Supported Selection
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Amsat IF-100
The AMSAT IF-100 was a parralle port attached azimuth and elevation interfaced created by the AMSAT-DL german group, Unfortunately, these interfaces are no longer available.
AlphaSpid RAK Az
The AlphaSpid RAK Az Rotator is a medium to heavy duty azimuth antenna rotator in the same general class as the HyGain TailTwister or Yaesu G-1000/2800.
AlphaSpid RAK Az/El
The AlphaSpid RAK Az/El Rotator is a medium to heavy duty azimuth and Elevation antenna rotator.
ARMStrong
The ARMStrong Rotator is supported by HRD USERS as long as you can convince your son, best friend or neighbour (or even worse your XYL!) to tie a rope around one end of the beam, stand outside in the rain and turn the beam using his Strong Arms while you yell at him through the radio shack window which way to turn, obviously by looking at your HRD Rotator application...
Proper Rotator interface lubrification with German or Canadian beer is strongly recommended, a Guinness is a perfectly acceptable equivalent...
Common issues with the ARMStrong rotator are the failure of the SHS system and often encountered problems with the need for constant lubrification of the ARMStrong rotator (Beer!) ...
EA4TX/ARSWIN
The Antenna Rotator System (ARS) or Universal Antenna Rotor Interface is a Paralle port based interface that supports m different kinds of rotator (Azimuth or Azimuth & Elevation).
Heron RT-20
The GreenHeron RT-20 is a Hy-Gain DCU-1 azimuth only controller Rotator. Two or more RT-20 Controllers may be linked together in a Master/Slave approach where for exemple Side-mounted antennas may all be moved to the same heading simultaneously or each antenna can maintain its own heading relative to the movement of the tower or other antennas.
The GreenHeron RT-20 supports both AC and DC type Rotators.
The GreenHeron RT-20 is equipped with an RS-232 port. This port can be used for
linking with other GreenHeron RT-20 controllers in order to implement Master/Slave or Master/Counter-Rotation control of antenna arrays or can be used to attached to HRD ROTATOR.
The protocol implemented in the GreenHeron RT-20 is based on the Hy-Gain DCU-1 protocol. It reports headings and turns to headings with the same commands implemented in DCU-1. The [GreenHeron RT-20 should be able run under both the GreenHeron RT-20 settings or the Hy-Gain DCU-1.
HRD ROTATOR as been programmed to support additional commands that are provided for the advanced features that only the GreenHeron RT-20 can use, thus the GreenHeron RT-20 setting should be used for this Rotator.
The Heron RT-21 is the evolution of the RT-20, you should be able to use the HRD ROTATOR Heron RT-20 for this Rotator also, but if you run into any problems the just like it's older brother the Heron RT-21 should be supported by the Hy-Gain DCU-1.
Hy-Gain DCU-1
The Hy-Gain DCU-1 Digital Rotator controler unit has 6 presets, 1 degree heading accuracy, automatic 8-second brake delay and 360 degree choice for center of rotation. It automates operation of Hy-Gain Rotators via an RS-232 connection.
The Hy-Gain DCU-1 digital rotator unit is compatible with the T-2X, HAM-IV, and HAM-V families of rotators.
The DCU-1 Communication Protocol is widely used by Ham radio controler manufacturers like IDIOM Press, GreenHeron RT21 and RT21D, MDS RC-1 and others.
IDIOM Press
The IDIOM Press is an Hy-Gain DCU-1 protocol based azimuth only interface card called Rotor-EZ.
They support;
Hy-Gain Aimuth rotators Hy-Gain CD45, Ham-II, Ham-III, Ham IV and all TailTwister Rotators
Yaesu SDX series rotators
and Yaesu DXA Series rotators
Prosistel "D"
Under Construction
Prosistel Combo
Under Construction
Yaesu AZ
Under Construction
Yaesu AZ/El
The Yaesu GS232 Interface was designed by Yaesu as an add on to the G5400/G5600 satellite rotator
| Command list | ||
| R | Clockwise Rotation | |
| L | Counter Clockwise Rotation A CW/CCW Rotation Stop | |
| C | Antenna Direction Value | |
| M | Antenna Direction Setting. | MXXX |
| M | M Time interval Direction | Setting. MTTT XXX XXX XXX (TTT=Step value XXX=Horizontal Angle) |
| R | Clockwise Rotation | Parameters |
| R | Clockwise Rotation | Parameters |
| R | Clockwise Rotation | Parameters |
--- COMMAND LIST 1 ---
T Start Comand in the time interval Ddirection setting mode. N Total number of setting angle in 'M' mode and traced number of all datas(setting angles) XI Rotation Speed I(Horizontal)Low X2 Rotation Speed 2(Horizontal)Middle 1 X3 Rotation Speed 3(Horizontal)Middle 2 X4 Rotation Speed 4(Horizontal)High S All Stop O Offset Calibration F Full Scale Calibration (after calibration push reset switch) (Vl.2) Copyright 1988.6 by KENPRO
Returned by H2 Command:
--- HELP COMMAND 2 ---
U UP Direction Rotation
D DOUN Direction Rotation E UP/DOWN Direction Rotation Stop C2 Antenna Direction Value W Antenna Direction Setting. WXXX YYY W Time Interval Direction Setting. WTTT XXX YYY XXX YYY --- (TTT=Step value) (XXX=Horizontal Angle) (YYY=Elevation Angle) T Start Command in the time interval direction setting mode. N Total number of setting angle in 'W' mode and traced number of all datas (setting angles) S All Stop 02 Offset Calibration F2 Full Scale Calibration B Elevation Antenna Direction Value (V1.2) Copyright 1988.6 by KENPRO
R (U)
Start tumming the rotator to the right (up).
L (D) Start tumming the rotator to the left (down).
A (E) Stop azimuth (elevation) rotation.
S Stop: cancel current command before completion.
C (B) Return current azimuth (elevation) angle in the form " +0nnn" degrees.
C2 Return azimuth and elevation ("+0aaa+0eee", where eee = elevation, aaa = azimuth).
Xn Select azimuth rotator tumming speed, where n= 1 (slowest) to 4 (fastest). This command can be issued during rotation, and takes effect immedi- ately. There is no equivalent for elevation.
Maaa Tum to aaa degrees azimuth, where aaa is three digits between 000 and 450. Rotation starts.
Msss 000 bbb c cc ... This command, together with the T command, provides automatic, timed tracking of moving objects or propagation by the Control Interface itself. This command stores the time value sss seconds to wait between stepping from azimuth aaa to bbb, and then to ccc, etc. (from 2 to as many as 3800 angles may be stored with one command). Note that this command is cornpletely different than the Fl05MM command with only one parameter: when multiple parameters are present, the first one is interpreted by the Control Interface as the rotation illterval sss, not an angle. Valid ranges are 00 1 to 999 for sss, and 000 to 450 for the angles. When this command is sent, the parameters are stored in the Control Interface's RAM, and the rotator turns to angle aaa and waits for a subsequent T command to begin the actual stepping. All numbers must be 3 digits, space-separated. Stored values remain in effect until another M command is issued (this may have no parameters, in which case the "?> " error prompt is returned, but memories are still cleared), or until the controller is turned off or manually reset by the rear panel button (or by toggling the GS-232 off and on).
T See the M above and the W command below. Start automatic stepping routine (both azimuth and elevation): turn rotator to next sequentially memorized azimuth (or az-el pair, for the W command), wait sss seconds, and turn to next angle (or pair), etc. This command works only if a long-form M or W has been issued since power-up or the last reset.
N Return serial number of currently selected memorized point [ nnnn ] , and total number of memorized points [mmmm], in the form+nnnn+mmmm. Must be preceeded by either a long-form M or W, and a T command. Used only during stepping (see T). The meaning of a "point" in this command following an M command is only an azimuth angle, so in this case nnnn and mmmm can range up to 3800 (the limit of available RAM in the Control Interface). However, when elevation is involved, a "point" following a W command is represented by both an azimuth and an elevation angle, in which case nnnn and mmmm can range up to only 1900, since each "point" a pair of angles.
Elevation Control Commands These commands are only for az-el operation. Note that an azimuth angle must always be supplied when changing elevation, and that a setting point consists of a pair of angles, as described for the N command.
WIaaa eee Tum to aaa degrees azimuth and eee degrees ele- vation, where aaa is three digits belween 000 and 450, and eee is three digits belween 000 and 180. Rotators respond immediately.
Wsss aaa eee aaa eee ...) This command is similar to the M command: the first parameter is a time interval, and succeeding parameters are angles. With this command, however, angles are in azimuth-elevation pairs, each pair representing one antenna location. At most 1900 pairs can be sent and stored in the Control Interface. As with the other commands, the time interval range is limited to 001 to 999 (seconds), azimuth to 000 to 450, and elevation to 000 to 180. When this command is sent, the rotators turn to the first aaa azimuth parameter and the first eee elevation parameter, and wait for a subsequent T command to begin the actual stepping (to the next azimuth-elevation pair). Stored values remain in effect until another W command is issued (this may have no parameters, in which case the "?>" error prompt is returned, but memories are still cleared), or until the controller is turned off or manually reset by the rear panel utton.
Source : F1TE Reference : Yaesu GS232 Computer Control Interface
Easycom
(The status of Easycom 1 and 2 support within HRD Rotator is still to be defined)
Easycom 1 and 2 are fairly standard Rotator control protocols that are used in many different Rotator controllers and kits from Hams...
The following an edited version of a very good explanation of the Easycom Protocol from Chris Jackson, G7UPN. (Source : Chris Jackson, G7UPN)
Introduction
The EasyComm interfaces are for use by those who wish to design their own radio and Rotator controllers.
EASYCOMM I Standard
The EasyComm 1 standard is a simple ASCII character based standard for controling antennas and rotators. The host PC issues a single line command as follows -:
AZaaa.a ELeee.e UPuuuuuuuuu UUU DNddddddddd DDD
The Az and El values (aaa.a and eee.e) are not fixed width. They are in degrees and include 1 decimal place.
The Up and Dn frequencies are in Hz.
UUU and DDD are the uplink and downlink mode.
EASYCOMM II Standard
The EasyComm 2 standard is an enhanced protocol to allow full station control and also feedback from external systems.
The host PC issues commands to the controller by sending a 2 character command identifier followed by the command value. Commands are separated by either a space or carriage return or linefeed.
Not all commands need to be implemented, and the most basic system may only decode the rotator control commands.
The Host PC can issue the following commands -:
| Command | Meaning | Parameters |
| AZ | Azimuth | number - 1 decimal place |
| EL | Elevation | number - 1 decimal place |
| UP | Uplink freq | in Hertz |
| DN | Downlink freq | in Hertz |
| DM | Downlink Mode | ascii, eg SSB, FM |
| UM | Uplink Mode | ascii, eg SSB, FM |
| DR | Downlink Radio | number |
| UR | Uplink Radio | number |
| ML | Move Left | |
| MR | Move Right | |
| MU | Move Up | |
| MD | Move Down | |
| SA | Stop azimuth moving | |
| SE | Stop elevation moving | |
| AO | AOS | |
| LO | LOS | |
| OP | Set output | number |
| IP | Read an input | number |
| AN | Read analogue input | number |
| ST | Set time | YY:MM:DD:HH:MM:SS |
| VE | Request Version |
For those commands that require a response, the response is an echo of the command followed by the response. If the command specifies a field number (eq. AN or IP), then the two numbers are delimited with a comma.
eg. To read an analogue value, the host sends ANx where x is the analogue channel number. In response the controller will reply with ANx,yyy where yyy is the value read on the analogue port.
eg. To find the controller version number, the host sends VE. In response the controller sends VExxx where xxx is an ascii string containing the version number.
All strings sent in either direction are not of fixed length.
The controller can also send unsolicited information back to the host. This information may be used by the host for alarms or just control feedback. All of the above commands may be sent by the controller for information, and in addition the following may also be sent
ALxxx Alarm, where xxxx is an ascii string with the alarm info.
