[VHFcontesting] Now Available: The TASS Computer-Controlled Switch System

[Mark Thompson]

Now Available: The TASS Computer-Controlled Switch System

The TASS (Totally
Awesome Switch System) is a general purpose 8-port 
DC-150 MHz relay-based
switch. The hardware is designed to be very 
generic, with an inexpensive
processor such as an Arduino providing the 
system logic. Control is via USB,
with Ethernet and other interfaces 
also available.

The TASS can be configured
several ways, and multiple boards can be 
combined to create large switching
systems. The TASS has many uses, from 
switching signal sources on a test bench
or in a laboratory, to 
selecting receive antennas and filters in a ham or SWL
station.

The TASS system has two boards:

*  The TASS-R relay board, which does
the mechanics of signal switching 
and provides a very simple 10-pin
interface.

*  The TASS-SHIELD board for use with an Arduino Mega 2560

microcontroller. The TASS-SHIELD allows up to four TASS-R boards to be

controlled simultaneously.

Both boards are available now from TAPR as kits.
They use through-hole 
parts and don't require any special assembly
techniques.

The final component is open source software for the Arduino that
acts as 
an interface between a host computer or other input system, and the

switching hardware. The software is available for download from TAPR.

An
introductory video is available at
https://youtu.be/P-TUM2dOi4c
or from TAPR
at
http://tapr.org/~n8ur/TASS/TASS_Intro_26Sep15.mp4

Software and documentation
can be downloaded from
http://tapr.org/~n8ur/TASS.

You may order the TASS-R and
TASS-SHIELD boards by
visiting
http://tapr.org/kits_tass.html
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