[TenTec] FS - Top Ten Devices Band Decoder for Orion

[Jim McDonald]

The Top Ten Devices unit plugs into the band data jack of the radio and,
in my application, replaces the DX Engineering remote antenna switch
controller.  When I change bands on the radio the remote switch on the
top of my tower switches to the appropriate antenna for that bands, so I
don't have to do it manually.

The Top Ten box has its own power supply for the remote switch and can
be easily configured for monoband antennas or monoband antennas and a
tribander.

Jim N7US

-------- Original Message --------

Hello,

I'm trying to follow this discussion and have a question. What is a Top
Ten 
Devices Band Decoder? Sorry, for my ignorance. Thank you for the 
information.

Best,
DW Holtman
WB7SSN


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Williams" <k8ztt at mho.com>
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 9:58 PM
Subject: Re: [TenTec] FS - Top Ten Devices Band Decoder for Orion


> Jim,
>
> I wouldn't think you should have too much trouble finding someone to buy 
> it.
> Not only is the convenience factor an issue, but it saves a bunch of money
> on coax and you only need one coax coming in the house.
>
> I also switch my Ham M and Tailtwister rotors with the same system. Have
> just one rotor cable coming in and one rotor control box (actually I have
> two cables and two boxes - have one M2 R2800 and it needs its own control
> box and cable).
>
> Good luck,
>
> Dick
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jim N7US" <jim at n7us.net>
> To: "'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment'" <tentec at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 9:32 PM
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] FS - Top Ten Devices Band Decoder for Orion
>
>
>> Dick,
>>
>> You're more clever and more ambitious than I am! Yes, I just unplugged
>> the
>> DX Engineering control box, which is the power supply, switch, and LEDs
>> and
>> replaced it with the Top Ten Decoder box.
>>
>> I am using the same remote switch now with my Icom band decoder. I
>> standardized the plug/socket set so they are all the same, so I can go
>> back
>> to the DX Engineering box easily.
>>
>> I'm thinking of buying a Yaesu and can reverse the Orion mod in the band
>> decoder to make it a Yaesu unit if I can't sell it, but it seems a shame
>> to
>> waste the Orion mod and matching cable. I'd rather sell it so someone
>> else
>> can use it since they're no longer made.
>>
>> As you know, not having to turn or flip a switch to select the antenna
>> when
>> changing bands is convenient and good when one gets tired.
>>
>> Jim N7US
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>
>>
>> Jim,
>>
>> OK, I think I understand what you were doing, you were using the Top Ten
>> decoder to furnish the voltage for the relays in the DX Engineering box.
>>
>> When I designed my switching network, I built a box with a 12V power
>> supply
>>
>> and 11 relays. The power supply furnished the voltage for both the RF
>> switching relays out in the field and the 11 relays to route the proper
>> polarity outside ( +, -, 0, and AC). The relays only needed to be
>> grounded
>> to close, so I used the Top Ten decoder outputs for that purpose.
>>
>> If you are wondering how I switch 11 antennas with only four polarities,
>> the
>>
>> answer is I run a wire outside to the first relay box (Ameritron RCS-4)
>> and
>> use the 4 polarities to route the RF out 4 different coax's to additional
>> relay boxes (the other RCS-4's and 4712's). All those relays are 
>> switched
>> by injecting the control voltage on the coax.
>>
>> When I bought the Orion, the data jack does the same thing as the output
>> of
>> the Top Ten decoder, so I didn't need it any more.
>>
>> Dick K8ZTT
>>
>>
>> Yes, when I was using the Yaseu radios, I had built a box with 11 eleven
>> relays and a 12 V (actually it is closer to 18 V no load) power supply.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>
>>
>>> The remote switch needs 12-18V DC to energize the relays. Doesn't the
>>> band
>>> data jack close a contact to ground for the selected band?
>>>
>>> Jim N7US
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>
>>>
>>> Jim,
>>>
>>> I am kind of curious as to why you needed the Top Ten band decoder with
>>> the
>>> Orion?
>>>
>>> When I had a Yausu FT-1000D and then a Mark V, I also had one of the 
>>> Top
>>> Ten decoders to do the same thing you were doing. Only difference is I
>>> am
>>> using three Ameritron RCS-4's and two MFJ 4712's spread out rather than
>>> one
>>> (like the DX Engineering unit).
>>>
>>> In any case, when I purchased the Orion, I sold the Top Ten unit 
>>> because
>>> the Orion has the bands already decoded on the Band Data connector, and 
>>> I
>>> no
>>>
>>> longer needed the top ten decoder.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>
>>>
>>>>I sold my Orion a couple of years ago but still have the Top Ten Devices
>>>> Band Decoder. It was originally a Yaesu band decoder with the source
>>>> driver
>>>> option, and I added the $35 Orion mod kit and bought a $30 Orion cable
>>>> for
>>>> it. It works fine (was checked out by N2RD of Top Ten Devices since I
>>>> don't
>>>> have the Orion). I still have the couple of parts removed in the
>>>> conversion, in case you want to convert it back to a Yaesu,
>>>>
>>>> I used it with a DX Engineering remote antenna switch on the tower.
>>>> Changing
>>>> bands on the radio changes the antenna switch automatically.
>>>>
>>>> Top Ten Devices no longer sells the Orion or the Yaesu-to-Orion mod 
>>>> kit.
>>>> My
>>>> cost was $155 for the unit, $35 for the mod kit, and $30 for the cable,
>>>> for
>>>> a total of $220. I'd like to sell the package for $175 plus shipping
>>>> from
>>>> near Chicago.
>>>>
>>>> The Top Ten Devices web site is http://www.qth.com/topten/bdecoder.htm.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Jim N7US