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How to Identify a Ham V Rotor

A ham radio rotor is the component of the antenna that attaches to the radio tower and allows the antenna to turn. The HAM series of rotors are heavy rotors designed to keep large antennas in place while allowing the user to rotate the antenna. The rotors in this series are the HAM-M, HAM-II, HAM-III, HAM-IV, HAM-V, and T2X. The HAM-V rotor is mostly identical to its predecessor, the HAM-IV. To identify the HAM-V, you must first narrow down the criteria for a HAM-IV or HAM-V, then examine the components that make them different.

Instructions

- 1
  Climb up the radio tower and examine the rotor. The HAM-IV and HAM-V rotors are made from low-grade stainless steel, unlike their predecessors. The rotor should be roughly spherical and divided into two sections, secured together with bolts. There will be an 8-coaxial cable attached to an AMP connector with gold plated contacts.
- 2
  Climb back down and find the the rotor controller. Rule out the older models first. A controller that uses old-fashioned point-to-point wiring, rather than printed circuit boards, is a HAM-II or HAM-M. A HAM-IV controller indicates that the rotor is a HAM-IV. This is the only way to distinguish the HAM-IV from the HAM-V. A HAM-V controller will have a plasma display with digital readout. A HAM-IV controller that includes LED indicators indicates a T2X "Tailtwister" rotor.
- 3
  Ask the previous owner if the control unit was replaced. The HAM-V controller is the DCU-1, which can also be used to control a HAM-IV. If the controller was not replaced, and all of the other criteria check out, then you have a verified HAM-V rotor.

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