AlfaSpid Rotator RAS Controller Rot2Prog For use with AlfaSpid AZ/EL RAS OR AlfaSpid EL REAL User Manual DRAFT Copyright Alfa Radio Ltd. 2008-09-15 www.alfaradio.ca 780 466 5779 Alfaspid-AZ-EL-2008-08-15-manual.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 2 Table of contents Introduction .................................................................................... 3 Shipping Contents.......................................................................... 3 Technical Data ............................................................................... 3 Control Panel ................................................................................. 4 Rear Panel ..................................................
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 3 Introduction The AlfaSpid RAS (AZ/EL) rotator is an extra heavy-duty rotator designed to run large satellite antennas and comes complete with an electronic control unit. The rotator is designed to be mounted pipe to pipe or on an optional adaptor plate for conventional in tower mounting. It can also be mounted outside of the tower on the mast, or used in a side mount configuration. Shipping Contents RAS Rotator ....................................................
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 4 Control Panel Azimuth Elevation Buttons - Left (Decrease) - Up (Increase) -Down (Decrease) - Right (Increase) - Setup (configuration) - Function Indicators -Dot Overlap - Over travel 7 segment 4-digit display - Multifunction display Elevation Azimuth Copyright Alfa Radio Ltd. 2008-09-15 www.alfaradio.ca 780 466 5779 Alfaspid-AZ-EL-2008-08-15-manual.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 5 Rear Panel or -Fuse Holder - Power Cord - Power Switch or - Terminal Strip for azimuth control (1,2,3,4) or - Terminal Strip for elevation control (5,6,7,8) -DB-9 connector (male) -DB-9 connector (female) Copyright Alfa Radio Ltd. 2008-09-15 www.alfaradio.ca 780 466 5779 Alfaspid-AZ-EL-2008-08-15-manual.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 6 Installation Wiring Connections The rotator unit must be wired to the TIP: control unit with 8 wires cable. 4 wires – Before final installation of azimuth (1,2,3,4) and 4 wires - elevation equipment, it is strongly (5,6,7,8). Diameter of wires in cable to suggested you check out all connect the control unit to the rotator functions and connections on a workbench. depends upon the distance between rotator and controller.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 7 Bench Testing of Control Box The control box is normally expected to be operated from a 13.8 Volt DC supply, however it may be operated from other unregulated DC or AC sources as well. The output of supply source must be from 13.8 to 24 V, 6 Amps minimum. The polarity of the power to the control box input leads is not critical, as a full wave bridge rectifier on the input will provide the proper polarity to the electronics.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 8 Turn the unit OFF. Resetting the Controller While holding the will now show button depressed, turn control unit back on. This on the display. This feature can be used if, for any reason, the direction of the antenna becomes incorrect. This may be caused by antenna to mast slippage or incorrect initial alignment. Re-alignment may be necessary.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 9 Controller Operation Technical Note: The AlfaSpid controller has multiple modes of operation. You will need to become familiar with these modes to be able to make full use of your rotator. Function Mode The button steps through the function menus. The leftmost character on the display indicates the function mode you are currently in. - Normal Operations Mode - Half Auto Mode - CPU Mode The 0 in the displays to the left will be replaced by your actual beam heading.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 10 - Auto ( CPU ) Mode In Auto Mode, the controller will respond to commands from control software running on an attached computer. The , , , buttons can still be used, but pressing of any of them will cause cancelling the data from software. Setup Mode The button steps through the setup menu, for modes other than manual control operate as STOP. The display cycles through each of the setup menu items.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 11 - AlfaSpid - Yaesu (GS232 protocol, 600 baud N, 1, 8 bits) (Data rate 600, 1 STOP bit, no even parity bit) Operating mode change , . - Heading Adjust This setting can be used to make minor heading adjustments without causing the rotator to turn.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 12 Mouse Controller The optional mouse controller allows easy desktop access to the most commonly used front panel controls. These buttons are functionally equivalent to the corresponding front panel controls. - Left (Decrease) -Up (Increase) -Down (Decrease) - Right (Increase) Setup Mode or STOP The mouse controller is a highly modified computer mouse. You can not use a regular mouse with the AlfaSpid rotator nor viceversa. The mouse ball serves no function.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 13 Alfa Radio Ltd. Trouble shooting tips Before contacting AlfaRadio Ltd. Please make the following tests:. NOTE: ON THE ELEVATION ROTATOR THERE ARE MECHANICAL SWITCHES WHICH OPEN THE POWER WHEN THE END LIMIT IS REACHED. A DIODE IS PLACED IN SERIES WITH THE MOTOR. TO TEST FOR THIS, REVERSE THE POWER TO THE MOTOR. The following are some trouble shooting tips, if for some reason your AlfaSpid will not operate correctly.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 14 Be careful not to over wind your coax with the next test, as there will be no protection from over turning. Find a small 12 volts supply which will deliver 3 to 4 amps. ( a small 12 Volt battery will work just fine ) To confirm that the motor runs you may connect 12 volts D.C. to the lines that go to the motor, pins 1 and 2, it should turn. Reversing the 12 Volts D.C. should cause the motor to turn in the reverse direction.
AlfaSpid Rotator www.alfaradio.ca Page 15 12 MONTH LIMITED WARRANTY AlfaSpid Rotator and controller Alfa Radio Ltd. Warrants to the user, who originally purchased the product, that the product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for the following periods after such date of purchase: Material, 12 months : Workmanship, 12 months. Alfa Radio Ltd. will, at its option, repair or replace free of charge such defective products subject to the following conditions: 1.
