Tech info
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POWER OUTPUTS
micro Band Decoder has ten (10) power outputs. This outputs are high side "source" provided by power transistors. By this outputs all micro Antenna Switches can be drived and several switches by another brands.
Immunity of the whole band decoder can be dramatically improved by optional Relay Board. This accessory can be jumpered to be low side "sink" driver for such boxes which need to be sinked like Top Ten Devices Antenna Switches.
Each output can be configured to be ON or OFF at each band by microHAM Device Configurator software. Thank to this you can change your setup very easy without needs of soldering or rewiring controls. Simple change it in the Configurator, store config into Band Decoder and forget for it.
LOGIC OUTPUTS
micro Band Decoder has for (4) band data outputs. This output are BCD coded by following table.
Outputs levels are TTL max. 100mA source. This outputs ALWAYS carry current band decoded and are independent from POWER outputs. Mainly are used in Automatic Amplifier reduction for YAESU's FL-7000 and VL-1000 and for BAND PASS FILTERS reductions. Thank's to this BPF's not need to occupy some POWER outputs.
CW and PTT OUTPUTS
At the rear panel can be found CW and PTT RCAs. Each of this output have OPEN COLLECTOR transistor capable to handle 30V/100mA. CW and PTT can be drived from COM port (shared with radio control) on RTS = PTT and DTR = CW or from LPT port connected to ACC connector. Selection can be done in microHAM Device Configurator program. Generating a CW, PTT signals can be disabled if frequency is out of the band.
SET
To this jack can be plugged external SPST switch. Look at this application note. By this switch you can manually switch between two power outputs (two antennas) inside the band. If there is a more than two antennas at one band present, an micro Antenna Selector can be attached here. Now micro Band Decoder will work with micro Antenna Selector together and you will have up to one hundred (100) options how your antenna farm will be switched.
INTERFACES
micro Band Decoder have builded level converters for all radios. IF-232, FIF-232, CI-V and RS-232. Thanks to this you will not longer need additional level converters for your radio.
PC
Connection with computer is needed for band decoder only when you want to configure or reconfigure band decoder. Configuration is stored in EEPROM memory. This means that you not need to configure band decoder on each power up.
Another benefit of micro Band Decoder is that logging software can control rig through micro Band Decoder and micro Band Decoder will provide level converter for radio and CW and PTT drivers.
Software functions :
How band decoder works ?
Band decoder can decode current operating frequency by serial communication with radio or by 4-bit band data input. Last mentioned uses only Yaesu's radios and most Band Decoders works with this datas. So how it works in CAT serial mode ?
micro Band Decoder is connected between computer serial port and radio serial port. In basics works in two modes : Monitoring Mode and Polling Mode.
If computer is OFF or logging software not running micro Band Decoder is in Polling Mode and every 500mS send poll to radio for frequency.
If logging software running, and logging software send polls to radio periodically, Band Decoder provide a level bridge for computer and radio and listen only data from computer and from radio. From this datas pull current frequency of the radio. In this mode Band Decoder never affect data.
If computer sends a non frequency polls, Band Decoder break this communication every 5 second and poll radio for frequency himself. Receive current frequency and turn back to monitor mode. If computer not send any poll within 5 seconds band decoder automatically switch to polling mode and stay in this mode until logging software not send some poll. With first computer poll automatically switch to monitoring mode.
FREQUENCY BAND SPLIT
On each band can be outputs automatically switched by current frequency. This means that you can switch another antenna by frequency inside one band. For example you can switch for different antenna for 80m and 75m. Also you can use outputs to switch for and additional capacitors or another inductor tap for vertical matching network or anything else.
Frequencies and band splitting outputs can be defined by microHAM Device Configurator.
MANUAL BAND SELECTION
Automatic band decoding can be overridden by external BCD switch attached to ACC connector. Also micro BAND SWITCH options can be used.
To allow override manual settings over decoded frequency you must allow this function by microHAM Device Configurator.
VFO A VFO B SPLIT
Band Decoder respect to frequency in both VFOs. For band outputs switching use ALWAYS VFO desired for transmitting (TX VFO). If you will work cross band split, TX VFO frequency antennas will be used.
SPECIAL PIN
micro Band Decoder have a possibility to use one special pin for several different purposes. Special pin can be found on BAND DATA OUTPUTS connector and have a TTL level.
Split Info Output
If this option is checked band decoder generate log.0 if frequency is inside lower window in the band map and log.1 if current frequency belongs to higher window of the band map.
Support IC-PW1
If this option is checked band decoder generate signals for Icom IC-PW1 automatic PA. PAICPW1 or BPF reduction must be used. This means that IC-PW1 will automatically track the band changes on radio regardless of his type. Kenwood or Yaesu can be used and PW-1 will automatically switch to correct band.
Support IC-2KL , IC-4KL
If this option is checked band decoder generate signals for Icom IC-2KL IC-4KL automatic PA. PAICKL1 reduction must be used. Reduction generates correct voltage and reference for this kind of the amplifiers.
Pulse generation
If this option is checked, micro Band Decoder can generate positive or negative pulse of variable length on every outputs change and frequency change of xx kHz. It can be used as a automatic signal for automatic PA's to pre tune Pi net on every antenna change or larger frequency jump.
MultiLock
Full description tbd.
micro Band Decoder has ten (10) power outputs. This outputs are high side "source" provided by power transistors. By this outputs all micro Antenna Switches can be drived and several switches by another brands.
Immunity of the whole band decoder can be dramatically improved by optional Relay Board. This accessory can be jumpered to be low side "sink" driver for such boxes which need to be sinked like Top Ten Devices Antenna Switches.
Each output can be configured to be ON or OFF at each band by microHAM Device Configurator software. Thank to this you can change your setup very easy without needs of soldering or rewiring controls. Simple change it in the Configurator, store config into Band Decoder and forget for it.
LOGIC OUTPUTS
micro Band Decoder has for (4) band data outputs. This output are BCD coded by following table.
|
O\B |
160 |
80 |
60 |
40 |
30 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
12 |
10 |
6 |
|
A |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
B |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
C |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
D |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Outputs levels are TTL max. 100mA source. This outputs ALWAYS carry current band decoded and are independent from POWER outputs. Mainly are used in Automatic Amplifier reduction for YAESU's FL-7000 and VL-1000 and for BAND PASS FILTERS reductions. Thank's to this BPF's not need to occupy some POWER outputs.
CW and PTT OUTPUTS
At the rear panel can be found CW and PTT RCAs. Each of this output have OPEN COLLECTOR transistor capable to handle 30V/100mA. CW and PTT can be drived from COM port (shared with radio control) on RTS = PTT and DTR = CW or from LPT port connected to ACC connector. Selection can be done in microHAM Device Configurator program. Generating a CW, PTT signals can be disabled if frequency is out of the band.
SET
To this jack can be plugged external SPST switch. Look at this application note. By this switch you can manually switch between two power outputs (two antennas) inside the band. If there is a more than two antennas at one band present, an micro Antenna Selector can be attached here. Now micro Band Decoder will work with micro Antenna Selector together and you will have up to one hundred (100) options how your antenna farm will be switched.
INTERFACES
micro Band Decoder have builded level converters for all radios. IF-232, FIF-232, CI-V and RS-232. Thanks to this you will not longer need additional level converters for your radio.
PC
Connection with computer is needed for band decoder only when you want to configure or reconfigure band decoder. Configuration is stored in EEPROM memory. This means that you not need to configure band decoder on each power up.
Another benefit of micro Band Decoder is that logging software can control rig through micro Band Decoder and micro Band Decoder will provide level converter for radio and CW and PTT drivers.
Software functions :
How band decoder works ?
Band decoder can decode current operating frequency by serial communication with radio or by 4-bit band data input. Last mentioned uses only Yaesu's radios and most Band Decoders works with this datas. So how it works in CAT serial mode ?
micro Band Decoder is connected between computer serial port and radio serial port. In basics works in two modes : Monitoring Mode and Polling Mode.
If computer is OFF or logging software not running micro Band Decoder is in Polling Mode and every 500mS send poll to radio for frequency.
If logging software running, and logging software send polls to radio periodically, Band Decoder provide a level bridge for computer and radio and listen only data from computer and from radio. From this datas pull current frequency of the radio. In this mode Band Decoder never affect data.
If computer sends a non frequency polls, Band Decoder break this communication every 5 second and poll radio for frequency himself. Receive current frequency and turn back to monitor mode. If computer not send any poll within 5 seconds band decoder automatically switch to polling mode and stay in this mode until logging software not send some poll. With first computer poll automatically switch to monitoring mode.
FREQUENCY BAND SPLIT
On each band can be outputs automatically switched by current frequency. This means that you can switch another antenna by frequency inside one band. For example you can switch for different antenna for 80m and 75m. Also you can use outputs to switch for and additional capacitors or another inductor tap for vertical matching network or anything else.
Frequencies and band splitting outputs can be defined by microHAM Device Configurator.
MANUAL BAND SELECTION
Automatic band decoding can be overridden by external BCD switch attached to ACC connector. Also micro BAND SWITCH options can be used.
To allow override manual settings over decoded frequency you must allow this function by microHAM Device Configurator.
VFO A VFO B SPLIT
Band Decoder respect to frequency in both VFOs. For band outputs switching use ALWAYS VFO desired for transmitting (TX VFO). If you will work cross band split, TX VFO frequency antennas will be used.
SPECIAL PIN
micro Band Decoder have a possibility to use one special pin for several different purposes. Special pin can be found on BAND DATA OUTPUTS connector and have a TTL level.
Split Info Output
If this option is checked band decoder generate log.0 if frequency is inside lower window in the band map and log.1 if current frequency belongs to higher window of the band map.
Support IC-PW1
If this option is checked band decoder generate signals for Icom IC-PW1 automatic PA. PAICPW1 or BPF reduction must be used. This means that IC-PW1 will automatically track the band changes on radio regardless of his type. Kenwood or Yaesu can be used and PW-1 will automatically switch to correct band.
Support IC-2KL , IC-4KL
If this option is checked band decoder generate signals for Icom IC-2KL IC-4KL automatic PA. PAICKL1 reduction must be used. Reduction generates correct voltage and reference for this kind of the amplifiers.
Pulse generation
If this option is checked, micro Band Decoder can generate positive or negative pulse of variable length on every outputs change and frequency change of xx kHz. It can be used as a automatic signal for automatic PA's to pre tune Pi net on every antenna change or larger frequency jump.
MultiLock
Full description tbd.
