How to Replace an Antenna Rotator

Rotor unit and Control Box

Outside mounted television antennae often benefit from the installation of a motor driven rotor unit on the antenna mast that allows the homeowner to rotate the antenna in the direction of the broadcasting station, which in turn improves the broadcast signal.
A failure of the rotor unit is indicated when the control box is activated but the antenna no longer rotates.
Removing a faulty rotor unit and replacing it with a new one is a task most homeowners can handle. Included in this task is replacing old antenna and rotor wires and synchronizing the rotor and control box units, all of which results in significantly improved reception.

Things You'll Need

• 1 rotor motor assembly
• 30 feet of rotor wire
• 30 feet of antenna transmission wire
• 4 double-wire stand-offs
• 1 flat head screwdriver
• 1 electrical wire stripper tool
• 1 socket wrench and a 1/4" socket
• 1 extension ladder

Instructions

Remove Old Rotor Unit

1. 

   Locate the antenna, which is most often located on a chimney or rooftop mount. Use an extension ladder to gain access. The lower (base) section of the mast is fixed and does not rotate. The antenna rotor unit is always located within a few inches of the top of the lower mast.

2. Using a socket wrench and quarter-inch socket, gradually loosen the 4 nuts on the upper "C" clamp that secures the upper antenna mast to the rotor motor unit on the lower (base) mast. Grasp the antenna mast with two hands and lift the antenna free of the "C' clamp.

3. Lay the antenna on a firm surface (the ground or a flat area of the roof) and use a screwdriver to remove the antenna wires from the two screw terminals on the antenna. Connect two lead wires from the new (replacement) antenna wire to the two screw terminals on the antenna and lay antenna aside.
   (Note: while the antenna wire replacement is not required during the replacement of the rotor, it is a good idea to replace both rotor wire and antenna wire during the installation of a rotor motor)

4. 

   Using a socket wrench and a quarter-inch inch socket gradually loosen the four nuts on the "C" clamps securing the rotor motor unit to the base mast.

5. Grasp the rotor unit in two hands, remove it from the lower mast and set it aside.

Install New Rotor Motor Unit

1. Using socket wrench and a quarter-inch socket, remove the four bolts securing the access plate of the back of the rotor motor unit. Inside the unit you will find three terminals numbered 1 through 3. The three strand rotor wire will be attached individually to these terminals.

2. 

   Use a wire stripping tool to strip two inches of insulation from each of the three strands of wire both ends off the new rotor cable.

3. Note the three wires are of different colors.
   Position the red wire on terminal one inside the rotor motor box. Position the second wire on the number two terminal in the rotor box and the third wire on terminal three.
   Secure each wire firmly under each terminal by tightening the terminal bolts, using a socket wrench and a quarter-inch socket..

4. Replace and secure the rotor motor access cover. Tighten the four quarter-inch bolts with a socket wrench and quarter-inch socket.

5. Position the two lower "C" clamps on the rotor motor unit over the lower antenna mast. Using a socket wrench and quarter-inch socket tighten the four nuts to lock the unit in place on the mast.

6. Grasp the antenna by its lower mast and insert this into the upper two "C" clamps on the rotor motor unit. Use a socket wrench and quarter-inch socket to partially tighten the rotor onto the lower mast withing two inches of the top of the lower mast. Prior to final tightening of the "C" clamps, rotate the antenna in the clamps until the terminals on the antenna lead-in are on the opposite side (away from) the terminals on the rotor unit.
   Use socket wrench to tighten the four nuts on the upper "C" clamps, locking the antenna in position on the rotor housing.

7. 

   Position one double wire stand-off on the base mast unit, four inches below the rotor motor housing. Tighten it into place, using a flat head screwdriver to tighten one screw on the stand-off, which tightens the constricting band around the lower (base) mast. Position and lock the antenna transmission wire into the one portal of the stand-off unit, allowing 18 to 24 inches of extra antenna wire between the antenna terminal and the stand-off. This is necessary to provide clearance.

8. Feed the lower end of the rotor wire running from the rotor motor unit into the second stand-off portal.

9. Place additional stand-off units at ten foot intervals between the rotor motor unit and the point of entry into the house.
   Lock antenna and rotor wires into separate portals of the stand-off unit.

Connect and Synchronize Rotor Control Box

1. Use a flat head screwdriver to disconnect the old antenna transmission wires from the television set terminals; discard the old wire. Connect the new antenna wires to the two terminals.

2. Using socket wrench, loosen and remove the old rotor wire from the three terminals on the rotor control box; discard.

3. Connect the rotor wires to the control box terminals, using the same order sequence employed at the rotor motor unit. Connect the red (primary) wire to terminal one, the second wire (the one next to the red wire) to terminal two and the third to terminal three. Tighten them down, using the socket wrench.

4. Synchronize the control box and rotor motor by rotating the control box knob clockwise to the due north position.

5. 

   Observe the rotation of the antenna to be sure the antenna wire and rotor wires allow full (360 degree) rotation without obstruction. Remove obstruction of the antenna wire (if observed) by feeding additional slack between the antenna wire and the first wire stand-off.

6. Complete the synchronization of the control box by rotating the dial on the control box counter-clockwise to the due north position. Observe antenna 360 degree rotation.

7. Complete the installation by locating the best dial setting (trial & error) to provide clearest reception and mark these positions on control box dial, using small stickers.

Tips & Warnings

• Many rotor replacement kits include both the rotor motor (rooftop) unit and a control box (in-house unit). If both are purchased, replace both at the same time. Note: the instruction above specifies a socket (quarter-inch) for removing and tightening bolts on the rotor unit. Different manufacturers may use other size bolts and nuts , including metric.

• Always be aware of overhead electrical power lines when working on rooftops. Always unplug the rotor control box from its power source prior to working on the rotor assembly.