2025 Rotator Project

Overview

The W9YT club station primarily operators a 20m/15m/10m beam, in addition to a 6m beam, all positioned by an M2 antenna systems OR2800 Orion motor, controlled via a RC2800-A box. Over time, the functionality of this system has decreased to a critical level, threatening the structural integrity of the beam, feedlines, and tower, necessitating repairs. The club has a reserve, older model 2800 and 2800 controller that it intends to restore and place into operations so that the newer model currently in use can be removed and repaired.

Background

Over the course of the last decade, progressively increasing play in the beam's directional holding ability has been observed by club members. Up to spring 2025, the beam could freely rotate as much as +/- 90 degrees of whatever setting was specified on the M2 Systems RC2800-A rotator controller (intended functionality is that the beam is statically held at whatever setting an operator specifies without any excess rotation at all). Additionally, operators noted a reduced range of rotation, with the beam generally slowing down - before stopping - at any settings above 250 degrees or below 50 degrees of rotation.

As of the time of writing (August 2025), damage sustained by antenna feedlines and other associated equipment suggests the beam may be able to fully rotate 360 degrees freely. The initial assessment of station engineers was that the internal gearing mechanisms (outlined in red) of the OR2800 Orion antenna rotator/positioned had sheared.

The initial antenna play and decreased lack of direction authority indicated that some of the gear teeth had rusted and subsequently mechanically failed, resulting in a gap in gear teething inside of the rotator.