Radio Shack Rotor

[DaWoofer]

I'm aware that these are being made in China but are they still sold under the Archer name or is that no longer used with any of Rat Shack gear? The reviews are not very promising but people report that they are not made like the older Rat Shack rotors. I can get a used one that is an Archer. I think I would feel more secure in buying a used older one IF it is an Archer from years past. Any insights gentlemen?

 

[mhardy6647]

Dunno; the older Archer rotators were Alliance OEM (not the best Alliance, but OK). I've got one installed here, in fact

 

[DaWoofer]

Is it plastic or metal?

 

[thedelihaus]

If the reviews are not very promising, and folk are claiming they are not made like they used to be, I know what i'd do.

 

[markn2wae]

#15-1225A gears turned to mush!

I have the square short box that has the clear Plexiglas rotating knob that you push down and turn, then the inner pointer "catches up" and stops.

The gears turned to "old hard cheese" and it stopped working, so I "hacked" it and took out the motor\gears and put in directional and power switch and light on a panel behind the now "removed" dial.:yes:

Mark T.

 

[DC]

I have used (and abused) a LOT of rotors. I would avoid anything from Radio Shack, Archer, Allied, or the like. If you are looking for a reliable rotor, look into a Yaesu G-450. It will turn small ham radio arrays and should be fine for anything VHF/FM.

 

[DaWoofer]

I put a "wanted ad" in CL and got a hit on this Archer I mentioned. I was hoping someone with an older metal type would of gotten ahold of me but not yet. That is why I asked about the Archer. I would of never bought a new one from The Shack.

 

[ryuuoh]

Cheap:
http://radioworld.ca/product_info.p...cts_id=6988&osCsid=na55rau2q6ldm6s93rapj153c0

 

[DaWoofer]

Wow. That just might be the ticket>

 

[ryuuoh]

if you're an antenna spinner, gotta have a good one. It will live on your mast for years, so don't cheap out.

 

[MelodyMaster]

I have used (and abused) a LOT of rotors. I would avoid anything from Radio Shack, Archer, Allied, or the like. If you are looking for a reliable rotor, look into a Yaesu G-450. It will turn small ham radio arrays and should be fine for anything VHF/FM.

I have three Allied and Archer rotors and control boxes from the 1960s that all still work perfectly... I'm installing one now, before winter comes..

 

[Shackman55]

I have torn apart one of the new ones, seems to be pretty well put together for the money. I have been selling them for near 20 years, in all that time I could count on one hand with 4 fingers left over how many got brought back with a problem. For a while they were made in Swannanoa NC at TDP I personally had one from the 70's that finally gave up the ghost a couple of years ago and replaced with one of the new ones. Felt good to me solid (Of course I have found a few things that felt solid but when you open them up they had weights inside) Pretty simple device really, turns clockwise, then anti clockwise. That being said, if I could lay my hands on an older one that is in good shape, for a good price, I would jump on it. I always keep my eyes open for the control boxes I picked up one for $2 at GW still in the box.

 

[DC]

I have three Allied and Archer rotors and control boxes from the 1960s that all still work perfectly... I'm installing one now, before winter comes..

I believe those would be unusual exceptions to my blanket statement. Glad to hear they still are going strong!

 

[MelodyMaster]

I believe those would be unusual exceptions to my blanket statement. Glad to hear they still are going strong!

Primitive control boxes though.. That is the one part that has given trouble, with the pointer solenoid sticking or getting weak. But as noted above replacement control boxes are easy to find, and with appropriate mods are virtually interchangeable between models and brands.