[Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp
I'm staring to build the ARRL " homebrew challenge" amp kit that I bought recently. It is to go behind my 1500. One thing I've been thinking about is that it would be nice to have automatic band switching. I've seen the threads before concerning commercial amps but I'm wondering if one is starting from scratch with a homebrew amp like this, what is the simplest route to go? Obviously I think I would use DDutil but how? Is a parallel port the only option? If so would one of the cheapie PCI plug in parallel port cars work or would I need full parallel port functions? I don't see why I would but want to be sure. What type of circuitry is used to accomplish the translation from the info DDUtil sends from the PP to the relays of my amplifier? Some type of logic board I would guess. I'm totally in the dark as to how this done so if someone could point me in the right direction where I can start researching, I'd appreciate it. Also would be nice if this was a fairly inexpensive project!...lol Thanks, Michael, W4HIJ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp
> I'm staring to build the ARRL " homebrew challenge" amp kit that I > bought recently. It is to go behind my 1500. One thing I've been > thinking about is that it would be nice to have automatic band > switching. I've seen the threads before concerning commercial amps but > I'm wondering if one is starting from scratch with a homebrew amp like > this, what is the simplest route to go? Obviously I think I would use > DDutil but how? Is a parallel port the only option? If so would one of > the cheapie PCI plug in parallel port cars work or would I need full > parallel port functions? I don't see why I would but want to be sure. > What type of circuitry is used to accomplish the translation from the > info DDUtil sends from the PP to the relays of my amplifier? Some type > of logic board I would guess. I'm totally in the dark as to how this > done so if someone could point me in the right direction where I can > start researching, I'd appreciate it. Also would be nice if this was a > fairly inexpensive project!...lol > Thanks, > Michael, W4HIJ I didn't see a reply to this so... The easiest way is probably to use a parallel port card to interface to DDUTIL. DDUTIL only talks to parallel port cards. Then connect the parallel port output signals to a Unified Microsystems BCD-10 decoder/interface card. http://www.unifiedmicro.com/decoder.html That will convert the signals from DDUTIL to a series of optically isolated relay closures to select the correct band relays in the amplifier. You can probably use my setup guide for interfacing a F5K with PSDR to the ALS-1300 amplifier. That shows the settings for PSDR and DDUTIL to select the various bands. http://w5jgv.com/ALS-1300_to_F5K/index.htm 73, Ralph W5JGV - WD2XSH/7 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp
Ralph W5JGV wrote: > The easiest way is probably to use a parallel port card to interface to > DDUTIL. DDUTIL only talks to parallel port cards. Then connect the > parallel port output signals to a Unified Microsystems BCD-10 > decoder/interface card. > > http://www.unifiedmicro.com/decoder.html > > That will convert the signals from DDUTIL to a series of optically > isolated relay closures to select the correct band relays in the > amplifier. > > You can probably use my setup guide for interfacing a F5K with PSDR to the > ALS-1300 amplifier. That shows the settings for PSDR and DDUTIL to select > the various bands. > > http://w5jgv.com/ALS-1300_to_F5K/index.htm > > 73, > > Ralph W5JGV - WD2XSH/7 Thanks for the wonderful and helpful description of how to set things up. I'm also about to interface a homebrew amp (AN762 with an external switched filter box-- switching still to be finalised) with my flex1500. I gather from the links above that I can control the filter box (and antenna switching) via the paralell port and DDUtils which I already have installed. I had been wondering how to use it for HB amplifier switching. Two remaining questions. 1 I'm using flex 1500 with (currently) amplifier switching from a slave relay fromn the flexwire port ptt. Is there any need to alter this, does it affect so2r ampkey setup? This is also probably relavent to the OP. 2 Is there any way to get the PowerSDR tune button to send a signal to one of my auto ATUs (LDG) to tune, and then to accept a signal back from the atu once it has found a match. I suspect it can be achieved with a macro in DDUtils. -- Brian Duffell G3VGZ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp
Michael, I had done as Ralph suggested and interfaced the Unified Microsystems BCD-10 card with isolation relays to my DX engineering Remote Antenna switch. Using DDUtil BCD out via LPT port I was able to control the selection of the appropriate antenna when ever I changed bands on my Flex5000A. This same setup would work to change bands on an amp as well Dennis KØEOO - Original Message - From: "Ralph W5JGV" To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 11:58:54 PM Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp > I'm staring to build the ARRL " homebrew challenge" amp kit that I > bought recently. It is to go behind my 1500. One thing I've been > thinking about is that it would be nice to have automatic band > switching. I've seen the threads before concerning commercial amps but > I'm wondering if one is starting from scratch with a homebrew amp like > this, what is the simplest route to go? Obviously I think I would use > DDutil but how? Is a parallel port the only option? If so would one of > the cheapie PCI plug in parallel port cars work or would I need full > parallel port functions? I don't see why I would but want to be sure. > What type of circuitry is used to accomplish the translation from the > info DDUtil sends from the PP to the relays of my amplifier? Some type > of logic board I would guess. I'm totally in the dark as to how this > done so if someone could point me in the right direction where I can > start researching, I'd appreciate it. Also would be nice if this was a > fairly inexpensive project!...lol > Thanks, > Michael, W4HIJ I didn't see a reply to this so... The easiest way is probably to use a parallel port card to interface to DDUTIL. DDUTIL only talks to parallel port cards. Then connect the parallel port output signals to a Unified Microsystems BCD-10 decoder/interface card. http://www.unifiedmicro.com/decoder.html That will convert the signals from DDUTIL to a series of optically isolated relay closures to select the correct band relays in the amplifier. You can probably use my setup guide for interfacing a F5K with PSDR to the ALS-1300 amplifier. That shows the settings for PSDR and DDUTIL to select the various bands. http://w5jgv.com/ALS-1300_to_F5K/index.htm 73, Ralph W5JGV - WD2XSH/7 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp
> I'm also about to interface a homebrew amp (AN762 with an > external switched > filter box-- switching still to be finalized) with my flex1500. > > I gather from the links above that I can control the filter box > (and antenna > switching) via the paralell port and DDUtils which I already have > installed. > I had been wondering how to use it for HB amplifier switching. Hello Brian, Since DDUTIL uses only four of the eight available data lines of the parallel port interface to control the amplifier band switching relays, so you can tell DDUTIL to "talk" to the other four data lines and connect them to a second BCD-10 interface and let it control something else. > Two remaining questions. > > 1 I'm using flex 1500 with (currently) amplifier switching from a slave > relay from the flexwire port ptt. Is there any need to alter > this, does it > affect so2r ampkey setup? This is also probably relavent to the OP. I think it would work the same. After all, with the F5K, you take the amp key signal for the amplifier from the jack on the back of the F5K, which would be virtually the same thing as the Flexwire port. > 2 Is there any way to get the PowerSDR tune button to send a signal to one > of my auto ATUs (LDG) to tune, and then to accept a signal back > from the atu > once it has found a match. I suspect it can be achieved with a macro in > DDUtils. Usually the amp key line is routed through the ATU which decides when to tune. Before it does so, it breaks the amp key line and routes the driver power to the ATU, which then tunes and when tuning is complete, reconnects the amp key line. That requires that you manually key the radio, wait for the tuner to cycle, then unkey the radio. AFAIK, there's no way for PSDR to "see" the tuner. 73, Ralph W5JGV - WD2XSH/7 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp
The question I still have is about the parallel port card in the computer. From reading the reflector, I notice that the modern day PCI parallel port plug in cards are generally not " true" parallel ports. They don't conform to all the standards. Apparently some people using the SDR-1000 found this out while trying to use them with it. So does the DDUtil application of the parallel port need a "true" port that conforms to all the standards or will one of these plug in PCI ones be sufficent to do the job we are asking? 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 5/27/2011 4:27 PM, Ralph W5JGV wrote: I'm also about to interface a homebrew amp (AN762 with an external switched filter box-- switching still to be finalized) with my flex1500. I gather from the links above that I can control the filter box (and antenna switching) via the paralell port and DDUtils which I already have installed. I had been wondering how to use it for HB amplifier switching. Hello Brian, Since DDUTIL uses only four of the eight available data lines of the parallel port interface to control the amplifier band switching relays, so you can tell DDUTIL to "talk" to the other four data lines and connect them to a second BCD-10 interface and let it control something else. Two remaining questions. 1 I'm using flex 1500 with (currently) amplifier switching from a slave relay from the flexwire port ptt. Is there any need to alter this, does it affect so2r ampkey setup? This is also probably relavent to the OP. I think it would work the same. After all, with the F5K, you take the amp key signal for the amplifier from the jack on the back of the F5K, which would be virtually the same thing as the Flexwire port. 2 Is there any way to get the PowerSDR tune button to send a signal to one of my auto ATUs (LDG) to tune, and then to accept a signal back from the atu once it has found a match. I suspect it can be achieved with a macro in DDUtils. Usually the amp key line is routed through the ATU which decides when to tune. Before it does so, it breaks the amp key line and routes the driver power to the ATU, which then tunes and when tuning is complete, reconnects the amp key line. That requires that you manually key the radio, wait for the tuner to cycle, then unkey the radio. AFAIK, there's no way for PSDR to "see" the tuner. 73, Ralph W5JGV - WD2XSH/7 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp
> The question I still have is about the parallel port card in the > computer. From reading the reflector, I notice that the modern day PCI > parallel port plug in cards are generally not " true" parallel ports. > They don't conform to all the standards. > Apparently some people using the SDR-1000 found this out while trying to > use them with it. So does the DDUtil application of the parallel port > need a "true" port that conforms to all the standards or will one of > these plug in PCI ones be sufficient to do the job we are asking? Hello Michael, I have not had any experience with the newer cards, but I did purchase a PCMCIA card for five bucks from a Chinese vendor and plugged it into my laptop. It worked fine right out of the box. I have not found any USB to parallel converters that work, however. AFAIK, it comes down to a voltage level problem. If the card can drive the output pins to levels that will work, that should be all it takes. Some cards, notably serial port I/O cards, do not generate true RS-232 signals, but rather fake them, by using a +5 volt or 0 volt signal to represent the +12 and -12 volt RS-232 signals, respectively. Those sloppy designers are depending on the tolerance of the logic circuitry that the ports are driving to handle malformed RS-232 levels and "fix it in the mix" as it were. Parallel port I/O signals should be driven from the positive High signal level to hard ground Low signal level at -0 volts. Some cards will go open circuit, either on the high or low part of the output signal, again depending on the connected device to figure out what the signal should be. Signals from mal-manufactured I/O cards such as these can be sort of fixed by adding pull up/down resistors, as required, but it's a pain to have to do what the manufacturer should have done in the first place. There may be some other problems with these cards that makes then difficult to use with DDUTIL, but I'll leave comments on them to other, more knowledgeable folks on this list. 73, Ralph W5JGV - WD2XSH/7 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp
Michael, The DDUtil Yahoo group referred back to the Flex wiki. If you're using Win7/64, these boards were found to work: SIIG 2S1P Combo-Value P/N JJ-P2-S5 2 Serial and 1 Parallel Port. Rosewill 2x Serial & 1x Parallel Port PCI card Model RC303 Rosewill 2x Parallel Port PCI card Model RC304 The DDUtil Yahoo group may be a better source of info for your questions. -Original Message- From: Michael Tondee Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 5:46 PM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp The question I still have is about the parallel port card in the computer. From reading the reflector, I notice that the modern day PCI parallel port plug in cards are generally not " true" parallel ports. They don't conform to all the standards. Apparently some people using the SDR-1000 found this out while trying to use them with it. So does the DDUtil application of the parallel port need a "true" port that conforms to all the standards or will one of these plug in PCI ones be sufficent to do the job we are asking? 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 5/27/2011 4:27 PM, Ralph W5JGV wrote: I'm also about to interface a homebrew amp (AN762 with an external switched filter box-- switching still to be finalized) with my flex1500. I gather from the links above that I can control the filter box (and antenna switching) via the paralell port and DDUtils which I already have installed. I had been wondering how to use it for HB amplifier switching. Hello Brian, Since DDUTIL uses only four of the eight available data lines of the parallel port interface to control the amplifier band switching relays, so you can tell DDUTIL to "talk" to the other four data lines and connect them to a second BCD-10 interface and let it control something else. Two remaining questions. 1 I'm using flex 1500 with (currently) amplifier switching from a slave relay from the flexwire port ptt. Is there any need to alter this, does it affect so2r ampkey setup? This is also probably relavent to the OP. I think it would work the same. After all, with the F5K, you take the amp key signal for the amplifier from the jack on the back of the F5K, which would be virtually the same thing as the Flexwire port. 2 Is there any way to get the PowerSDR tune button to send a signal to one of my auto ATUs (LDG) to tune, and then to accept a signal back from the atu once it has found a match. I suspect it can be achieved with a macro in DDUtils. Usually the amp key line is routed through the ATU which decides when to tune. Before it does so, it breaks the amp key line and routes the driver power to the ATU, which then tunes and when tuning is complete, reconnects the amp key line. That requires that you manually key the radio, wait for the tuner to cycle, then unkey the radio. AFAIK, there's no way for PSDR to "see" the tuner. 73, Ralph W5JGV - WD2XSH/7 ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp
Thanks Jim, You know I had forgotten there was a group for DDUtil! DUH!!:-) Sorry for the bandwidth fellas! Michael On 5/27/2011 6:39 PM, Jim Jannuzzo wrote: Michael, The DDUtil Yahoo group referred back to the Flex wiki. If you're using Win7/64, these boards were found to work: SIIG 2S1P Combo-Value P/N JJ-P2-S5 2 Serial and 1 Parallel Port. Rosewill 2x Serial & 1x Parallel Port PCI card Model RC303 Rosewill 2x Parallel Port PCI card Model RC304 The DDUtil Yahoo group may be a better source of info for your questions. -Original Message- From: Michael Tondee Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 5:46 PM To: flexradio@flex-radio.biz Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Automatic bandswitching options for a homebrew amp The question I still have is about the parallel port card in the computer. From reading the reflector, I notice that the modern day PCI parallel port plug in cards are generally not " true" parallel ports. They don't conform to all the standards. Apparently some people using the SDR-1000 found this out while trying to use them with it. So does the DDUtil application of the parallel port need a "true" port that conforms to all the standards or will one of these plug in PCI ones be sufficent to do the job we are asking? 73, Michael, W4HIJ ___ FlexRadio Systems Mailing List FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/flexradio%40flex-radio.biz/ Knowledge Base: http://kc.flexradio.com/ Homepage: http://www.flexradio.com/
