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

[Pete Smith N4ZR]

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
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"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 at yccc.org
>
> 73, Gerry W1VE
>
> On Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 9:55 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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