Green Heron RT-20

Just SCORED a used Green Heron RT-20 Rotator controller.

Green Heron RT-20
Green Heron RT-20

It’s time to upgrade my HF antenna rotor controller.

Green Heron RT-20
Green Heron RT-20 is wired up!
Green Heron RT-20
Green Heron RT-20 takes its place in the shack! 11/14/19

Update 11/14/19

I finally found some time to get the RT-20 wired up and into its place in the shack. The connection to the PC is working and tomorrow I will calibrate it!

Update 11/15/19

The antenna is off azimuth. High winds had blown one of my VHF antennas into the path of the HF antenna, causing the HF antenna to get bound up on it. It happened during the CQWW contest back on October 24th. I went up on the roof and cleared the hang-up but did not realize at the time that the HF antenna was knocked off azimuth.

It’s off azimuth enough that it requires another climb up on the roof for correction. I’ve put an offset in the controller for the time being to make it line up temporarily.

Update 03/04/20

I’m on vacation and finally had some time to go up on the roof and aim the antenna for a north center of rotation. The antenna is pointing in the right direction and I have the fantastic advantage of the north center. This means I can get to where I need to be a lot faster than I could before. Just in time for the ARRL DX Contest this weekend! The Green Heron controller also plays nicely with DXLab.

The Green Heron owners manual was spot on and easy to understand so I was able to get it calibrated quickly.

It’s Time For A Change

change south to north center of rotation

When I first installed the HF antenna I aligned it north for a “South Center of Travel”. I quickly learned that in order to turn from Europe to Japan (a direction I often travel) the antenna had to travel nearly the entire range of rotation to get to JA land. It didn’t bother me enough to change it, and I have operated that way since 2004.

With the addition of the Green Heron RT-20, and the need to correct the antenna’s physical azimuth, I have decided to make the change to a “North Center of Travel” as this is really what makes the most sense for my location. This will enable me to point in any direction without all the ‘extra travel’. Also, by utilizing the 90 degree overlap, I’ll also be able to point to VK/ZL turning from South America without any excess travel. I should have had it this way from the start. So I’ll leverage this opportunity to finally set it right.

Green Heron RT-20 Standard Description:

The RT-20 is a universal digital rotator controller that can be user configured for motor voltage and position feedback. RT-20 configuration is accomplished by a combination of PCB jumpers and software settings, there’s no soldering or major disassembly required. This flexibility allows the RT-20 to operate any commercial amateur rotator being built today, and virtually any rotator ever built.

Why upgrade your controller?

The addition of an RT-20 will add modern functionality to your rotator:

  • RS-232 control
  • High resolution digital display
  • Point & Shoot hands off operation
  • In most cases, improves heading accuracy
  • In most cases, adds PWM speed control and gradual start/stop to your system eliminating tower and rotator stresses

The RT-20 manual contains separate pages detailing the setup, hookup and calibration of 14 of the most common rotators in use.  Additional resources are available from Green Heron in the form of applications notes, that detail less common or custom requirements.

Common Rotators Supported and Documented in the Manual:

  • Hy-gain HAM series, T2X and HDR-300
  • Create RC5 series
  • Yaesu All models
  • Orion 2800 and 2300 models
  • TIC RingRotor
  • Prosistel
  • Alfa-Spid
  • Alliance HD-73
  • Rotor Doctor (CATS)
  • Diawa MR-750/MR-300

Specifications:

Size/Weight

  • Approx 4” x 8” x 7” HWD
    (Not including rear terminal strip)
  • Approx 8 lb – Shipping = 11 lb

Input Power

  • 115/230 VAC 50/60 Hz
  • Standard IEC power connector
    and 5x20mm GMA fuse

Display

  • High contrast Yellow-Green backlit FSTN LCD
  • Eight brightness levels w/auto-dim

Front Panel Controls

  • CCW, CW and CANCEL buttons (Operating)
  • SAVE, CHANGE, SETUP buttons (Setup)
  • Point and Shoot knob (360º = full rotation)

Motor Power
(Selectable voltages @ 5A)

  • 18 to 36 VAC
  • 12 to 48 VDC
  • 115VAC (call)

External Relay Control

  • CCW and CW DC relay control (12V or 24VDC relays)
  • various configurations

Operating Modes

  • Normal, Master/Slave, Master/Counter Rotate, Slave/Counter Rotate, Debug, Alt Offset

Selectable Options
(specific Rotator Settings)

  • POT, Counter, HAMx, T2X, Orion,
    TIC-PST, SPID

Position Feedback
Mechanisms Supported

  • Potentiometer 150 Ohm to 10 kOhm
  • Variable resistor 500 Ohm (Others accommodated with minor modification)
  • Proximity/reed switch or Hall effect up to 64 pulses/degree (divide ratio  up to 23,500)
  • 2-Bit rotary relative encoder (special order)
  • Others possible

Position Accuracy

  • Up to 1/3º for potentiometer
  • Up to 1/10º with proximity/reed switch

Brake and Reversal Delays

  • 0 to 6 Seconds

Soft Limits

  • +/- 180º from normal stop
  • Restricts rotation to zero or opens to 720º

Motor Speed Control (PWM)

  • 10% to 100% in 10% steps with 10 selectable start/stop ramp settings
  • 100% no ramps

Computer Control

  • Compatible with all DCU 1 enabled programs
  • Expanded Protocol for GH Tracker and SETUP UTILITY (See manual)

Configuration

  • User changeable in minutes with no soldering

Protection

  • No Motion feedback
  • Pot out-of-range (TIC-PST Option)
  • Counter Range Error (Orion, SPID, Counter)
  • Industrial rated Transient Voltage Suppressors on all external terminals

Rear Panel

  • 8 Position barrier strip #6-32
  • Ground stud #6
  • Cable strain relief
  • DB-9 RS-232
Of course, one of these would also come in very handy!

Maybe I can get the word to Santa Claus!

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