[CQ-Contest] SO2R with Automatic Switching

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

Hi Bob - you might look at 
<http://pvrc.org/n4zr/Articles/Single%20Tower%20SO2R.pdf>, which was 
published in NCJ for March 2006.  The big departure was my use of 
largely homebrew hardware (except for the Dunestar 600 bandswitched 
band-pass filters).  In particular, I used W9XT's band decoder boards, 
at $20 each, which are a very flexible solution for a very nice price.

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at
http://reversebeacon.net,
blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com.
For spots, please go to your favorite
ARC V6 or VE7CC DX cluster node.

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