{"id":5455,"date":"2019-11-02T22:16:22","date_gmt":"2019-11-03T05:16:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/k6hr.com\/?p=5455"},"modified":"2023-01-22T16:53:26","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T00:53:26","slug":"new-addition-green-heron-rt-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/k6hr.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/02\/new-addition-green-heron-rt-20\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Heron RT-20"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Just SCORED <\/em>a used Green Heron<\/a> RT-20 Rotator controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Green Heron RT-20<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It’s time to upgrade my HF antenna rotor controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Green Heron RT-20 is wired up!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Green Heron RT-20 takes its place in the shack! 11\/14\/19<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Update 11\/14\/19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Update 11\/15\/19<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Update 03\/04\/20<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Green Heron owners manual was spot on and easy to understand so I was able to get it calibrated quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s Time For A Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

change south to north center of rotation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Green Heron RT-20 Standard Description:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why upgrade your controller?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The addition of an RT-20 will add modern functionality to your rotator:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n