PstRotator - Software for Antenna Rotators

AZ/EL CONTROL

PstRotator supports separate antenna rotator controllers for Azimuth and Elevation control. It can control two separate rotor interfaces: one for azimuth and the second for elevation, or it can control a single azimuth + elevation rotor interface.

 

Connect the rotator interfaces to PC using the RS232 ports or USB to serial converters, and select communication ports from the available COM Ports, in the COM1 to COM16 range.

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PstRotator - Software for  Antenna Rotators

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PstRotator.exe            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PstRotatorAz (AZIMUTH ONLY)

For azimuth only control use the PstRotatorAz program. It includes SteppIR and UltraBeam antennas control.

 

            PstRotatorAz.exe

Click the Buy Now button to pay

15 EUR via PayPal the license fee

ANTENNA CAN BE POINTED BY:

- mouse click on the Azimuth or Elevation graphic area

  (compass rose)

- left/right/up/down keyboard arrows

- setting the azimuth / elevation

- setting the QRA locator (4, 6 or 8 digits)

- mouse click on a map

- selecting the DXCC

- typing a full callsign or a prefix only

 

 And of course, it can be stopped at any moment

 before to finish the moving.

 PRESETS

MULTI-USERS REMOTE CONTROL OVER IP

- Install the PstRotator software on the both server and client PCs.

- Select RS232 / TCP Server on the PC connected to controllers.

- Select TCP Client on the second PC.

- Set the TCP/IP parameters (IP, port).

- Press the Connect button to connect the client to server.

 

The program checks all the time the link status, and if it happens from any external reason to disconnect, the software will try to reconnect the client to server. The link status is displayed to both client and server.

MAPS

With Internet connection, just a click  over a map from Google Maps and  your antenna will be pointed on the DX direction!!!

You can also use some default maps, or you can add your maps.

APRS maps (like for UI-View application) can be used. Thousands of maps in this format can be found on Internet.

Try on Google: UI-View maps. Or try this: http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/aprs/maps

Put both *.jpg (or *.gif or *.bmp) and *.inf files in the \Maps1 folder, and this is all what you have to do.

Click on: My Maps, and start to use them.

ANTENNA POINTING BY CALLSIGN

When you type a callsign in the "Prefix" box, PstRotator will search automatically trough:
 - CTY.DAT
 - VHF_USA.mdb (optional you can free download and use the US FCC database, more than 1 million callsigns)
 - CALL3.TXT

If the callsign is found in one of VHF_USA (US FCC) or CALL3, a locator is displayed in the "QRA Locator" box.
Press "GO TO QRA" button to use this feature. If you press "GO TO DXCC", only the information from cty.dat will be used.

If the callsign is found in both VHF_USA and CALL3, the locator from CALL3 will be displayed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPORTED CONTROLLERS

 

 

 

 

BIDIRECTIONALITY

The PstRotatorAz program can control a Yagi and a bi-directional rotary dipole on the same rotator, with the dipole in line with the Yagi's boom (90° offset from Yagi heading). This mode is BD-90.

A second bidirectional mode (BD-0) supports the SteppIR antennas.

With “BD-0” or "BD-90" checked the PstRotator program will start in one of these two bidirectional modes.

Or press one of the BD buttons to enter in the bidirectional mode.

 

QRZ.COM CALLSIGN DATABASE

Write a callsign in the Prefix text box and press the QRZ button in order to search online the QRZ.com callsign database. When the callsign is found (the color of the callsign in Prefix text box changes from red to green), the program will receive the coordinates (latitude and longitude), and antenna is turned on that direction.

A second click will save the callsign and the QRA locator into the call3.txt file. The color of the callsign will be changed from green to brown.

 

MOON AND SUN TRACKING

The PstRotator program can track the Moon and the Sun using internal algorithms.

Several other features of the program are related to this (parking the antenna or shutdown the PC at the moonset  or the sunset, stopping the rotor when the Moon or the Sun are below the horizon).

RA/DEC

 

Enter a RA/DEC coordinate pair from the keyboard and point the antenna in the corresponding AZ/EL direction.

 

This would enable to enter a celestial radio source position from a radio star catalog and point the antenna automatically towards it.

 

A click on RA/DEC will open a new window containing two text boxes (RA and DEC) and a GO button.

Write the RA and DEC values, and press the GO button. This will put the azimuth and elevation values in AZ and EL boxes from the main window, and will start the moving if the target is over the horizon.

And of course, afterwards can be used the existing SIDEREAL track.

Product reviews

 

Supported

rotators: 

 

 

 

Tracking

with:   

REGISTRATION

PstRotator is Shareware - you can try it for free, once you register it, you will receive a code to disable the reminder messages that will otherwise appear at start. In order to let you try the software, the program is full functional for 10 minutes, and then stops, and the QRA locator is changed to KN34BJ.

Please download and try PstRotator before you purchase a registration for it, as I want you to be sure you like PstRotator before you pay for it!

 

If you don't have an PayPal account, please send me an Email and you will receive all the details for a bank wire transfer.

 

PstRotator DOWNLOAD

 

PstRotatorAz DOWNLOAD

SUPPORT

Your questions or requests regarding the PstRotator software will be answered fast by Email (1) or Email (2)

You can also use the support-forum at Yahoo-Group to answer questions or to exchange with other users.

Become a member of this Yahoo-Group and you will automatically be informed about improvements and news regarding PstRotator program.

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pstrotator

    Win-Test,   N1MM,   Logger32,   CommCat ,  Ham Radio Deluxe,   UR5EQF,   PowerSDR,   DXLab,  Log4OM

REMOTE CONTROL FOR SteppIR AND UltraBeam ANTENNAS

PstRotatorAz provides support for remote over IP operation.

You have to install PstRotatorAz in both remote and base station locations.

Set Communication/TCP Client to the base station.

Configure the IP address for Client, and the Ports for both Server and Client.

TRACKING RADIO VIA LOGGERS

PstRotatorAz can receive the frequency information from some loggers, and uses it to control the SteppIR  or UltraBeam controllers.

Radio > Logger > PstRotatorAz > SteppIR / UltraBeam controller

 

From “Tracking Radio” you can select to track the Radio1….Radio4.

The PstRotatorAz program offers full support for the programs from below: 

UltraBeam ANTENNAS SUPPORT  

 

Set the serial port: Communication / UltraBeam COM Port, and check Setup / UltraBeam Controller.

An "UltraBeam Controller" window will be opened. From there you have all the control over the UltraBeam controller.

 

UltraBeam controller can track the radio using Omni-Rig http://www.dxatlas.com/omnirig/ , which is included in the setup package.                          

Radio > Omni-Rig > PstRotatorAz > UltraBeam controller

WEB PAGE REMOTE CONTROL

PstRotator and PstRotatorAz programs have an Web Server embedded.

Just select Setup / Web Page Control to enable the Web Server on your PC..

After that you can control your rotator via Internet using any Web browser running on PC or mobile.

Enter the IP address of your PC in browser, and start to control the rotator.