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What do SmartSDR for Mac users do for rotator control?

Member ✭✭
in SmartSDR for Mac

I really like PSTrotator control software, but it’s Windows oriented.

What do Mac users do?

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Best Answers

  • Member ✭✭✭
    edited September 2020 Answer ✓

    I use PSTrotator running on a small Windows PC, and the web interface on my Mac, iphone, or ipad - whichever I”m running remote on.

  • Member ✭✭
    Answer ✓
    MacLogger DX has a Rotor interface, i use this with my Spid-Rotor.
  • Member ✭✭✭
    Answer ✓

    I use the PSTRotator web interface. Goes great with running remote or at home.

  • Member ✭✭
    Answer ✓

    I bought an Alpha Spider rotor and it's connected to the Green Heron Rotor controller. If you buy the optional WiFi and have it installed you can use your standard web browser to rotate your antenna. If you open a port on your router you can do it from outside your house when you use you Flex on the road. See the screen shot of the browser screen.

    Image
    Green Heron.png
    Uploaded 837.27 KB

    73, K9AT

  • Member ✭✭
    Answer ✓
    I'm biased toward the rotor controller in MacLoggerDX. Even with the new SmartSDR for Mac, I will keep MacLoggerDX for sure. It's just too useful and nice.
  • Member ✭✭
    Answer ✓
    I use a low cost Windows laptop running PSTRotatorAz which I downloaded from the internet for minimal cost. That allows direct connection to control the PST rotator with a simple USB to Serial cable. I then run Chrome remote desktop on both the low cost PC and the MacBook I use for SmartSDR.

    I should add that the the only reason I bought the PC was because I needed to use one (at the time I bought the PGXL) to be able to configure the Flex to operate with the PGXL. Currently you can do this from the Mac too, but the addition of the PC facilitated control of my PST rotator and was simple to get running.

    I suspect that Rotator Genius for Mac might be a better solution at time of writing (October 22).
  • Member ✭✭
    Answer ✓
    > @W7NGA said:
    > "What do SmartSDR for Mac users do for rotator control?"
    > I place the index finger of my left hand upon the paddle-switches of my Yaesu G-450A rotator controller. I press the left one to rotate counter-clockwise and I press the right switch to rotate my hex beam clockwise. Upon indication that the beam is oriented to the desired bearing I remove my index finger.
    > It seems to work just fine ...

    Ha ha... not so easy to do when you are 6000 miles away from your shack operating remote!

Answers

  • Member ✭✭✭

    "What do SmartSDR for Mac users do for rotator control?"

    I place the index finger of my left hand upon the paddle-switches of my Yaesu G-450A rotator controller. I press the left one to rotate counter-clockwise and I press the right switch to rotate my hex beam clockwise. Upon indication that the beam is oriented to the desired bearing I remove my index finger.

    It seems to work just fine ...

  • Member ✭✭✭

    @W7NGA That method actually works with two controllers as well .. I have one for my Hexbeam and one for my 6m Yagi. Reliabel as he .. and no PC software that could crash ..

  • Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    The other Rotator to consider is the 4O3A Rotator Genius as it is integrated with SmartSDR MAC.

    You can configure it to work with most rotators


    4O3A Signature - Rotator Genius

    https://4o3a.com/products/genius-family/rotator-genius
    Rotator Genius is a smart rotator controller that uses a magnetic sensor for reading. Azimuth Magnetic Sensor is for anyone who wants the azimuth readout only.


  • Member ✭✭✭

    hi..i use app called Rotor by DL2RUM

    can be found i apple app store...

    uses usb interface from mac mini to Green Heron RT21 controller to my HD 73 Rotor

    supports multiple rotor control protocols



    Screenshot 2022-10-28 at 9.33.48 PM.png


    Paul K3SF

  • Member ✭✭
    > @Mike-VA3MW said:
    > The other Rotator to consider is the 4O3A Rotator Genius as it is integrated with SmartSDR MAC.
    > You can configure it to work with most rotators

    Hi Mike, I agree that this sounds like an ideal solution. My installation is a little unusual in that I have a very long distance from the radio/amplifier to the antenna (just over 150 metres, or 500+ feet in old currency). I looked up some info on the system and I see that it requires a Cat 5 cable. It would be a pretty big job to lay the cable and get it suitably protected against rodents etc, so before even considering it i'm wondering if you know that the lenght itself would present any problem. Also my antenna is a log periodic which has a driven boom, so there is likely to be very high RF field strength in the vicinity of the azimuth sensor. I wonder if you know if this is likely to present any difficulty... there is likely to be a lot more RF in the sensor location than if I were mounting it on a Yagi.
  • Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    RT21 direct to a Pi running Node Red server. Web access from anyplace. Just got a MAC Mini running SSDR for MAC and going to see what is involved to integrate it

  • Member ✭✭✭

    RaspPi, hamlib RS232 connect to controller and Node Red connects via TCP/IP and uses webbrowser to show controls. At Windows PC I use Pstcontrol which connects via TCP/IP to rotator. Dave helped a lot to make this happen.

  • Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    @G2YTpeter

    My tower is about that far away in Northern Ontario. I have feedlines, CAT 5 cable and AC extension cord running through the woods. It has been like that for about 7 or 8 years now with no special protection. YMMV. I have yet to see any animal damage.

    I have my Steppir Controller and RG controller actually at the base of the tower. I use the CAT 5 cable for a LAN. It works wonderfully.

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