[CQ-Contest] SO2R with Automatic Switching

[Aldewey at aol.com]

Bob;
 
I recently automated my station in the way you suggest below.  My two  
radios are an FT2000 and an ICOM 7600 (which recently replaced an FT1000 MP Mark 
 V).  I use two Array Solution Band Master 3 Band Decoders, an Array  
Solution 6 Pack Antenna Switch, and two Dunestar Switchable bandpass  filters.
 
One of the reasons I used the BandMaster III is that I actually won one at  
the Dayton Contest Dinner a couple years ago.  I got it up and running with 
 one radio and liked it so much I bought a second one.  I had a couple  
issues getting the software configured right but the support from the factory  
was great.  I use N1MM Logging software.  Once you get the BandMaster  III's 
configured correctly, the logging software is actually transparent.   It 
looks to the logging software just like you have a normal CAT interface to  
your radio.
 
I do not run an amplifier in my station.
 
Once you get everything automated, you will wonder how you ever survived  
doing the switching manually!
 
73,
 
AL, K0AD
 
 
In a message dated 11/26/2013 4:26:53 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
kq2m at kq2m.com writes:

Hi,

I am using two FT1000MP’s for SO2R and would like to use  the band output 
from the radios to 
automatically electronically switch all  antennas, amps and filters every 
time I change bands rather
than the  tiring/inefficient manual “switching by hand” that I have been 
using for the  past 26 years.

I would appreciate hearing from SO2R ops what amps,  antenna switches, “
boxes” and /or
other devices that they use to accomplish  this fully automatic switching 
which would be necessary
on both phone and  cw.  Also, if there is a particular contest logging 
program that you have  found
to be especially useful and well-integrated with all of this  switching, 
please tell me as well.

Reliability and durability are of  paramount importance to me as I do not 
want failures
occurring due to RF,  cheap components and/or questionable or short-sighted 
design issues.

I  would appreciate any thoughts and experiences with products, vendors and 
 station design 
either on or off the reflector.

Thanks in advance  for your help.

73


Bob  KQ2M

kq2m at kq2m.com
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