[SCCC] SO2R Equipment Recommendations

[Prasad]

Bob,

I have also just started dabbling with SO2R. Last Thursday and Friday just
before CQWW CW contest I was busy building the KK1L 2x6 Antenna switch,
controller and band decoder. Got it all going a few minutes before the
contest and tired myself out ending up using just on radio and sleeping
during prime band openings :)

First time in a contest I did not change coax cables to the rig or the Daiwa
2-way antenna switch that I have. I have not yet connected the band decoder
part of the switch controller to the rig/PC but used it in manual mode to
switch antennas during the contest. The controller also provides tap off
headers to switch filters etc. for each radio.

I am now building the SO2R controller which is at
http://home.comcast.net/~kk1l/kk1l_so2r/index.html The anntena switch,
controller, band decoders details are also available ont he site. It all
worked out much cheaper for me than buying a finished product. Ron KK1L
provides high quality PCBs.

Now to make filter stubs and plan on getting band filters - needs some
annual budget plans now that I am trying to get into SO2R ;-)

Good luck and 73

de Prasad, VU2PTT, W2PTT
<http://home.comcast.net/~kk1l/kk1l_so2r/index.html>

On Tue, Dec 1, 2009 at 8:12 AM, Bob Selbrede, K6ZZ <k6zz at ccis.com> wrote:

> Folks,
>
> I am considering dabbling a bit with SO2R and was curious to
> know what people are using these days for their SO2R
> Controller (Mic, PPT, TX/RX Audio, CW) and Antenna
> Switching.  In the early to mid 90's, Top Ten Devices or
> home-brew seemed to rule.  There are many products on the
> market these days.
>
> For the SO2R Controller I'm leaning toward the Top Ten
> Devices DX Doubler or Array Solutions SO2R Master.  They
> seem a lot simpler and are more affordable than some of the
> others.  Simple and reliable are both great attributes!
>
> For Antenna Switching I'm leaning toward the Array Solutions
> SixPak.  Again, it seems to be a good product and priced
> better than the competition.
>
> Have I missed any other obvious options?  Home-brew isn't
> much of an option these days given my hectic schedule.  Is
> there are reason why the DX Doubler would be any better or
> worse than the SO2R Master?
>
> For bandpass filters I'll go with the Dunestar or ICE
> multi-band units.  I've owned both and both seem to work
> well.  The W3NQN filters look great but are a bit pricy.
> Don't know which band decoders I'll use yet either.  This
> setup will use a K3 and FT-2000.
>
> Comments and suggestions welcome and appreciated.
>
> 73, Bob K6ZZ
>
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