[CQ-Contest] CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 249, Issue 11
George Wagner
giwagner at k5kg.com
Sun Sep 24 16:13:28 EDT 2023
Lee, I think I can help you with your antenna switching question, but best done over the “twisted pair. Just give me a call. 941-400-1960.
73, George K5KG
Sent from my iPhone
> On Sep 19, 2023, at 12:00, cq-contest-request at contesting.com wrote:
>
> Send CQ-Contest mailing list submissions to
> cq-contest at contesting.com
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> cq-contest-request at contesting.com
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> cq-contest-owner at contesting.com
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> than "Re: Contents of CQ-Contest digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Antenna Switching (Lee Hiers)
> 2. Re: Antenna Switching (Marty Sullaway)
> 3. Re: Antenna Switching (AB2E Darrell)
> 4. Solution for controlling Aux Antennas from N1MM (Gerry Hull)
> 5. CQ WW RTTY Practice Sessions (ed at w0yk.com)
> 6. Re: Antenna Switching (Lee Hiers)
> 7. Announcing the half hour RTTY NS (NCCC Sprint) contest this
> Thursday evening Western Hemisphere time. (Ed Radlo)
> 8. Re: Antenna Switching (Jim Brown)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 11:23:48 -0400
> From: Lee Hiers <lee.hiers at gmail.com>
> To: CQ-Contest Reflector <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Antenna Switching
> Message-ID:
> <CAEEr=7MJw5m=+wywy53kogOBnUfbw+RaSz1KM+yE8pveQB5yEQ at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I've got an old Array Solutions SixPak antenna switch. I'm thinking about
> using band decoders (or however it's done these days, depending on the rig)
> to have the antenna switch automatically follow the radios' bands.
>
> The question I have is, if I'm on my main 20m antenna and want to change to
> a SE tribander, say, how is that generally implemented? Presumably I'd
> want to be able to select that secondary antenna from either radio. How
> are folks doing the auto-antenna-switch override?
>
> 73 de Lee, AA4GA
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 12:40:02 -0400
> From: Marty Sullaway <marty.sullaway at gmail.com>
> To: Lee Hiers <lee.hiers at gmail.com>
> Cc: CQ-Contest Reflector <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Antenna Switching
> Message-ID:
> <CA+DveWYvh3vknPXSv_R430uB1u4m=k7iH1cY8qo3-xw-bOf_8w at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Hi Lee
>
> I'd suggest an antenna switch with more than 6 ports. The HamPlus 2x12 and
> 2x8 boxes are pretty excellent, and their controllers have logic for "bring
> me to the 20m antenna when I go to 20, but let me select the south
> tribander button"
>
> Best,
> Marty
> NN1C
>
>
>
>> On Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 12:21?PM Lee Hiers <lee.hiers at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>> I've got an old Array Solutions SixPak antenna switch. I'm thinking about
>> using band decoders (or however it's done these days, depending on the rig)
>> to have the antenna switch automatically follow the radios' bands.
>>
>> The question I have is, if I'm on my main 20m antenna and want to change to
>> a SE tribander, say, how is that generally implemented? Presumably I'd
>> want to be able to select that secondary antenna from either radio. How
>> are folks doing the auto-antenna-switch override?
>>
>> 73 de Lee, AA4GA
>> _______________________________________________
>> CQ-Contest mailing list
>> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:12:41 +0000
> From: AB2E Darrell <ab2e at hotmail.com>
> To: Lee Hiers <lee.hiers at gmail.com>, CQ-Contest Reflector
> <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Antenna Switching
> Message-ID:
> <SJ2PR20MB590189545BBA17548FB797F49BFBA at SJ2PR20MB5901.namprd20.prod.outlook.com>
>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Hi Lee,
> At my old QTH 7yrs ago, I had a Sixpak hooked up using an A/B switch.
> For the secondary antenna on the Sixpak, probably the cheapest (and easy) solution is something like a Top Ten Devices A/B switch.
> These were $100 new, but I see them occasionally $50-60 used.
> You would need to power it with a small toggle switch and remember to change it manually when needed.
>
> A nice antenna switch out there that would do it almost automatically (builtin band decoder) is the Ameritron RCS-12 antenna switch.
> 8 antennas, autotracks with the rig's band via a radio interface cable from the RCS-12, which I am currently using.
> The first antenna per band shows a solid LED for 1-8.
> You select a secondary antenna by holding that button. For instance, Ant1 is your primary, Ant2 is your secondary for 20m, and could be multiband, doesn't matter.
> Ant2 will blink if you had most recently selected Ant1.
> Just tap Ant2 quickly to switch to that antenna, and tap 1 to go back again.
>
> Not for SO2R, since this is a single radio at a time switch.
> 73
> Darrell AB2E
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: CQ-Contest <cq-contest-bounces+ab2e=hotmail.com at contesting.com> on behalf of Lee Hiers <lee.hiers at gmail.com>
> Sent: Monday, September 18, 2023 11:23 AM
> To: CQ-Contest Reflector <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Antenna Switching
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I've got an old Array Solutions SixPak antenna switch. I'm thinking about
> using band decoders (or however it's done these days, depending on the rig)
> to have the antenna switch automatically follow the radios' bands.
>
> The question I have is, if I'm on my main 20m antenna and want to change to
> a SE tribander, say, how is that generally implemented? Presumably I'd
> want to be able to select that secondary antenna from either radio. How
> are folks doing the auto-antenna-switch override?
>
> 73 de Lee, AA4GA
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Flists.contesting.com%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fcq-contest&data=05%7C01%7C%7C9c621abb61004636d45208dbb8634fde%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638306508904550106%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=p81ti9aFE%2B53GHZHbLlWRt4lJm3iHiMMdfaGVv7KKa4%3D&reserved=0<http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 13:18:43 -0400
> From: Gerry Hull <vy1aaa at vy1ja.ca>
> To: CQ-Contest Reflector <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Solution for controlling Aux Antennas from N1MM
> Message-ID:
> <CAH=7BOdzjuEVCUghujxDk4OG8uhVsNSdE1hN3gKg6Z8JDxkuAA at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> In a number of recent talks I've given on remote operating, many have asked
> about desktop solutions for auxiliary antenna control.
>
> Aux antennas are those not switched via band decoders or other means, such
> as different antennas for the same band, stack matches, triplexer
> switching, etc.
>
> A pal asked me again the other day if there was a solution. He showed me a
> picture of a relay board he has.
>
> His board is 16 dpdt 5A relays controlled over IP. The relays are
> controlled by a simple web server on board.
>
> There are quite a few of these IP controlled relay boards on the market,
> from China, EU countries, and the US.
>
> So, how to control these relays from N1MM? I have written an application to
> do just that!
>
> The second attachment is the main UI.
>
> It listens to the N1MM Radio Information UDP Broadcast on all IP Addresses
> on the LAN, on port 12060, the N1MM default.
>
> If you have a multiop station with every station on the same LAN subnet,
> you can use this application to centrally control all the aux antennas for
> each op position, as the RadioInfo message contains the radio it is from.
>
> Essentially, you set up Aux Antenna macros in N1MM:
> {AUXANTSEL 01}
> {AUXANTSEL 02}
> {AUXANTSEL 01}| {AUXANTSEL 02} - A toggle on the same button.
>
> Then, you set up the antenna definitions in the Antenna Configurator of
> N1MM.
>
> In my app, you create "Maps* between the Radio and Aux antenna numbers and
> the URL of the Relays to control.
>
> You can create an endless number of maps, and can control as many IP Relay
> boards as you wish, only limited by your imagination.
>
> Some of the relay boards require basic authentication. This is supported
> in the app; you enter the url as: user:password at ipOrDnsOfBoard.
>
> The third attachment is the editor for configuring the Maps. It should be
> easy to use.
>
> The app is a stand-alone exe, requiring no other files. It is compatible
> with Win 10 and above and is an x64 executable.
>
> It is not code-signed, so you might have to go to the Properties of the exe
> and check "Unblock" (The file is safe; code is written in C# Net Core 7.0)
>
> You can download it from
> http://files.w1ve.com/RelayControl4N1MM.exe
>
> Your feedback here or gerry at w1ve.com appreciated.
>
> No guarantees for fitness of purpose, YMMV, and you assume all risks, etc...
>
> Enjoy!
>
> 73,
>
> Gerry W1VE
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:47:12 -0700
> From: <ed at w0yk.com>
> To: "'Reflector: Rtty'" <rtty at groups.io>, "'groups.io'"
> <rttydigital at groups.io>, "'CQ-Contest Reflector'"
> <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] CQ WW RTTY Practice Sessions
> Message-ID: <011a01d9ea82$11cc73c0$35655b40$@w0yk.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
>
> The CQ WW contest season opens this weekend with the RTTY mode. The
>
> following practice sessions provide an opportunity to check out equipment,
>
> software, operator, etc.:
>
>
>
> Thursday, 21 September, 2200-2230z
>
> Friday, 22 September, 0300-0330z
>
>
>
> Use whichever bands work for you at each time slot. Use regular contest
>
> messages and be prepared to have someone alert you that the contest starts a
>
> day later.
>
>
>
> Rules are available at <http://www.cqwwrtty.com/rules.htm%20> http://www.cqwwrtty.com/rules.htm in English and
>
> several other languages thanks to a number of volunteer translators.
>
>
>
> MixW users please note the instructions at
>
> <http://www.cqwwrtty.com/logs.htm#MixW_Notes> http://www.cqwwrtty.com/logs.htm#MixW_Notes which explain how to setup the
>
> logger prior to the contest so that a proper Cabrillo formatted log file
>
> can be created after the contest.
>
>
>
> Submit your log using the web tool at <http://www.cqww.com/logcheck/%20> http://www.cqww.com/logcheck/ which
>
> checks your log format in real-time for convenient and quick fixes, as
>
> needed, before submitting to the log server for you.
>
>
>
> Have Fun!
>
> Ed W0YK
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 22:53:06 -0400
> From: Lee Hiers <lee.hiers at gmail.com>
> To: CQ-Contest Reflector <cq-contest at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Antenna Switching
> Message-ID:
> <CAEEr=7Oo6S_8U27g_pgRpmNTDca+OK9iH+_Wv98J8WgDOLazOg at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> On Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 3:38?PM Trent VK4TS <vk4ts at outlook.com> wrote:
>
>
>> Interesting and lots of answers
>>
>
> Thanks to NN1C, N2NT, AB2E, VK4TS, and HS0ZCW.
>
> I've got a couple of ideas.
>
> I suppose I was a little incomplete in my info - I've got a SixPak, but
> only using 5 positions. My 80/160 meter antennas share a feedline (or
> will, once I get my vertical back up). So, I'll have one extra position
> for my AUX antenna,
>
> I'd rather not spend the money for a full setup, but I see that Hamplus has
> the MBD-62 that can interface with my old SixPak. That will allow
> auto-switching, with the ability to select the AUX antenna on either
> radio. It's about $400, and has two band decoders and looks like it will
> do the switching I want to do.
>
> 73 de Lee, AA4GA
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2023 04:58:22 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Ed Radlo <eddrad at aol.com>
> To: NCCC Main Reflector <nccc at groups.io>, NCCC-blue
> <nccc-blue at groups.io>, CQ-Contest Reflector
> <cq-contest at contesting.com>, "Reflector: Rtty" <rtty at groups.io>,
> "groups.io" <rttydigital at groups.io>
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Announcing the half hour RTTY NS (NCCC Sprint)
> contest this Thursday evening Western Hemisphere time.
> Message-ID: <784321413.1910155.1695099502703 at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
>
>
> RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
>
> ?
>
> To all RTTY opsworldwide:??
>
> This is a reminder thatonce again, the Northern California Contest Club is pleased to present ourregular weekly half hour RTTY Sprint, aka the NS RTTY (or RTTY NS if youprefer), this Thursday evening Western Hemisphere time.? Non-Western Hemisphere stations are welcomein this contest as well.
>
> And don?t forget the bigCQ WW RTTY Contest this coming weekend, which will feature continuous48 hour action.
>
> The start time of the NCCC?sRTTY Sprint is always 0145Z, regardless of whether we?re on Standard Time orDaylight Savings Time.
>
> Last week, in additionto our regulars, we welcomed Mark K5AM and Dennis W1UE, whom we don?t see veryoften. ?We hope to see all of you againthis week!
>
> For those of you who arenew to our weekly NS RTTY?s, we use a variation of the NCJ Sprint?s QSY rule? 1 KHz QSY?s rather than 5 KHz ? and allow same band duplicate contacts aftermaking at least one intervening contact.??If you need a fullexplanation of these special rules, send me an e-mail, and I?ll give you allthe details, e.g., a precise definition of our QSY rule.?
>
> Remember to QSY afteryou?ve made a contact that you?ve solicited, and that both callsigns, yourname, your state, and your contact number are required as part of the exchangethat you send.
>
> After the contest, logsare not required to be submitted anywhere, but please remember to submit yourscore to www.3830scores.com.? It?s easy ? on 3830, the name of thiscontest is ?NCCC RTTY Sprint?.??Reporting your score, whether it bebig or small, helps build enthusiasm for this event. That in turn increasesparticipation for future editions, which benefits all of us.?
>
> For those of you usingthe popular N1MM+ logger, the contest module to use is NSRTTYDUPE.? A goodset of example function keys is in the N1MM+ website's function key gallery,available for free download.?
>
> Remember to try 15meters at the beginning of this Thursday night's contest ? 15 has been openwith spotlight propagation at 0145Z.
>
> The details of ournext NS RTTY:?
>
> Friday,?22September 2023 UTC, 0145Z to 0215Z (Thursday, 21 September 2023 in NorthAmerica)
>
> --1845 to 1915 PDT
>
> --2145 to 2215 EDT
>
> -- (others in betweenthose two time intervals)
>
> -- 160 meters:?Try 1804, 1805, or 1806?during the last two minutes
>
> -- 80/40/20/15 meters:??mostly?+83kHz to +89 kHz up from the lower band edge
>
> --?Same banddupes are allowed for credit after one intervening QSO
>
> --?1 kHz QSYrule, otherwise standard NCJ Sprint QSY rules
>
> -- Multipliers arecounted anew on each band, so if 4 or 5 bands are open, you?ll get a lot ofmults!
>
> -- 100W output powerlimit
>
> Please visit?https://www.ncccsprint.com/rttyns.html?for complete rules and links to otherinfo. If you find any problems with the Web pages, please let me know so we canget them fixed.?
>
> If you would like toreceive all the latest info about NS (both CW and RTTY), as well as a have avehicle for expressing your comments and questions, sign up for the NS mailinglist:??https://groups.io/g/nccc-blue.?
>
> Contestonlinescore.com?has a slot set up for us if you?d like to make sure yourlogger is talking to the world.? Select ?NCCC NA RTTY Sprint?.?
>
> Report scores to?3830scores.com, and join us at 0300Z on 3610 kHz (+/- a fewdepending upon who else is on) for comments and questions.?
>
> 73,?
>
> EdRadlo??AJ6V
>
> eddrad at aol.com
>
> ?
>
> _._,_._,_
>
> ?
>
> ?
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2023 02:28:56 -0700
> From: Jim Brown <k9yc at audiosystemsgroup.com>
> To: cq-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [CQ-Contest] Antenna Switching
> Message-ID:
> <b8773e43-5b86-5bc5-d029-ae23a2172e83 at audiosystemsgroup.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
>
>> On 9/18/2023 8:23 AM, Lee Hiers wrote:
>> I've got an old Array Solutions SixPak antenna switch.
>
> This is a bottom of the barrel product, isolation in the range of 50 dB
> and the relays aren't great. 4O3A 6x2 is much better, 75 dB, and his 8x2
> better yet, >100 dB. 4O3A is great to deal with.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Subject: Digest Footer
>
> _______________________________________________
> CQ-Contest mailing list
> CQ-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/cq-contest
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of CQ-Contest Digest, Vol 249, Issue 11
> *******************************************
More information about the CQ-Contest
mailing list