html JI1FGX/DU9 Mindanao, Philippines Amateur Radio Diary 3.5MHz antenna, stepping motor this and that (2025/05/16)
JI1FGX/DU9 Amateur Radio Diary, Mindanao, Philippines, IOTA OC-130.
English. Japanese.



Yesterday's access.
Introduction. [Lily Diary.】
A diary of life in Mindanao.

   
25/07/13  IARU HF Contest
25/07/10 Software updates
25/07/08 DXV500ZS linear amplifier repair
25/07/07 CQ Machine Program
25/06/21 LoTW system upgrade
25/06/18 RG8 for 3.5MHz arrived
25/06/15  Time setting Ver0.5
25/06/14 Drone Habsan ZINO arrives
25/06/12 Philippine Independence Day
25/06/11 Algeria 7X2RF QSL card.
25/06/10 Translation API Program
25/06/09 DXCC150 award certificate arrived
25/06/08 AutoCWType_Ver1.4.1
25/06/07 Introducing the Shack
25/06/06 A portrait drawn by ChatGPT.
25/05/26 Windows full-width/half-width switching.
25/05/17 OK2ZAW BCD to 16 converter.
25/05/16 For 3.5MHz Zepp antenna.
Stepping motors
25/05/15 3.5MHz stepping motor design.
25/05/14 3.5MHz tuning coil installed.
25/05/11 3.5MHz antenna installation completed.
25/05/03 JTDX Autonomous Driving Program Ver0.4.3.
25/04/26 Drone Habsan ZINO.
25/04/25 Time setting Ver0.3.
25/04/24 AutoCWType_Ver1.3.
25/04/23 Preparing for FTDX3000 LCD repair.
25/04/22 Installation plan for 3.5MHz Zepp antenna.
25/04/21 AutoCWType_Ver1.1.
25/04/20 10,14MHz antenna installation completed.
25/04/19 JTDX Autonomous Driving Program Ver0.4.1.
25/04/19 14MHz antenna pole installed.
25/04/18 ThinkPad X390 repair completed.
25/04/17 Search is now possible.
25/04/15 Preparing the 10MHz dipole.
25/04/12 Hexbeam Part8.
25/04/06 My ThinkPad X390 is broken.
25/04/05. Time setting program.
25/03/31 JTDX Autonomous Driving Program.
25/03/30 Automatic log sending from CWType to Hamlog.
25/03/21 Hexbeam Part 7.
25/03/20 FreeDV Part 3 First QSO.
25/03/18 FreeDV Part 2 QSO in the shack.
25/03/16 Hexbeam Part 6.
25/03/15 Install FreeDV Part1.
25/03/09 Hexbeam Part5.
25/03/07 Hexbeam Part 4.
25/03/05 28MHz antenna modification
25/03/01 FTDX3000 is broken!
25/02/28 Pileup at 50MHz FT8.
25/02/28 DXV500ZS linear amplifier repair.
25/02/27 Tower pipe rebuilding plan.
25/02/26 Direction to Japan from Ozamiz.
25/02/26 28MHz is not available.
25/02/23 DXV500ZS linear amplifier repair.
25/02/22 Hexbeam Part 3
25/02/21 Hexbeam Part 2
25/02/18 28MHz antenna construction.
25/02/17 18,24MHz antenna height construction.
25/02/16 Z26NS Cosovo.
25/02/14 21MHz FT8
25/02/12 7,21MHz antenna repair.
25/02/08 Operating CW at 21MHz.
25/02/05 DXV500ZS linear amplifier failure.
25/01/19 Input Director.
25/01/14 Temporary license renewal.
3.5MHz antenna, stepping motor this and that (2025/05/16)
On the use of a stepping motor for remote tuning of a tuning barycon for a 3.5 MHz Twep antenna
I looked up a few things on ChatGPT.
I did get some information from ChatGPT about the step IR antenna,
Other information about stepping motors was almost the same as yesterday's information from JG2TST Matsui.
I asked ChatGPT about the step IR yagi antenna.

The following is a description of the stepper motor drive system used in SteppIR antennas (e.g., SteppIR 3-elec., BigIR, etc.) and its relationship to the controller:

Overview of Stepping Motor Drive of SteppIR Antenna
Driving system:
SteppIR typically uses bipolar stepping motors, driven by
  • Motor is installed in the antenna body (element base)
  • Controller (e.g. SDA100) is installed in the shack
  • 4 wires A+/A-/B+/B- wired directly from shack to antenna
For this reason, many users pull 20 to 30 m of thick cable (shielded twisted pair) for motor drive.

Put the controller near the motor? →.NO
In the SteppIR stock, the motor controller is located in the shack and is extended to the motor by power lines (A+/A-/B+/B-). It is not controlled by step, direction, or enable (PUL/DIR/EN) signal wires.
Is the EN/DIR/PUL system (STEP/DIR control) stable?
This is a common CNC control method and is often used in motor control ICs (e.g., TMC, A4988, DM556, etc.).

Conditions for stabilization with this method:
  • Since STEP/DIR/EN are digital signals, they are more resistant to noise than motor power lines and can be sent over a long distance in a stable manner.
  • Communication distance: Stable operation at 30m (twisted pair + shield recommended)
  • If this method is used, the driver board should ideally be placed near the motor and only PUL/DIR/EN should be sent from the shack.
(data) item SteppIR genuine method STEP/DIR method (for homebrewers)
Motor Drive Directly from the shack driver. Driver near motor
Wiring distance 20-30m motor power line 30m signal line
Noise Effects susceptible Hard to receive (reinforced by twisted pair)
stability Dependent on cable quality High (conditional)
Homebrewing Difficulty Level Low (genuine use) High (driver selection and design required)
Recommended electric wire
For motor power lines Shielded twisted pair x 2 pairs (AWG18-16)
For STEP/DIR/EN signal line Shielded LAN cables (CAT6 STP, etc.) are acceptable
If using ZK-SMC01 and TB6600, it is much more stable to pull 30m of EN/DIR/PUL signal line than to pull 30m of A+, A-, B+, B- motor line.
Comparison items A+, A-,B+, B- Direct drive EN/DIR/PUL signal control
Signal type High current, analogous Constant current, digital
Noise Characteristics Low (large inductive noise effect) High (can be counteracted by twisted pair)
distance tolerance Possible voltage drop and malfunction over long distances More than 30m is possible (shield recommended)
stability Dependent on cable quality Relatively stable
Recommended configuration
  • ZK-SMC01 (pulse output) installed on shack side
  • Place the TB6600 in the immediate vicinity of the motor (in an outdoor case)
  • Draw 3 wires (+GND) of EN/DIR/PUL with twisted pair or STP cable (LAN cable diversion is also acceptable)