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

[Steve Lott]

Wow !

Yes there exist a lot of automation these days

today most of us are using tools to......

listen to cw and decode it and spot it to our own spotting system
or use the reverse beacon network and tools like ViewProp to tell us not
only when the dx is on, but
when chances are better than 50/50 to work them based on real time
propagation

I have a link to a presentation I recently did on ViewProp here.........
http://sdxa.blogspot.com/2016/08/propagation-tools-presentation-by-kg5vk.html

also see Pete Smith N4ZR's Blog on ViewProp and The Reverse Beacon network
http://reversebeacon.blogspot.com/2013/04/viewprop.html

logging software tools to open and close relays to
select the right antenna (for xmt as well as rcv) and the right band pass
filters

Many of us use N1mm+ for contesting
link here is to N1MM+ being used for ARRL FD.....
http://n1mmplus.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=Video+-+N1MM+LoggerPlus+on+Field+Day#Video_N1MM_LoggerPlus_on_Field_Day

<http://n1mmplus.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=Video+-+N1MM+LoggerPlus+on+Field+Day#Video_N1MM_LoggerPlus_on_Field_Day>
I use N1MM+ for contesting and use DXLabs Suite for daily logging......
http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxlabwiki/GettingStarted

make sure you watch the Video "Introduction to DX Labs Suite"
link is here..........
http://stationproject.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/an-introduction-to-the-dxlab-suite/

Welcome to the new century of Ham Radio !

Cheers!
Steve
KG5VK


http://www.KG5VK.com
My Ham Radio Friends


On Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 8:55 AM, FritzOAQ <fritz at 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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