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  ERC-4 Interface & My HyGain Ham-IV Rotator Controller – Part 4 Filed in Antennas on Jul.29, 2021 Calibration Now it is time to calibrate your ERC. Start by checking the calibration of your HyGain Ham-IV controller. [ ] Press and hold the Brake lever on your controller. [ ] Press and hold the CCW lever to move the rotator to the stop at the end of the left scale. [ ] Release the Brake and CCW levers. [ ] Check that the meter reads exactly 180 on the left hand side.   Full CCW [ ] Adjust the mechanical screw under the meter to show exactly 180. [ ] Similarly, use the Brake and CW levers to move to the right hand side of the scale, until it stops. [ ] Check that the meter reads exactly 180 on the right hand side. [ ] Adjust the “Calibrate” knob to read exactly 180.   Full CW [ ] Run the ERC Calibration routine by pressing the “Calibrate 1” Button on the Service Tool.   Calibrate [ ] Sele

  ERC-4 Interface & My HyGain Ham-IV Rotator Controller – Part 3 Filed in Antennas on Jul.29, 2021 Installation My HyGain Ham-IV rotator was built in 2016. The control box has changed in its layout over the years. In the documentation from the CD, the picture of the Ham-IV shows that the meter board is installed vertically behind the meter. In my version, it is installed horizontally (parallel to the chassis surface) on the switch side of the cabinet. Since this is where the ERC-4 was supposed to be installed, I had to find a new location. I chose to install it in the space under the transformer. There really didn’t seem to be many options, but this location worked out well. There is plenty of space between the transformer and the cover of the cabinet. [ ] Choose a location to install the ERC-4 into the controller cabinet.   Mounting location for the ERC-4 There was some challenge to drilling the holes on the back plate. I didn’t feel

  ERC-4 Interface & My HyGain Ham-IV Rotator Controller – Part 2 Filed in Antennas on Jul.29, 2021 Checkout [ ] Connect 11 – 15 vdc to the barrel power connector. The center contact is positive, the outside is negative. [ ] Place the Jumper on JP1 [ ] Measure your input voltage (11 – 15vcc) at the +12V test point to ground [ ] Measure +5vdc +/- 0.2v at the test point +5V to ground [ ] If all is well, you may remove power from the board, and install IC1 & IC2 into their sockets. *** Pin 1 is top-left on both chips*** This usually requires the pins of the ICs to be straightened, as they tend to arrive bowed out too wide for the sockets. I just use a flat surface (my bench top) and lay one side of the IC against the surface at about a 45 degree angle, pressing gently to bend the legs in slightly. Then I repeat for the legs on the other side of the IC. Be careful inserting the ICs, it is easy to miss a pin and bend it. That us

ERC-4 Interface & My HyGain Ham-IV Rotator Controller Filed in Antennas on Jul.28, 2021 Having recently added a Flex Radio 6400 in my hamshack, I’m making progress on being able to operate the radio from my office in the house, while the radio is installed in my garage workshop. The radio makes remote operation very easy, with nearly all functions adjustable over the ethernet link. The next step is to be able to turn my rotator from the computer in my office, while the rotator control box is located in the shop. In order to facilitate this operation, I purchased an ERC-4 rotator controller from Vibroplex. I have another one of these that I use with my balloon tracking station, and it has worked well with my Kenpro 5400 AZ/EL rotator.   ERC-4 Rotator Controller My HF rotator is the HyGain Ham-IV. It is an azimuth only rotator, with push levers to rotate CCW or CW, and a middle lever for a brake release. The ERC-4 controller supports all three of th