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Selecting Antennas via Band Decoder

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Brian F. Wruble-2

Selecting Antennas via Band Decoder

My K3 is connected to a TopTen "Band Aide" band decoder. It works great
for selecting antennas based on the band.

I would like to be able to select a different antenna depending on *where*
in the band I am operating.

To be specific,

If I am operating at 3500-3600, I want to select a dipole tuned to the
bottom of the 80 meter band. It needs to tell the TopTen to select 80
meters, which is what it does now.

If I am operating in the range 3601-4000, I want the TopTen to be told to
select a different dipole, one tuned to 3800. The K3 needs to tell the
TopTen to select some unused band which I can then rig to select the relay
for the dipole tuned to 3800.

Is there a way to set up the K3 to do this?

I have been able to accomplish this by selecting different antenna outputs
at the KAT500, but what I really need is a way to tell the TopTen to select
different relays at the base of my tower. Changing antenna outputs at the
KAT500 requires a separate cable run to the tower.

I am sure this must have been covered at one time, but I can't find the
right thread.

TNX and

73 de Brian W3BW

*Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
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Dick Dievendorff-4

Re: Selecting Antennas via Band Decoder

I would check with W4TV. I suspect microHAM's Station Master might be able do this.

The band outputs from the K3 ACC connector are just enough to select the band. To split the band on your chosen frequency you will need something that reads the serial port output of the K3, and put the radio into AUTOINF which causes the K3 to send its frequency when you move the VFO. The SteppIR controller reads this.

Good luck!

73 de Dick, K6KR

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 1, 2015, at 11:12, Brian F. Wruble <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> My K3 is connected to a TopTen "Band Aide" band decoder. It works great
> for selecting antennas based on the band.
>
> I would like to be able to select a different antenna depending on *where*
> in the band I am operating.
>
> To be specific,
>
> If I am operating at 3500-3600, I want to select a dipole tuned to the
> bottom of the 80 meter band. It needs to tell the TopTen to select 80
> meters, which is what it does now.
>
> If I am operating in the range 3601-4000, I want the TopTen to be told to
> select a different dipole, one tuned to 3800. The K3 needs to tell the
> TopTen to select some unused band which I can then rig to select the relay
> for the dipole tuned to 3800.
>
> Is there a way to set up the K3 to do this?
>
> I have been able to accomplish this by selecting different antenna outputs
> at the KAT500, but what I really need is a way to tell the TopTen to select
> different relays at the base of my tower. Changing antenna outputs at the
> KAT500 requires a separate cable run to the tower.
>
>
> I am sure this must have been covered at one time, but I can't find the
> right thread.
>
> TNX and
>
> 73 de Brian W3BW
>
>
> *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Stewart@twinwood

Re: Selecting Antennas via Band Decoder

Station Master will do what you want.
It is extremely versatile for selecting antennas etc, dependant on frequency...

73
Stewart G3RXQ

On Sat, 1 Aug 2015 14:01:37 -0700, Dick Dievendorff wrote:
> I would check with W4TV. I suspect microHAM's Station Master might be able do
this.
>
> The band outputs from the K3 ACC connector are just enough to select the band.
To split the band on your chosen frequency you will need something that reads
the serial port output of the K3, and put the radio into AUTOINF which causes
the K3 to send its frequency when you move the VFO. The SteppIR controller reads
this.

>
> Good luck!
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Aug 1, 2015, at 11:12, Brian F. Wruble <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> My K3 is connected to a TopTen "Band Aide" band decoder. It works great
>> for selecting antennas based on the band.
>>
>> I would like to be able to select a different antenna depending on *where*
>> in the band I am operating.
>>
>> To be specific,
>>
>> If I am operating at 3500-3600, I want to select a dipole tuned to the
>> bottom of the 80 meter band. It needs to tell the TopTen to select 80
>> meters, which is what it does now.
>>
>> If I am operating in the range 3601-4000, I want the TopTen to be told to
>> select a different dipole, one tuned to 3800. The K3 needs to tell the
>> TopTen to select some unused band which I can then rig to select the relay
>> for the dipole tuned to 3800.
>>
>> Is there a way to set up the K3 to do this?
>>
>> I have been able to accomplish this by selecting different antenna outputs
>> at the KAT500, but what I really need is a way to tell the TopTen to select
>> different relays at the base of my tower. Changing antenna outputs at the
>> KAT500 requires a separate cable run to the tower.
>>
>>
>> I am sure this must have been covered at one time, but I can't find the
>> right thread.
>>
>> TNX and
>>
>> 73 de Brian W3BW
>>
>>
>> *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: Selecting Antennas via Band Decoder

In reply to this post by Dick Dievendorff-4

Yes, Station Master allows the user to define "custom" bands based on
frequency not the "band" definition (BPF selection) in the transceiver
EPROM. There have been a few "one off" CAT Decoder projects (typically
using an Aurdino, Raspberry PI, or custom PIC) that will do the same
thing if you are so inclined to do a little research with Google.

However, I know of no currently available off the shelf product that
supports "custom" band definitions for "in band" antenna switching
other than the microHAM Station Master.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 2015-08-01 5:01 PM, Dick Dievendorff wrote:

> I would check with W4TV. I suspect microHAM's Station Master might be able do this.
>
> The band outputs from the K3 ACC connector are just enough to select the band. To split the band on your chosen frequency you will need something that reads the serial port output of the K3, and put the radio into AUTOINF which causes the K3 to send its frequency when you move the VFO. The SteppIR controller reads this.
>
> Good luck!
>
> 73 de Dick, K6KR
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Aug 1, 2015, at 11:12, Brian F. Wruble <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> My K3 is connected to a TopTen "Band Aide" band decoder. It works great
>> for selecting antennas based on the band.
>>
>> I would like to be able to select a different antenna depending on *where*
>> in the band I am operating.
>>
>> To be specific,
>>
>> If I am operating at 3500-3600, I want to select a dipole tuned to the
>> bottom of the 80 meter band. It needs to tell the TopTen to select 80
>> meters, which is what it does now.
>>
>> If I am operating in the range 3601-4000, I want the TopTen to be told to
>> select a different dipole, one tuned to 3800. The K3 needs to tell the
>> TopTen to select some unused band which I can then rig to select the relay
>> for the dipole tuned to 3800.
>>
>> Is there a way to set up the K3 to do this?
>>
>> I have been able to accomplish this by selecting different antenna outputs
>> at the KAT500, but what I really need is a way to tell the TopTen to select
>> different relays at the base of my tower. Changing antenna outputs at the
>> KAT500 requires a separate cable run to the tower.
>>
>>
>> I am sure this must have been covered at one time, but I can't find the
>> right thread.
>>
>> TNX and
>>
>> 73 de Brian W3BW
>>
>>
>> *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

Rick Tavan N6XI

Re: Selecting Antennas via Band Decoder

In reply to this post by Brian F. Wruble-2

BandAide is pretty versatile itself. You can use position "B" to select an alternative 80M antenna. It's manual and requires some external steering but you probably don't switch between cw and Ssb all that often.

Rick

--
Rick Tavan
iPhone

> On Aug 1, 2015, at 11:12 AM, Brian F. Wruble <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> My K3 is connected to a TopTen "Band Aide" band decoder. It works great
> for selecting antennas based on the band.
>
> I would like to be able to select a different antenna depending on *where*
> in the band I am operating.
>
> To be specific,
>
> If I am operating at 3500-3600, I want to select a dipole tuned to the
> bottom of the 80 meter band. It needs to tell the TopTen to select 80
> meters, which is what it does now.
>
> If I am operating in the range 3601-4000, I want the TopTen to be told to
> select a different dipole, one tuned to 3800. The K3 needs to tell the
> TopTen to select some unused band which I can then rig to select the relay
> for the dipole tuned to 3800.
>
> Is there a way to set up the K3 to do this?
>
> I have been able to accomplish this by selecting different antenna outputs
> at the KAT500, but what I really need is a way to tell the TopTen to select
> different relays at the base of my tower. Changing antenna outputs at the
> KAT500 requires a separate cable run to the tower.
>
>
> I am sure this must have been covered at one time, but I can't find the
> right thread.
>
> TNX and
>
> 73 de Brian W3BW
>
>
> *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Brian F. Wruble-2

Re: Selecting Antennas via Band Decoder

Thanks. I need it to be auto, because I operate remotely much of the time.

Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
Sent from my iPad Air 2

> On Aug 1, 2015, at 8:24 PM, Rick Tavan <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> BandAide is pretty versatile itself. You can use position "B" to select an alternative 80M antenna. It's manual and requires some external steering but you probably don't switch between cw and Ssb all that often.
>
> Rick
>
> --
> Rick Tavan
> iPhone
>
>> On Aug 1, 2015, at 11:12 AM, Brian F. Wruble <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> My K3 is connected to a TopTen "Band Aide" band decoder. It works great
>> for selecting antennas based on the band.
>>
>> I would like to be able to select a different antenna depending on *where*
>> in the band I am operating.
>>
>> To be specific,
>>
>> If I am operating at 3500-3600, I want to select a dipole tuned to the
>> bottom of the 80 meter band. It needs to tell the TopTen to select 80
>> meters, which is what it does now.
>>
>> If I am operating in the range 3601-4000, I want the TopTen to be told to
>> select a different dipole, one tuned to 3800. The K3 needs to tell the
>> TopTen to select some unused band which I can then rig to select the relay
>> for the dipole tuned to 3800.
>>
>> Is there a way to set up the K3 to do this?
>>
>> I have been able to accomplish this by selecting different antenna outputs
>> at the KAT500, but what I really need is a way to tell the TopTen to select
>> different relays at the base of my tower. Changing antenna outputs at the
>> KAT500 requires a separate cable run to the tower.
>>
>>
>> I am sure this must have been covered at one time, but I can't find the
>> right thread.
>>
>> TNX and
>>
>> 73 de Brian W3BW
>>
>>
>> *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]