Customer Reviews

PCT International 9521 Channel Master Antenna Rotor Remote Control System

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The product is easy to install and operate, and it performs basically as advertised, but there are a few things to grumble about.

First, communication over the control cable is one-way, from the control box to the motor. That means that the controller doesn't really know where the antenna is pointing. Rather, it knows, or thinks it knows, how fast the antenna rotates and figures how long it should take to get to where you want it and then assumes that it got there. My experience is that if it is really pointed where the controller thinks it is and you command it to rotate 180 degrees in one continuous motion, it will go somewhere between 170 and 190 degrees or so, but if you use the UP and DOWN buttons to "tweak" the pointing for best reception, the allowance for acceleration is not all that great, and you can easily have the antenna pointing 20 degrees from where the controller thinks it is. Second, the errors accumulate: if it starts from an inaccurately known position, it will end up with even less accuracy.

There is a "resync" feature, which consists of commanding the motor to turn counterclockwise long enough to give confidence that it's reached the "zero-degree" stopping point. That gets things back to a known condition, but it takes about a minute every time you resync, which is a pain. It would be much handier if the display reflected an actual MEASUREMENT of the position rather than a dead-reckoning guess.

Nevertheless, the unit does its job, and I have had no problems with it. If it's a little off in pointing, you can always do a fine adjustment with the UP and DOWN buttons. Maybe I was expecting too much for the price paid.

I have this Channelmaster model, which I installed about a year and a half ago. It received moderate use for a seven foot FM-only antenna. I found the accuracy to be good when given occassional resets.

Why the past tense? Well, about a month ago I started having serious problems with the 9521 motor unit: it was not responding properly to the remote commands (the motor unit wouldn't turn past about 200 degrees even when a higher rotation was specified through the controller).

First stop was back to the owners manual. The troubleshooting section in the latter is very thin (a half a page of rather general suggestions, the most annoying being one that says "if you rotator is working but not properly aligning the antenna, either realign the antenna on the mast or re-coordinate it through the remote control." The manual contains no information whatsoever on how to do the latter!!!) So I ended up googling to find general rotator troubleshooting support. That led to more helpful info that allowed me to bench test the motor unit, which turned out to have become defective .

So I then had to shop for a complete replacement of the 9521 rotator unit. In the process of doing that, I learned that while these used to be manufactured domestically (in Ohio) a few years ago ChannelMaster started sourcing them from China. So what?

Well, according the the rotator experts in the shortwave community, there have been ongoing quality control issues (similar to what I experienced) with the Chinese made 9521 motor units. In fact, so much so that the particular retailer I ended up buying from now extensively tests each one before putting them up for sale. So stand advised and if you buy one of these make sure you keep all warranty documentation!

I have now owned two of these units. When the first failed I purchased a second on the assumption that I must have had a weak one that glitched and that it would be easier to hook up the same unit. Like clock-work, or rather poorly made Chinese clock-work, the second unit has failed after only 1 1/2 years. We live in Maryland, a moderate climate with a medium size antenna on a short mast. The unit was not heavily used nor heavily stressed. After two failures in less than 4 years, I am convinced the Channel Master is not the brand it used to be and is now just another example of cheap Chinese junk packaged under a once venerable American brand name. Sad.

Jay S.

I bought this Rotor after having 1 before, reading good reviews and thought I was getting 1 of the Best Antenna Rotors on the Market and bonus Infrared Remote to boot. Besides I had 1 since 1989 that lasted up until 2005.

I purchased new because I installed a HDTV Antenna and wanted to get All of the available over the Air Stations.

Well about a year later, the thing stops working and is stuck pointing due NORTH. I tried the owner install and troubleshoot manual but everyting tested OK. Then I called the Channel master Tech Support and he basically said that they have had major problems with the Gear sets sticking at the 0 deg or 360 deg position. All I had to do was fax him my original purchase receipt (which I can't find). I then asked if I could just give the serial # which should be in their database, to get replacement. He apologized and said that was not going to happen.

Sooo, Good luck to those of you who decide to purchase this model.

01/28/09 added comments: Price has jumped to $183 w/o shipping, for an item with only a 90 day warranty.

I just tried to repair my own Rotor and found Water & Rust throughout the inside, even though I was very careful to calk the outside parts. The only way for water to get in was thru the Rubber cover grommet. Very poor quality. I will never purchase another Channel Master product!

I just purchased the Channel Master 9521A last week. Based on people's experiences documented here and elsewhere, I had reservations, but was assured by others of the unit's overall good success in the field. I decided to bench test the unit prior to installation. Good thing I did! Read on... all is well that ends well.

Not understanding how the 'sync' function actually worked, the first thing I decided to try was performing a sync operation, first thing right out of the box after wiring everything up. The unit just sat there with the motor humming and nothing moving. Turns out that this behavior was consistent with the unit's design, since the rotator was already in the state expected when a sync operation ends, thus no more movement was possible. The controller is a simple timer based design and simply sends current to the motor based on a time interval (< 1 min.). The time the controller attempts to activate the motor is sufficient to cause a full rotation back to 0 degrees, assuming everything is operating as expected.

The next test was to try the up/down arrow buttons on the controller remote to make the unit rotate manually. Unfortunately, it only rotated about 1/2 way around before reaching a point where it wouldn't turn any further, either forward or backward. It was stuck! I could here the motor being energized (hummmmm), but no movement was happening.

I am the tinkering type, so I decided to take the unit apart and see what the problem was and determine if I could fix it. For me, this was a preferable option vs. going down the path of return/repurchase. The disassembly started with removing the bottom cover and then removing the 5 Allen screws holding the motor/gear assembly to the housing. The rubber boot that surrounds the base of the upper mast had to be removed in order to allow the inner works to be removed from the housing. Everything on the inside of the box slips right out as one complete unit. Once I had it apart, I hooked the wires back up and conducted the bench tests all over again. Everything worked like a champ! Ran all kinds of tests, sync, manually movements, up/down adjustments, etc., everything just worked, which led me to conclude that something with the housing was 'binding' up the works.

In my final analysis, there is a total lack of lubrication where the rubber boot providing the weatherproofing makes contact with the housing. I applied a very thin layer of high quality grease to all the surfaces where the rubber boot that makes contact with the housing. I also put a light coating of grease on the main shaft where it just might contact the housing - though this contact is unlikely. I put it all back together and started to run the tests again.

Viola! Everything works as designed. Now that I understand what I've got and how it works, I have complete confidence that I can install the unit as planned.

I realize my approach isn't for everybody, but I hope my experience will help others in their decision making process.

This is a really great product. I live between two major TV markets and it is nice to just rotate the antenna with my remote control and pick up signals from each. Now, with the advent of digital OTA TV broadcasts, it's nice to be able to fine tune my antenna to get the max signal strength on the digital channels.
The rotating unit itself is very solidly constructed. Mines been installed since 1/07 and has not lost and accuracy. The control box is very small, and can be placed anywhere in your room, it does not need to be close to your TV if it's easier that way. The remote is small and well laid out. The codes used are the same as Pioneer cable boxes, so many multi-function remotes can control the antenna. My Sony remote was easily programmed to work it. The antenna rotates at a reasonable speed, and is quiet so it does not bother the neighbors.

I have this Channelmaster Rotor with Remote, which I installed about a year ago. I used it for more HDTV Channel reception.

Why the past tense? Well, about 6 months ago I started having serious problems with the 9521 motor unit: it was not responding to the remote commands (the motor unit wouldn't turn from due North 0 or 360 degrees

First I referred to the owners manual. The troubleshooting section in the latter is very thin and basically said to replace the Rotator Unit. So I ended up googling to find general rotator troubleshooting support. That led to more helpful info that allowed me to bench test the motor unit, which turned out to have become defective (Stuck).

So I emailed Channel Master for more Support for the 9521 rotator unit. The Support Tech was helpful but said that this is a common problem and he would replace it if I could produce the original receipt, which of course I could Not! My problem with this type of Warranty, is that they know when it was manufactured by the Serial # I gave them & they know it has been on my Roof Mast only. So, why not ship new one to me & I ship junk back with RMA#. They already admit to problem. He did suggest buying a Ham Radio Mast Rotor, but cheapest is about $350~500. Now way.

So be advised and if you buy one of these make sure you keep all warranty documentation and Receipts!

I bought my first 9521A in 2001. Then in 2006 I had to replace both the rotor (Frozen) & the controller (Blank Screen). Now it is 2009 and the 2nd rotor is frozen in the North Position! Maybe you should give discounts on bulk ordering!

I installed this rotor in October 2004. It was only used occasionally. In 2007 it started sticking and froze up completely in 2008. Long term reliability seems poor.

This BRAND NEW Channel Master 9521A antenna rotor wasted my whole day. I have a backround in electronics. Hooked it up on the ground, went about 1/3 way around then bound up! Opened it up, main gear jumped several teeth. Realigned, same thing again. Degree reading a joke! No sync, runs off with each movement. An $89 piece of junk! I am sure some of these work, but quality is poor. Drive motor of cheapest quality. Read other reviews on this & you will probably forget it. Some other brands have complaints too. Read reviews before you buy. I took apart my 30 year old Alliance Tennarotor (still working) re-lubricated it & put it back up. Works perfectly. Always stops exactly where you set it!