[TowerTalk] Help with Ameritron RCS-12C

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

Herb,

Read the RCS-12 manual.  The answer you need will be found on pages 4
and 5.  See the 1 of 8 configuration for the "Relay Connection Jack"
and the appropriate setting for JMP 1.

RTFM OM!

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 3/16/2014 5:16 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote:
> I am trying to get my RCS-12C Ameritron antenna switch interface working
> with a DX-Engineering  8-Port Antenna Switch in a 1-8 configuration.
> However the Ameritron box outputs switching voltage on more than one
> wire simultaneously even in the manual setting  via the 8 pin connection
> jack thus causing more than one relay to reference an antenna. The
> switching closures from the common main feed port to the various
> antennas are all over the place thus causing high VSWR on the selected
> antenna. One would think that Ameritron would have 12 VDC or what ever
> the switching voltage might be to only output one wire at a time but
> that is not the case.  There is however on the RCS-12C an Auxiliary
> Output DB9 connector which provides a single voltage of 5 volts DC with
> respect to ground and these are all correct and non are duplicatd on
> other ports like the Din Relay box port Unfortunately the DX-Engineering
> box type RR8B-HP Remote Antenna Switch requires a control voltage of
> 10-14VDC, not 5 volts. The cable used is CAT 5 of very good quality and
> I have even made a new run with a new Din connection to the antenna
> control port on the RCS-12. All my setting inside the Ameritron are
> simple 1 through 8 switching.  I have searched for solution and maybe
> the only way the RCS-12C will control the DX=Engineering Antenna Switch
> is by building a board of 8 five volt relays which then send 10-14 volts
> out to an external supply.  Yes the Ameritron 12-RCSC has provision for
> inputing up to 30 volts and an internal jumper for a direct feed to the
> Din relay box connector.  However there is enough voltage on non
> switched wires to cause the remote antenna switch to do all sorts of
> unfortunate things.  Sometime the 20 meter antenna shows up on position
> 8 even though the coax is into port 5.  Sometimes the 10 meter port and
> the 160 meter port are cross connected.  This is all very strange and I
> would like to know if any other user of this configuration has had
> similar problems and discovered solutions.  I have even purchased a new
> RCS-12C controller and this performs the same way.  Again I have a BCD
> connection to my Icom but this is not the problem  since the bad
> switching occurs in manual mode  as well as auto mode.
>
> Please let me know if you have a solution to this.  I would like to get
> it running before the CQ WPX contest or else try to switch this box with
> some clip leads and a 12VDC supply.  This must be something simple to
> correct.
>
> Regards,
>
> herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
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