Switch with direction choice keyboard

During fall season of 2003, Jerzy SP3BQ ask me to build a switch for his receiving antennas system. This way, the base, containing 8 pool switch appears. Later on, when the job was done, he propose me to take a part in CQWW cw contest on 160m using his station.

Then, when I agree, I understand, that I’ll need some kind of manipulator to activate antennas switch instead of ordinary rotary switch. Something, what allows me to switch automatically, switch without delay to any desire direction, and also makes possible to listening from two or more directions in the same time. Something which allows me change direction and after 20ms coming back to previous one. So, a’im was to build switch which will work non-stop and make the work in the contest comfortable. Marek SQ3JPM, who likes to solve such problems, after becomes familiar with the problem – he said:

,,processor and everything is simple”.

When I heard processor I’v give up immediately. But ,,young” preparing p.c. board - asking:

– 3 digits for display is enough?
– in automatic direction switching, first direction should be 90 degree and previous one 180?
– do you want possibility to programm your own azimuth on computer ?
– automatic mode for CT and WL will satisfy you?
– delay time of relay during change-over must be 20ms or less?
– whether number of pressed switches must be presented on display?
– whether you need to stop automatic direction finding via PC keyboard?

And what should I say? I’m just start to fileing a hole in chassis, few more holes in rear plate and finished.

Beverages switch was connected to CT via RS 232 and works nicely! Next year after the contest from Jerzy SP3BQ site was run a postman brings quite a nice plate.

The same switch for Beverages was using by Andy SP8NR at the same station, it was one year later, but no results available so far. And myself using the same switch on 80m from SP3GEM location, hopefully waiting for another one plate.

Swich - rear view

After 30 years of heavy work with rotary switches, new era comes. Some ,,luxus” is reward.



Anyway – ,,Young”

thank you very much for your help.



Bogdan SP3RBR

Translation by Zbyszek SP6A - tnx