Rotator module version 3.3

This revision is from 2020/08/31 15:23. You can Restore it.

Previous version

Circuit diagram

Planting plan

PCB 3D View 8MB

Part list

Main and LCD PCB	two PCB
C1,C2,C3,C4,C5, C6	capacitor 4n7
D1,D2,D3,D4	diode 1n4148
L1	inductor 150uH
L2	inductor 220uH
R1,R2,R3,R5	resistor 1k
R9	resistor 4k7
R4,R6,R7,R8	resistor 510R
RV1	potenciometer 1k
Q1,Q2,Q3	transistor BC547
S1,S2,S3	LED switch
RL1,RL2,RL3	Relay
U1	LCD 16X2
U3	preset encoder with knob
J1	DB15-F + DB15-M
CON1	pin array 5x2
P2+P1, P3+P4	strip 9+13 pins 90°
P5	pin array_3x2
P6, JP1	pins + jumper
U2	Arduino nano 3.0 + socket

Assembly gallery

✔ All components

❏ Solder R4 R6 R7 R8 (marked in blue)

❏ 13 and 9 pins 90° strip

❏ 16 pins strip to LCD

❏ Insulating spacer washers between LCD and PCB

❏ LCD module to PCB

❏ CW, CCW and START switch (marked in blue) and preset encoder, Now front panel is final

❏ Next R1 R2 R3 R5 (marked in black) and R9 solder on main board

❏ D1 D2 D3 D4 (marked in red)

❏ L1 (marked in green) R9 (marked in red)

❏ Q1 Q2 Q3 and Arduino socket

❏ C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 and C6

❏ JP1 P6 CON1

❏ L2 RV1

❏ RL1 RL2 RL3 J1

❏ solder front panel via pin strip

❏ Last solder Arduino Nano pins

❏ Plug Arduino Nano to socket U2

❏ after power up, preset LCD contrast with potentiometer RV1

Single unit enclosure

Assembly instructions

Firmware

For beginners Getting Started with Arduino

Download and install Arduino IDE
Install library
Download firmware from master tree Web | GitHub.

requires disable in rotator_features.h (TNX GI1MIC)
```
#define DEBUG_DUMP
```

Or download preconfigured version

2019-01-03.zip (TNX GI1MIC)
2015-02-24-4RQ.zip - modified version for used with RemoteQTH server web interface.
2015-02-24.zip
2014-07-08.zip
2013-10-26.zip

Configure by author documentation - contains the settings of your rotator, such as azimuth range, etc.

Version 2019-01-03 - If do not show degree character (°), change in file rotator_settings.h settings to
```
#define DISPLAY_DEGREES_STRING "\xB2"
```
Version 2015-02-24 - If the LCD displays instead of the character degree (°) lower case "alpha" (α), find in source code all string 'char(223)' and replace to 'char(178)'.''

Connect USB cable cable between interface and PC
Select menu Tools/Board:Arduino Nano
Select menu Tools/Processor: ATmega328P (Old Bootloader)
Select menu Tools/Port/YOUR-CONNECTED-PORT
Upload firmware

Third party software

Button test from KO2F

Power

Power inputs are available on both connector CON1 and DB15-J1.

Power inputs	CON1	DB15-J1
AC	pin 9+10	pin 9+10
DC	pin 7+8	pin 7+8
+5V	pin 3+4	pin 15
GND	pin 1+2	pin 5+6

5V - the entire module can be powered from USB only, but there is a voltage drop, it is better to use an external +5V source, or a DC/DC converter and cut the power to the attached USB cable.

DC/DC switch add-on for stable 5V power from USB

CON1 is for power distribution if use with Rapsberry PI gpio board in server.

In sigle interface it is used only phase jumper (Pin 5+6) and short 3+4. All other pins available also in DB15-J1 connector - see on schematics.
Pin 3 in CON1 (+5 volts input to supply measure the azimuth)- input stabilized voltage from power board This pin may be short connected (as picture below) with pin4 CON1 (+5 volts to interface), then the voltage measurement uses a common 5V voltage from the power supply module.

Connect DC Rotator (DB15 female) and power inputs

Need three jumper

short DC position P6 jumper switch
short JP1 jumper
short PHASE-SW pin 5+6 (center) position CON1
short +5V pin 3+4 CON1

Connect AC Rotator (DB15 female) and power inputs

Diagram for the common AC and +5V ground

Need one jumper

short AC position P6 jumper switch
short +5V pin 3+4 CON1

Diagram for the different AC and +5V ground

Need one jumper

short AC position P6 jumper switch
short +5V pin 3+4 CON1

Connection examples

Bypass original controller G450

Use with original control box

OH3BHX firmware for G400RC and connection
Yaesu G-5400B
Yaesu G-2800DXA
DF2LH solution with Kenpro G800-1000SDX

Yaesu G800

pin DB15      G800 unit
-------------------------
     1+2  ->  5
     3+4  ->  4
      15  ->  1
      14  ->  2
     GND  ->  3

CDE/HyGain HAM IV (grounded center potentiometer)

Resolving without compromise - mechanically remove grounded center and connect by three wire
Solutions by VA2NA - external add-on
Solutions by DM2RM - external add-on
Add resistor with grounded two wire potentiometer - this solutions produce nonlinearity voltage. You can use calibration table - is not recommended.

Ten turn azimuth potentiometer (one turn used)

Need negative and positive voltage source
Set potentiometer bridge from 0 to +5V output

Left trimmer set a 0V after full CCW rotate
by right trimmer, set the +5V after full CW rotate
Repeat until the voltage agree

Circuit

Control software

PstRotator for Windows
RemoteQTH server image for Raspberry PI - web interface
gRotor
Even software supporting Yaesu GS-232 protocol...