Re: [Hamlib-developer] Hamlib supported rotators

[Stephane F. <f8...@fr...>]

Andrej Falout skribis:
[..]
> In general, it seems that computer controllable rotators fall in two categories:
> 
> - Heavy-duty, 1000 $ and up, and
> - Extra Heavy-duty, 2000$ and up.

 - Dirt-cheap TV rotator, 100$, needs soldering

> > If you poke around ham radio satellite forums and lists, you may find someone
> > has devised a hardware combo that may fit your need.  If we don't have
> > support for such a device, we can certainly add it.
> 
> The only "simple" interface that can be used with a laptop (using
> parallel to USB adapter) is
> http://www.ea4tx.com/products/ars.htm at incredible 110 Euros. And it
> has no Linux drivers (they where "abandoned" with an exclamation mark)
> so it's useless to me anyway.

Provided we get some information about the interface, we should be able 
to develop a Hamlib backend for the EA4TX controller. Anyone has the
product manual?

> Seems that this is the only remotely reasonable solution in my case:
> 
> http://wk4r.com/rotor

Sounds like same approach as the PcRotor from Bob WA6UFQ:

  http://www.dxzone.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump2.cgi?ID=11173

except parallel port wiring is different. Beaware these controllers
don't have feedback reading. The computer is totally blind, and
sometimes, it can be off the target. Using a multi-turn pot like
Doug NA1DB suggests[1], plus an I2C/SPI enabled ADC with parallel
port bitbanging should do the trick.

[1] http://www.dougbraun.com/rotor_mod.html

Projects like AVR-USB[2] should even allow to replace the parallel
port with USB, and integrate the ADC at the same time.

[2] http://www.obdev.at/products/avrusb/index.html

> Looks like it should work with most basic TV rotators (Such as
> http://www.starkelectronic.com/cmmatv.htm
> or
> http://www.radioparts.com.au/ProdView.aspx?popup=1&Category=SXCC4015&Product=00903501&ProdDesc=AR300XC+AUTOMATIC+ANTENNA+ROTATOR

179 AUD, that's kind of pricy.
Similar models are around 50 EUR in Europe:

http://www.conrad.fr/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=218994

with all the schematics(pdf) of this simple gear.

> 
> BUT - can it be made to work with HamLib?

At least PcRotor is present in v1.2.8. I haven't finished building
mine, but should done one of those days :-)

Cheers,
-- 
Stephane - F8CFE