Antenna Rotator

[BYPASS999]

Im thinking of adding a rotator to my antenna, ( A DPD Lp 118-1000 ) ill be using a 10" mast. Should i put the rotator at the top with the antenna ? or at the bottom of the mast ? Im mounting it to the peak of my house. Over the last few days while driving around i've seen it done both ways. Is one right and one wrong or doesn't it matter ? Im not sure what rotator ill be using i dont know a good one from a bad one so if you have any ideas i'd love to hear them. Thanks.

 

[Grog]

Never used one but I would mount it at the top and have just the amount of mast required on the rotator. I can't see having 10ft of mast and an antenna ALL above the rotator would be a good thing for longevity.

 

[DPD1]

About a 3 1/2' section on top would work. The length you use on the bottom depends on whether it's guyed, and/or how much of it is attached to something. You could possibly use a 10' section on the bottom, depending on those two things. You don't need more than a basic one... Channel Master has one that's sold online different places, and there's also a similar one that RadioShack has, which is also sold under various other names. You need to get the power cable separate.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[OceanaRadio]

Im thinking of adding a rotator to my antenna, ( A DPD Lp 118-1000 ) ill be using a 10" mast. Should i put the rotator at the top with the antenna ? or at the bottom of the mast ? Im mounting it to the peak of my house. Over the last few days while driving around i've seen it done both ways. Is one right and one wrong or doesn't it matter ? Im not sure what rotator ill be using i dont know a good one from a bad one so if you have any ideas i'd love to hear them. Thanks.

I used to have a rotator mounted at the bottom due to a high-wind area and using a large yagi directional antenna. All that weight and windage at the top would be extremely hard on the soft structural abilities of a typical home's lightweight framework. I had to add strengthening support as it was. The roof-sheath mounts from Radio Shack had double mast-mounting holes, so I used a short (5') inner mast with a thrust-bearing bolted to the top of it. The outer 15' mast had the rotator on the bottom of it, and that mast went through the thrust bearing held by the inner mast. Stabilized it well and reduced the moment-arm of weight by bottom-mounting. Sorry I don't remember where I bought the thrust-bearing but it was an antenna-mounting accessory and should be available from a good internet search. Was about $20 ten years ago. Took it down twice for Hurricanes but otherwise it survived a good many blows and gave good service for many years.

Jack

 

[k9rzz]

About a 3 1/2' section on top would work. The length you use on the bottom depends on whether it's guyed, and/or how much of it is attached to something. You could possibly use a 10' section on the bottom, depending on those two things. You don't need more than a basic one... Channel Master has one that's sold online different places, and there's also a similar one that RadioShack has, which is also sold under various other names. You need to get the power cable separate.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

I would do it that way too. Rotators aren't cheap, use only as much above it to clear your guys or supports , but minimize the stress on the 'rotor. Need more height? Add below the 'rotor. Should last a lifetime then.

 

[DPD1]

You can put it on the bottom too, but then you should use one of those bearing things a few feet or so above the rotor. There will be too much force put on the connection at the rotor otherwise.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist