Overview

Yaesu G-5500DC Azimuth-Elevation Rotator Systems

Yaesu G-5500DC Azimuth-Elevation Rotator Systems are specially designed to accommodate horizontal cross-booms to mount pairs of VHF and UHF directional antennas for space communications. Providing simultaneous control of 450 degrees of azimuth rotation and 180 degrees of elevation rotation, they are perfect for EME (moon bounce) and satellite communications installations. The G-5500DC dual controller lets you adjust and keep track of both aspects of the antenna system's positioning. The 120 VAC controller includes an interface jack for computer control, supported by the optional GS-232A Computer Controller, as well as many aftermarket control programs and interfaces.

These azimuth and elevation rotators are actually two separate motor units, now DC controlled. They may be mounted together on a mast with the included mast bracket, or independently with the azimuth rotator inside a tower and the elevation rotator mounted on the mast above the top of the tower. They handle a total of about 10 sq. ft. of antenna wind load and rotate each way in about one minute.

The Yaesu G-5500 AZ-EL clamshell rotator design utilizes 98 heavy 7/16-inch dual-stacked circumferential ball bearings to distribute load over the full diameter of the housing. This design minimizes stress and wear, and practically eliminates the possibility of destructive water entry: there is no shaft hole in the top of the housing. Yaesu's factory-lubricated rotator units are housed in Melamine resin-coated die-cast aluminum intended to provide maintenance-free operation under all climatic conditions.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Beginning in 2019 the new Yaesu G-5550DC azimuth and elevation motors operate with two independent 22 V DC control lines, each a five-wire system, using the same connectors at the end of the control cable as the previous models. Both of the new DC motors, azimuth, and elevation, are marked "G-5550DC" at the connector. Be sure to mark your connectors AZ or EL. The rear panel of the controller is titled "G-5500DC" on the serial number label.

WARNING: The legacy Yaesu G-5500 Rotator motors and controller used a 26 VAC control voltage, six-wire system. Therefore, old AC controllers are NOT compatible with new DC rotator motors, and new DC controllers are not compatible with old AC rotator motors.

All control cable assemblies for all modern Yaesu rotator systems use the same connectors with "1 to 1 pin-out" connector wiring. Therefore, older cable assemblies are compatible with the new Yaesu G-5500DC components, which only use pins 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in each connector. For control cable runs less than 125 ft. use five-conductor, 20 gauge control cable (5 x 20 AWG). If the rotator cable needs to be longer than 125 ft. then use five-conductor 18 gauge cable (5 x 18 AWG). The input voltage for the G-5500DC controller is labeled "117 VAC" to indicate house current range of 110 to 120 Vac.

When you are launching your EME or satellite communications adventure, an azimuth/elevation combination rotator is a vital tool for your antenna system. As durable as they are attractive, Yaesu G-5500DC Azimuth-Elevation Rotator Systems are available from DX Engineering.

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