arrows on the mast and hold were aligned, and change the Antenna direction by loosening the mast and turning it so the Antenna was pointing South. CLimbed back down and punched in 180, and nothing... Tried 90, 360, nothing at all. The Antenna won't move, but the box #'s roll.

Do you folks have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

HQS

[tricky]

Is it possible you jogged loose the cable conections on the rotor when you turned it?

[HQS]

I checked both ends and they seemed to be all intact. I'm going to go up on the roof in the am and unplug and reconnect. The leads to the motor are short and I should open them up a little. Hopefully, that will help. If not, I may have to bring the rotor down, and check it out inside. I hope I didn't overload it.

Thanks.

HQS

[HQS]

Guys,...

I took the unit down this morning, cut 3' off the 10' Mast, reconnected everything and it works mint.

Thanks for all your helps...

HQS