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

[Herbert Schoenbohm]

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 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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