Re: [amsat-bb] Cost comparison

[Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 <faunt@xxxxxxxxx>]

Apples and oranges is right, but my take on it: 

The SatEl system is noticeably lighter and smaller, and can easily be
run from 110V or 220V, so for light-weight portable operation, it
could be a win.  It can be driven in real-time mode, BTW, or with
commands directly from a terminal program.

I'm sure the G5500 is more rugged, so for larger antennas and heavy
long term use, that's what I'd choose for home. Changing voltages on
one of these is a hassle, unfortunately (for no good reason I can see,
either). 

Actually, a used G5400 and FODtrack interface is easy to put
together and pretty cheap.

73, doug


   From: Estes Wayne-W10191 <W10191@motorola.com>
   Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 15:28:50 -0600

   Don Woodward wrote:

   A more apples to apples comparison would be to bundle UniTrac
   (radio tuning and rotor automation) at $260 with the G5500 - with
   UniTrac you don't need Yaesu's GS-232 - so $525 + $260 = $785.

   Wayne replies:

   Several "plug and play" rotor control solutions are much cheaper
   than UniTrac.  In Germany, there are the HalloSat and WinRotor32
   that both cost less than $100.  That is a complete and extremely
   compact hardware interface (with driver software) that plugs into a
   parallel port on your computer, and to the DIN connector on the
   G-5500.  For radio tuning, several satellite tracking programs
   support Doppler tuning using only a $5 serial cable.  I'm using a
   HalloSat interface that seems to work quite well.  The only
   "problem" is that all the documentation is in German.  That's not
   much of a problem after you've run the automatic calibration
   routine.

   Nevertheless, the SatEL system does seem to be cheaper...  I don't
   know why, but I think I would rather have "real time" computer
   control of the rotors, rather than download a file to a standalone
   rotor control unit.  It seems like the SatEL system is very
   inconvenient to switch from one satellite to another.  The web site
   is mum about it, but I hope the driver supports manual rotor
   control for terrestrial operation.  Finally, I think the Yaesu
   (Kenpro) G-5500 rotors are slightly more rugged than the Alliance
   U-100 rotors.  There are so many differences, I don't think it's
   possible to make an "apples to apples" comparison.

   Wayne Estes W9AE
   Mundelein, IL, USA
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