SARtek Frequently-asked Questions

Q. Does SARtek interfere with the manual operation of my rotor?

A. No.  Your rotor control head functions normally.

Q. Is SARTEK1 compatible with my brand X rotator? It does not appear on your list of supported rotators.

A. If your rotator has single-pole, single-throw switches for its Left, Right, and Brake controls, and, a feedback voltage from the wiper pot that varies a minimum of 1.7 volts for a full revolution of your antenna, then SARTEK1 should work. For confirmation of compatibility, and for hook-up instructions for any rotator that does not appear on our list of supported rotators, fax your rotators schematic diagram along with the feedback voltage levels taken at 0 degrees and 360 degrees, to Al Parsons, VE6RFM at 403-790-0975.

Q. Does it support the HyGain HDR-300 rotator?

A. Yes, it does. We have designed SARTEK1 to handle most of the rotators on the market with absolute minimum modification to the rotator heads themselves.

Q. Has SARTEK1 been tested in a high RF environment?

A. Yes, it has, and to date their have been no reports of any RF problems from the field.

Q. What is the accuracy and precision of the position indication?

A. The output resolution of the interface card is 1.4 degrees. Officially, I tell people it is accurate within 3 degrees. However, apparent accuracy depends on the linearity of the feedback voltage from your rotator wiper pot, and the resolution of the scale on the face of your rotator control head. I use it here with a Yaesu G-800SDX and get results that are consistently less than 1.5 degrees of deviation from target. This is quite good considering the beam width of most HF antennas is about 30 degrees.

Q. I notice from the picture that there are two connectors on the back. One is obviously the RS-232 interface connector. What is the other for?

A. You are absolutely right! The other one is for the 6' cable that connects the card you see in the picture to the Relay Board that in turn connects to your rotator control head.

Q. Where did the name SARtek come from?

A. My company name is SAR Technologies, SAR being the acronym for Smart Antenna Rotator...we just shortened it to SARTEK and put a 1 on the end....we think it sounds neat. hi.

Q. Is SARTEK1 compatible with me YAESU G-800S and 1000S?

A. Yes!

Q. What kind of end-user support is available?

A. Personal Database Applications provides top-quality, easily accessible tech support through their usual telephone, fax, and e-mail support

Q: Can SARtek be installed externally?

A: Yes. SARtek1 uses the Motherboard ISA slot for power supply only. Therefore, it is not required to be inside your PC to work. For power, it requires +5V, 12V and Ground. The power connections are as follows: looking at the solder side of the board with the faceplate on the left, and reading from left to right, you will see that only 5 of the 31 "finger" connectors have anything attached to them. They are:

 

#1 Gnd
#3 +5V
#9 +12V
#29 +5V
#31 Gnd

#1 and #31 are common, #3 and #29 are not. #3 and #29 are kept seperate to minimize "on board power supply noise" that could possibility affect the microprocessor. Connecting the same supply to the pins externally will not compromise the purpose.

Current requirements:

When turning your rotator: 12v @150ma, 5v @60ma.
When idle: 12v @40ma, 5v @40ma.

The supply does not need to be highly regulated if operated under a relatively light load. Simple filtering should do.

A junk box ISA type card edge connector could be used to connect the board to a 5V and 12V supply.

Another solution would be to find an old fleamarket motherboard with an ISA slot on it, and a PC power Supply. Such devices should be available at you local fleamarket or computershop, and be very, very inexpensive. I use such a setup here as a test bed for the boards, and it works quite well. I acquired it just for the asking at the local PC shop.

Al Parsons, VE6RFM

Copyright 1997 by SAR technologies

If you wish to communicate with the manufacturer, we are only a Fax or email away:

403-790-0975 Fax

aparsons@bach.ccinet.ab.ca

Please see email from KN3ZAN below.

X-POP3-Rcpt: aparsons@bach.ccinet.ab.ca

Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 12:18:35 -0400
X-Sender: davidj@nauticom.net (Unverified)
To: aparsons@bach.ccinet.ab.ca
From: davidj@nauticom.net (David J. Warheit)
Subject: SARTEK-1

Al:

I just dropped Dennis a note to let him know how pleased I am that you were kind enough to call me on the telephone and take the time to get the rotor control board working with my Alliance HD-73 rotor. It is still working like a champ.

I have the interface wired permanently to the control box but I did not bother putting the relay board either in the control box on in a separate shielded box. I have the relay board sitting behind the control box on top of my Kenwood TL-922A amplifier. I worked a fellow yesterday on 20 meters and I used the amplifier at its full potential to see if I would have any RF problems. I can report that I have NO PROBLEMS at all. I'm just going to let things stay the way they are. The controller appears to be very accurate on my rotor. I have nothing but HIGH PRAISE for the quality, construction and SUPPORT that you have given me. Again Al, thanks for a wonderful addition to LOGic and to the ham shack. You have a product that is affordable and reliable. Congratulations on a superb product. If I can ever be of assistance to you, please feel to drop me a line.

73 from a VERY SATISFIED customer,

Dave Warheit KN3ZAN

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From VE6RFM sartfaq.htm 8/6/94