NEWS
19.May.2023 : New firmware V1.4 available for ERC-Mini
The following changes/corrections have been implemented:
The Service-Tool, including the new Firmware, is available in the download-area of our homepage.
If you experience any problems or difficulties with the new version, please report to us by email.
09.Mar.2018 : New firmware V3.9 available for ERC-M and ERC Ver4sion 4
The following changes/corrections have been implemented:
The Service-Tool, including the new Firmware, is available in the download-area of our homepage.
If you experience any problems or difficulties with the new version, please report to us by email.
09.Mar.2017 : New firmware V1.3 available for ERC-Mini
The following changes/corrections have been implemented:
The Service-Tool, including the new Firmware, is available in the download-area of our homepage.
If you experience any problems or difficulties with the new version, please report to us by email.
21.Feb.2016 : New firmware V1.2 and Service-Tool V1.1 available for ERC-Mini
The following changes/corrections have been implemented:
The new version of the Service-Tool, including the new Firmware, is available in the download-area of our homepage.
If you experience any problems or difficulties with these new versions, please report to us by email.
16.Jun.2015 : NEW 1-axis interface ERC-Mini available
ERC-Mini is a new line of rotor-interfaces especially made for rotators that have a remote-connector like
While ERC-Mini SDX will be mounted directly inside the Yaesu/Kenpro-control-box all other ERC-Minis come with a metal-enclosure and a cable to the rotators control-box.
ERC-Minis are ‘Plug and Play’ and provide an USB-interface to the computer.
A new 4-stage speed-control is implemented for the Yaesu/Kenpro-rotators.
ERC-Mini is now available in our online-shop and on the HAM-Radio 2015 in Friedrichshafen / Germany on June 26th – 28th 2015, booth A1-409.
05.May.2014 : NEW 1-axis interface ERC VERSION 4 available
With hardware-revision 4 the following improvements and changes have been implemented:
04.May.2014 : New Service-Tool V3.3 available for ERC-M
This update covers a problem with the calibration of side-mounted rotators with less than 360° of turning-radius (tnx N4ZR).
The new version is available in the download-area of our homepage.
11.Apr.2014 : New firmware V3.6, Service-Tool V3.2 and Rotor-Control V1.6 available for ERC-M
The following changes have been implemented:
A new calibration will be needed after update of the firmware.
The new versions are available in the download-area of our homepage.
If you experience any problems or difficulties with these new version, please report to us by email.
10.Feb.2014 : We moved
from February 10th. on our new adress is: Kreuzangerstr. 58, DE-86399 Bobingen.
24.Mrz.2013 : New firmware V3.3 available for ERC-M
This version covers the unwanted appearance of additional characters on the LCD-display (thanks to F6BIA, F1BCS).
The Service-Tool V3.0 together with the new firmware V3.3 is ready for download on the download-page of our website.
21.Mar.2013 : TR4W a Contest-logger was successfully tested with ERC and ERC-M. TNX SM3EFS for pointing us to this software. The program-settings are available now in our Software Guide.
25.Jan.2013 : New modes for ERC-M: Master-Slave over RS232 or LAN
A new Service-Tool V3.0 and Firmware V3.1 have been released for ERC-M.
These new versions support Master-Slave-Modes that are used in remote-stations without PCs. An ERC-M with desktop-housing (LCD, LEDS and pushbuttons) on the home-site is controlling an ERC-M on the remote-site. This can be done either by the optional LAN-interface of the ERC-M or by devices that convey RS232 over LAN/Internet.
These new modes are described in our new operation-guide.
The following modes are now supported by ERC-M:
All needed modes are now covered for a home-station, a contest-station with multiple operator and/or multiple antennas (rotators) and remote-stations.
The new Service-Tool together with the new firmware and the new operation-guide are ready for download on the download-page of our website.
22.Mar.2012 : HalloSat, a German satellite-tracking-program, does now support ERC-M for rotor-controlling. In order to use this function, HalloSat with version 5xx (or higher) together with HalloEasyRotor and ERC-M with a firmware version 2.4 or higher is needed. The latest firmware for ERC-M is available on our download-page. Thanks to Gerd, DB3DH, for the cooperation to make this solution happen.
More information about HalloSat is available at http://www.hallosat.de/ .
10.Mar.2012 : All ERC-Interfaces have been successfully tested with AZraEL, a small EME-tracker by PA5DD.
25.Feb.2012 : Easy-Rotor-Control is Sponsor of the 15th International EME Conference held in Cambridge August 2012
For further information about the conferecne follow this link: EME 2012
28.Jan.2012 : GPREDICT, a LINUX-software using HAMLIB was successfully tested with ERC-M (Thanks EA4TV). The settings are available in our software-wiki.
22.Jan.2012 : A new software-wiki is now available on our homepage. It gives detailled information about how to setup an ERC-interface and how to setup the software which is used.
23.Jun.2011 : PstRotatorAZ is now supporting the new DUAL-AZ mode from version 5.23 on.
18.Jun.2011 : ERC-M, a new modular rotor-interface featuring DUAL-AZ
ERC-M is a modular rotor-interface featuring multiple options and is suitable to nearly every purpose in the world of rotor-controlling.
Based on 1 interface-PCB you can:
1) DUAL-AZ is a new protocol based on Yaesus GS232-protocol that includes the possibility to control 2 different azimuth-rotators through 1 interface
First units will be available on the German HAM-Radio exhibition in Friedrichshafen June 24-26 2011.
04.Mar.2011 : Improving pointing accuracy of Create RC5-1/RC5-3 (not –p)
Problem: The source-voltage for the feedback-potentiometer is taken from an unstabilized 12V (or +/- 12V) DC inside the control-box. The power current for the motor is taken from another winding of the same transformer. In the moment when the motor is switched, the feedback-voltage drops some percent which may lead to pointing-inaccuracies up to 10°. The problem appears mainly in installations where the cables to the rotator are short and have a good diameter hence surging more current from the control-box. Create corrected this problem in models with remote-connector (-P) by use of a voltage regulator.
Solution: Adding a 9.1 or 10V Z-Diode over the terminal clamps 4 and 6 of the control-box stabilizes this voltage significantly and the pointing accuracy improves well. The Z-diode should have at least 0.5W. The needed series-resistors for the Z-diode are already included in the circuit of the control-box.
As there are different schematics out there for these rotators, the polarity of the voltage at terminal clamps 4 and 6 is different. Please measure the polarity and connect the cathode of the Z-Diode to the positive terminal clamp. The cathode is normally marked with a black stripe on the body of the Z-diode.
We will add a suitable diode to our e-shop soon.
Thanks to DO1JRA and K6CG for testing this solution.
16.Feb.2011 : New Firmware for 1-axis-controller ERC V6.8 is available with the following changes / improvements :
Improvement of compatibilty to N1MM-Rotor (V 10.7.5) and LP-Rotor (Thanks AD6Z).
The new version is available on our download page.
05.Oct.2010 : Easy-Rotor-Control was successfully tested with the following programs:
WXtoImg, a weather satellite signal to image decoder
25.Sep.2010 : Easy-Rotor-Control was successfully tested with the following programs:
EME-System (F1EHN)
HAMLIB, an open-source-library for HAM-radio projects
18.Jul.2010 : New Firmware for 2-axis-controller ERC-3D V2.3 and Service-Tool V2.2 are available with the following changes / improvements :
Optimization of the extended calibration. Instead of taking the average between 2 calibration-points, the moving average is now calculated. This avoids the jumps in the feedback-angle that could appear close to the calibration-points.
Improved stop-handling with better pointing accuracy.
The new version is available on our download-page.
17.Jul.2010 : New Firmware for 1-axis-controller ERC V6.5 and Service-Tool V6.3 are available with the following changes / improvements :
Optimization of the extended calibration. Instead of taking the average between 2 calibration-points, the moving average is now calculated. This avoids the jumps in the feedback-angle that could appear close to the calibration-points (Thanks IZ3KGJ, YO3DMU).
Optimization of the feedback-angle if the ERC works in elevation-mode. All angles greater than 180° automatically change to 0° (Thanks YO3DMU),
The new version is available on our download-page.
20.Jun.2010 : Just in time for the HAM-Radio exhibition 2010 in Friedrichshafen / Germany we released our new 2-axis-interface ERC-R.
ERC-R is an miniature-interface for such rotators, where the control-box already has a remote-connector :
ERC-R provides the following features :
ERC-R provides the following connections
A first production-lot will be available on the HAM-Radio exhibition (A1-413) on 25th. to 27th. of June in Friedrichshafen/Germany
For more details about the ERC-R look to the product-page
29.May.2010 : New Firmware for 1-axis-controller ERC V6.4 and Service-Tool V6.3 are available with the following changes / improvements :
Adds the "Speed reverse"-function to the 3rd. relay to support speed-control for the CREATE -P rotators.
Corrects the behaviour of the CW-button in ERC-Control DCU-1
(Thanks DJ4MZ).
The new version is available on our download-page.
09.May.2010 : Introduction of the Buddy-program :
Due to several requests we introduce our Buddy-program today.
Already registered users may order with a discount for their Buddy.
We have an extended discount until 31-May-2010 during the introduction of the Buddy-program.
For further details refer to our Prices-section.
02.May.2010 : New Firmware for 2-axis-controller ERC-3D V2.1 and Service-Tool V2.2 are available with the following changes / improvements :
The 5th. relay can now be configured as a brake-relay or as a relay to control the speed of some rotators. It also can be deactivated completely. Parameters to configure the relay as speed-relay have been implemented.
The hardware-test-routine can now be interrupted by pressing the Test-button again.
The new version is available on our download-page.
25.Apr.2010 : New Firmware for 1-axis-controller ERC V6.3 and Service-Tool V6.2 are available with the following changes / improvements :
The 3rd. relay can now be configured as a brake-relay or as a relay to control the speed of some rotators. It also can be deactivated completely. Parameters to configure the relay as speed-relay have been implemented.
The Service-tool provides now a Default-button to reset the calibration and configuration to default-values.
The hardware-test-routine can now be interrupted by pressing the Test-button again.
Implementation of the parameter "Tolerance".
Improvement of handling the GS232-protocol when configured as Azimuth or Elevation-rotator (Thanks VE2DX).
The new version is available on our download-page. Please pay attention to the remarks on the download-page for the upgrade to this version !
13.Mar.2010 : New Firmware for 2-axis-controller ERC-3D V1.8 and Service-Tool V1.6 are available with the following changes / improvements :
Corrects a bug in the Azimuth-calibration (Thanks to various users).
Corrects a bug in the "Extended Calibration", when Azimuth and Elevation are using the extended calibration (Thanks IV3MUR)
The new version is available on our download-page.
07.Mar.2010 : New Firmware for 2-axis-controller ERC-3D V1.6 and Service-Tool V1.5 are available with the following changes / improvements :
To improve compatibility the Yaesu-protocol can now be configured as GS232A or GS232B (Thanks VE2DX).
Beside German and Englisch, French is now available too for the Service-tool and Rotor-Control (Thanks VE2DX).
Corrects an error in moving while in the overlap-area (Thanks VE2DX).
Many thanks to Richard VE2DX for his intensive and also inspiring testing of the ERC and ERC-3D. Here you can find his test-reports :
ERC = http://forums.ham-radio.ch/showthread.php?t=19140
ERC-3D = http://forums.ham-radio.ch/showthread.php?t=19168
28.Feb.2010 : New Firmware for 1-axis-controller ERC V5.5 is available with the following changes / improvements :
Improvement of the compatibility in DCU-1 and GS232B-mode (thanks VE2DX for intensive testing).
Improved tracking-algorithm if ERC is used in SAT/EME-installations (thanks again VE2DX).
The new version is available on our download-page.
14.Feb.2010 : Improved Service-Tool V5.3 for 1-axis-controller ERC is available with the following changes / improvements : :
Corrects an error in handling the user-authorization with Windows 7 (Thanks SM0JZT).
Corrects a misleading information while calibrating a south-centered antenna (Thanks SM0JZT).
30.Jan.2010 : New Firmware for 1-axis-controller ERC V5.2 and Service-Tool V5.2 are available with the following changes / improvements :
Improvement of the compatibility in the GS232B-mode as some rotor-control-programs have a different interpretation of the GS232B-protocol.
Expansion of elevation-calibration to 45°, 90° and 180° (thanks IZ3KGJ).
Implementation of a test-button to check functionality of the relays after assembly.
Reduction of firmware-upload-speed to 19200, as there was a problem with older PCs with high utilization.
21.Jan.2010 : The 2-axis-controller ERC-3D for the control of azimuth- and elevation-combi-rotators and for any other combination of azimuth- and elevation-rotators has successfully passed the beta-test-phase and can be delivered now.
16.Jan.2010 : Easy-Rotor-Control was successfully tested with the following program :
Win-EQF
29.Nov.2009 : From now on a Lite-Version of PstRotator by YO3DMU, a professional rotor-control-software, will be delievered together with Easy-Rotor-Control. Thanks to Codrut making this special version for us.
21.Nov.2009 : New Firmware V5.0 and Service-Tool V5.0 are available with the following changes / improvements :
The control of elevation-rotators has been implemented. It supports control and calibration of 90° and 180° elevation-rotators.
All comports from COM1 to COM15 can now be used also for firmware-update.
14.Nov.2009 : New Firmware V4.2 and Service-Tool V4.2 with Bugfix available.
06.Nov.2009 : New Firmware V4.1 and Service-Tool V4.1 are available with the following changes / improvements :
Calculation of overlap-areas during the calibration of rotators that support more than 360° (now max. 720°).
Full support for rotators with > 360°. (thanks to several users).
Introduction of the calibration-assistent to make the calibration-process easier.
Beside the buttons CW and CCW (now >> and <<) there are now the buttons >>| und |<< available. After clicking these buttons the rotator will move to the choosen direction until it reaches the mechanical or programmable endstops or stops by pressing the STOP-button. (thanks HB9KAR).
Adjustable poll-rate for ERC-Control (thanks DL1NUX).
New parameter "Start-Application". It can be choosen, if the Service-Tool starts with the configuration-window or with ERC-Control (thanks DL1NUX)
20.Sep.2009 : Easy-Rotor-Control was successfully tested with the following program :
PstRotator
The author Codrut, YO3DMU has added EASY-ROTOR-CONTROL in the setup. Thank you Codrut !
28.Jul.2009 : Easy-Rotor-Control was successfully tested with the following program :
EasyLog 5
12.Jul.2009 : Easy-Rotor-Control was successfully tested with the following program :
Win-Test 4
03.Jul.2009 : Easy-Rotor-Control was successfully tested with the following programs :
DXbase 2007
UcxLog with Version 6.42
20.Jun.2009 : New Firmware V3.0 and Service-Tool V3.0 are available with the following changes / improvements :
Alternativ to the normal calibration an extended calibration is available to compensate non-linearities of the rotator-feedback-voltage. The calibration is performed every 30° (Thanks DL1NUX).
Implementation of an user-dialog to guide through the firmware-update-process (Thanks DL1DSN).
Expansion of available COM-ports in the Service-Tool. Now COM1 through COM8 is available to control the ERC by the ERC-Control or other software BUT be aware, that during a firmeware-update the ERC MUST be connected to a COM-port between COM1 and COM4. This expansion was made, as in some notebooks all COM-ports up to COM4 are occupied by internal devices of the notebook (Thanks DF2JP).
The new firmware and service-tool are part of the delivery from now on. Existing users may request the new firmware und servie-tool by email.
01.Jun.2009 : New Firmware V2.5 and Service-Tool V2.2 are available with the following changes / improvements :
Support of south-centered-antennas.
Feedback of antenna-position to the controlling program
(extended Hygain DCU-1 protocol).
Additional functions of the internal rotor-control-program :
Change of specification of the input-circuit to +3..+15V with automatic-range and update of the hardware accordingly (compatible to existing hardware).
The new firmware, hardware and service-tool are part of the delivery from now on. Existing users may request the new firmware und servie-tool by email.
17.May.2009 : The Service-Tool was successfully tested on Windows 7 (Thanks DF2JP).
25.Apr.2009 : The Beta-test-Phase was successfully closed. All change requests and and additional features are available in Firmware V2.1 and Service Tool V2.0.
03.Apr.2009 : A new Firmware V1.4 was released with a bug-fix. See details in the Yahoo-group.
20.Mar.2009 : Beta-testing of ERC started.