Rotator Setup

Use PstRotatorAz with Map-panion through its built-in UDP Control Setup.
No separate bridge file is required.

Map-panion can work with PstRotatorAz using its built-in UDP control reporting.
You only need to enable the UDP control feature in PstRotatorAz and
then enter the matching rotator settings in Map-panion.

What you need

Map-panion installed or running
PstRotatorAz installed and working
Your rotator already configured in PstRotatorAz
The IP address of the computer running PstRotatorAz
The UDP port you want to use

If Map-panion and PstRotatorAz are running on the same computer, you can usually use that same computer’s local address. If they are on different computers, use the LAN IP of the computer running PstRotatorAz.

Open the UDP setup in PstRotatorAz

In PstRotatorAz, open the menu path shown below to reach the UDP Control Setup screen.

Open PstRotatorAz
Click Communication
Click UDP Control Setup…

In PstRotatorAz, go to Communication → UDP Control Setup...

Configure the UDP control settings

In the UDP Control Setup window, confirm the port and IP settings that PstRotatorAz will use for UDP control and position reporting.

Example settings

Port number: 12000

IP: 192.168.1.255

Automatically positions reporting when the rotor is moving: enabled

Set the Port number to the value you want Map-panion to use
Confirm the IP setting
Make sure Automatically positions reporting when the rotor is moving is checked
Click Save Settings

Important note
The example above shows the IP set to 192.168.1.255, which is a broadcast-style LAN address. In Map-panion, the rotator host should usually be the actual machine or network target you want to communicate with, based on your station setup.

Example PstRotatorAz UDP Control Setup with port 12000 and automatic position reporting enabled.

Enter the rotator settings in Map-panion

Once PstRotatorAz is configured, open Map-panion and enter the matching rotator settings in the Integrations panel.

Use these values

Provider: pstrotator_udp

Host: the IP address Map-panion should use for PstRotatorAz

UDP Port: 12000

Stale timeout: 5000

Open Map-panion
Open the Integrations panel
Set the rotator provider to PstRotator UDP
Enter the correct host or IP
Enter the UDP port to match PstRotatorAz
Save or apply the settings

Portable Version Note

After saving the rotator settings, restart Map-panion if the new values do not take effect immediately.

After you save the rotator settings, Map-panion writes them to config.json. If that file is not already there, it will be created after saving.

After saving, restart Map-panion so the new rotator settings are loaded.

For portable installs, keep the app in its own folder so the .exe and config.json stay together.

Restart and Test

Close and relaunch Map-panion
Confirm the rotator panel appears
Confirm the green LED is on
Move the rotator in PstRotatorAz or from your rotor control side
Confirm Map-panion updates correctly

Some settings are loaded at startup, so a restart may be required before the rotator values fully take effect.

Reading the Rotator Panel

Once connected, Map-panion shows the current rotator status in the panel.

Green LED: connected

Compass button: turns compass mode on or off

Map button: turns map turning mode on or off

Step buttons: move the rotor in small increments

STOP: stops rotor movement

Azimuth display: shows the current heading

Example Map-panion rotator panel. Green LED means connected.

Troubleshooting

Rotator panel does not appear

Confirm the rotator settings were saved in Map-panion

Restart Map-panion

Confirm the provider is set correctly

No position updates

Confirm PstRotatorAz UDP Control Setup is enabled

Confirm the port matches in both programs

Confirm the host or IP is correct

Confirm automatic position reporting is enabled

Settings do not stick after restart

Confirm Map-panion is saving its config correctly

Portable users should keep the app in its own folder

Confirm config.json is beside the portable .exe

Save the settings, then restart Map-panion

Still not working

Recheck the PstRotatorAz menu path

Recheck port 12000

Recheck host and IP values

Restart both applications

Quick Summary

Map-panion rotator support uses PstRotatorAz’s built-in UDP Control Setup. No separate bridge file is required.

Enable UDP Control Setup in PstRotatorAz

Match the host and UDP port in Map-panion

Save the settings

For portable installs, make sure config.json is beside the portable .exe