Rotator Center - microHAM ARCO Manual

If you are going to calibrate already installed antenna with proper center alignment, you can skip
next chapter. If you are going to do new rotator installation, perform next instructions.
The most comfortable way to center rotator is to do this prior installation on the tower while is
down, using temporary connection cable. It is also possible to center rotator when is already
installed on the tower together with an antenna, but if it is brand new installation we recommend
to carefully watch the antenna feedline, release it, or entirely disconnect during the process, to
avoid feedline damage.
Touch the settings icon at the left bottom corner of the main screen to enter menu.
–
Touch Heading tab.
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Touch RESET to clear calibration memory.
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Touch AUTO or FIND CENTER button.
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AUTO automatically sets rotator to its center, assuming the sensor center is also rotator
rotation center. Procedure takes longer time as automatically finds and register position
of both CW and CCW limits. AUTO function is provided only for rotators with hardware
limit switches.
FIND CENTER automatically sets absolute sensor rotator to its center, assuming the
sensor center is also a rotator rotation center, by shortest possible path without searching
and registering limit positions.
If automatic finding of the rotator center is not appropriate for whatever reason, you can
turn rotator to its center manually using CW and CCW front panel buttons until reading
shows 50%.
Once rotator is centered setup is done, rotator can be installed on the tower. When rotator and
antenna installation is finished, release antenna clamps a bit to be able to rotate it manually
around the mast (mechanically, DO NOT TURN ROTATOR BY THE ARCO) to the North or to
the South or to any other desired antenna rotation center, and firmly tight all clamps. Antenna
positioning does not need to be super accurate as caused error will only influence position of
CW and CCW limits.
From now, antenna can be turned by ARCO controller equally in both CW and CCW directions
by CW and CCW buttons because you've nulled mounting shift and aligned requested antenna
rotation center to the rotator rotation center. You can adjust rotation speed as necessary by
CALIB SPEED parameter which sets percentage of nominal power. Turn rotator to both limits
and check for possible feedline problems.
Next step is registering position of hardware limit switches if they exist and accurate calibration
of the antenna position.
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Rotator Center

INSTRUCTIONS
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