Re: [CQ-Contest] Control Ameritron RCS-4 Coax Switch with my PC

[Herbert Schoenbohm <herbs@vitelcom.net>]

Today for this function the Arduino 8X1 relay board makes it so simple 
at about $10 complete on eBay. They can be hooked up to work with a high 
or low and even latch or unlatch with an external key pad or computer 
software. I like mine to be interdependent of the computer program.  But 
the N1MM switch circuit also works well.
Herb, KV4FZ

On 8/27/2016 5:17 PM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
> Very cool.  For Fritz - I wrote an article, published in QST in 
> October 2011 that describes a solution to the hardware side of a 
> similar interfacing problem.  It describes an interface between N1MM 
> Logger and the Ameritron RCS-10, driven from lines on a parallel port 
> and using driver transistors to provide the needed current for the 
> relays..
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> Download the new N1MM Logger+ at
> <http://N1MM.hamdocs.com>. Check
> out the Reverse Beacon Network at
> <http://reversebeacon.net>, now
> spotting RTTY activity worldwide.
> For spots, please use your favorite
> "retail" DX cluster.
>
> On 8/26/2016 11:15 AM, Gerry Hull wrote:
> > Talk to Marty, KC1CWF... 14 years old, and a contester.  He used a $16
> > relay board, and a $30 wifi interface to it to control his RCS4... and
> > wrote the control software in Python.    kc1cwf@yccc.org
> >
> > 73, Gerry W1VE
> >
> > On Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 9:55 AM, FritzOAQ <fritz@k4oaq.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I'm tired of switching thu my 4 beverages after every CQ with a rotary
> > > switch on my RCS-4.
> > >
> > > I've looked at the RCS-4 schematic & it looks like it wud be pretty 
> > > simple
> > > to fish the wires connected to the rotary switch out to some 
> > > switches I can
> > > control with my PC.
> > >
> > > Many many years ago I keyed my xmtr with a little reed switch & pgm I
> > > wrote.
> > > Frankly, I don't remember whether I did it with my Commodore 64 or 
> > > on a PC.
> > > I do remember there were plenty of pins that one cud 
> > > programmatically turn
> > > off & on (RS232 & COM ports). Now I look at a USB plug & it looks 
> > > like two
> > > wires to me.
> > >
> > > Obviously I've been on vacation for the past 30 years but I want to get
> > > back
> > > into the game. I have recently learned a little java but haven't 
> > > been able
> > > to see where I mite possibly talk to a com port. Then there's the
> > > electronics that I never was very good at. I suspect there's some IC 
> > > that's
> > > just the thing I need to use. So, I'm looking for some direction as 
> > > to what
> > > web sites I mite look at that wud get me going in the right 
> > > direction. And
> > > also that maybe I shud learn C+ since it seems everybody & his 
> > > brother are
> > > using it for ham apps.
> > >
> > > Where I want to end up with this project:
> > >
> > > Phase 1: Computer pgm switches to next beverage every X seconds. Esc 
> > > stops
> > > it switching. Double click Esc stops it & switches back to prev 
> > > beverage.
> > > Phase 2: Computer listens for a signal & stops if it hears one. I 
> > > know, in
> > > practice this one mite not work as well as I hope. Like how does one 
> > > detect
> > > the diff between a real CW signal & noise?
> > >
> > > Phase 3: Computer completes QSO & wins many contests in my name . GUYS!
> > > Just
> > > kiddin!
> > >
> > > 73,
> > >
> > > Fritz K4OAQ
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
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