SatPC32 Antenna Swapping with SDR
In reading the SatPC32 manual, section 3.C.bb, I see that SatPC32 provides an automated way to switch the antenna feeds by outputting a high or low on the DTR pin of the radio 2 com port through a transistor to switch a coaxial transfer switch. Is there any other way to do this if you are not using a traditional serial port but USB ports or virtual ports?
My setup has a Yaesu radio for TX and an SDRplay for receive. When switching from V/u to U/v, it is necessary to swap the antennas and I would like to do this automatically with a coaxial transfer switch. As above, SatPC32 can do this in automated fashion. However, I am not using a DB9 com port for either radio (USB or internal ports only) and am trying to figure out how to get access to this DTR signal to use it for the automated switching. Has anyone used an SDR for the downlink and set up automatic antenna swapping and if so, how was it accomplished?
Thanks,
Tim
KK9T
Hi Tim, I have described the feature on my website www.dk1tb.de, Engl. page 'Downloads', sect. 5g (Buffer Interfaces). You don't need a PC with a phyical COM port. The voltage at the DTR pin of my USB-to-Serial converter (which generates the Radio 2 COM port) changes between +6 (high) and -6 V (low), when the user switches between v/u and u/v satellites. The corresponding option in menu 'Options' must be checked, of course.
If the DTR pin is low, the buffer interface locks and the relay remains open. If the pin is 'high', the interface is routed and the relay closes. I do not have a transfer relay, but have successfully tested the function with a 12 volt coax relay.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
Am 31.05.2019 um 22:30 schrieb Tim Rife via AMSAT-BB:
In reading the SatPC32 manual, section 3.C.bb, I see that SatPC32 provides an automated way to switch the antenna feeds by outputting a high or low on the DTR pin of the radio 2 com port through a transistor to switch a coaxial transfer switch. Is there any other way to do this if you are not using a traditional serial port but USB ports or virtual ports?
My setup has a Yaesu radio for TX and an SDRplay for receive. When switching from V/u to U/v, it is necessary to swap the antennas and I would like to do this automatically with a coaxial transfer switch. As above, SatPC32 can do this in automated fashion. However, I am not using a DB9 com port for either radio (USB or internal ports only) and am trying to figure out how to get access to this DTR signal to use it for the automated switching. Has anyone used an SDR for the downlink and set up automatic antenna swapping and if so, how was it accomplished?
Thanks,
Tim
KK9T
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Thanks for the reply Erich. I will give that configuration a try.
73,
Tim
KK9T
Hi Tim, I have described the feature on my website www.dk1tb.de http://www.dk1tb.de , Engl. page 'Downloads', sect. 5g (Buffer Interfaces). You don't need a PC with a phyical COM port. The voltage at the DTR pin of my USB-to-Serial converter (which generates the Radio 2 COM port) changes between +6 (high) and -6 V (low), when the user switches between v/u and u/v satellites. The corresponding option in menu 'Options' must be checked, of course.
If the DTR pin is low, the buffer interface locks and the relay remains open. If the pin is 'high', the interface is routed and the relay closes. I do not have a transfer relay, but have successfully tested the function with a 12 volt coax relay.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
Hi Tim, a problem with that configuration: you need access to the pins Ground and DTR (pins 5 and 4) of the serial port to steer the buffer interface. To steer your Yaesu radio via the Radio 2 COM port you will use a USB-to-Serial converter + a Yaesu CAT cable, e.g. the CT-62. This cable comes with a DB-9 connector on one side that connects to the converter and a mini DIN plug on the other side, that connects to the radio. So, you don't have direct access to the lines Ground and DTR. What you could do: Solder a short cable with a female DB-9 connector on one side and a male one on the other side. Connect the female side to the USB-to-Serial converter and the male side to the DB-9 connetotr of the CT-62. With that cable you can then easily lead out 2 extra wires to the Ground and DTR pins to control the interface.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
Am 01.06.2019 um 14:48 schrieb Tim Rife via AMSAT-BB:
Thanks for the reply Erich. I will give that configuration a try.
73,
Tim
KK9T
Hi Tim, I have described the feature on my websitewww.dk1tb.de http://www.dk1tb.de , Engl. page 'Downloads', sect. 5g (Buffer Interfaces). You don't need a PC with a phyical COM port. The voltage at the DTR pin of my USB-to-Serial converter (which generates the Radio 2 COM port) changes between +6 (high) and -6 V (low), when the user switches between v/u and u/v satellites. The corresponding option in menu 'Options' must be checked, of course.
If the DTR pin is low, the buffer interface locks and the relay remains open. If the pin is 'high', the interface is routed and the relay closes. I do not have a transfer relay, but have successfully tested the function with a 12 volt coax relay.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
Sent viaAMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings:https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi Erich,
Thank you for this. Yes, that was going to be the general plan. I am looking through my junk box to see what parts I have and if I have the needed hardware. I was not aware that a USB to Serial converter derived the extra pins (per your earlier post) like DTR and RTS from the USB inputs of Vcc, GND, D+ and D- and made them functional. I assumed it only provided TXD and RXD at RS-232 levels. So, if it makes those pins available and functional, that should do it. I just need to construct and test which might take a couple of days for me to accomplish. Thanks again.
73,
Tim
KK9T
Hi Tim, a problem with that configuration: you need access to the pins Ground and DTR (pins 5 and 4) of the serial port to steer the buffer interface. To steer your Yaesu radio via the Radio 2 COM port you will use a USB-to-Serial converter + a Yaesu CAT cable, e.g. the CT-62. This cable comes with a DB-9 connector on one side that connects to the converter and a mini DIN plug on the other side, that connects to the radio. So, you don't have direct access to the lines Ground and DTR. What you could do: Solder a short cable with a female DB-9 connector on one side and a male one on the other side. Connect the female side to the USB-to-Serial converter and the male side to the DB-9 connetotr of the CT-62. With that cable you can then easily lead out 2 extra wires to the Ground and DTR pins to control the interface.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
Am 01.06.2019 um 14:48 schrieb Tim Rife via AMSAT-BB:
Thanks for the reply Erich. I will give that configuration a try.
73,
Tim
KK9T
Hi Tim, I have described the feature on my website www.dk1tb.de http://www.dk1tb.de http://www.dk1tb.de http://www.dk1tb.de , Engl. page 'Downloads', sect. 5g (Buffer Interfaces). You don't need a PC with a phyical COM port. The voltage at the DTR pin of my USB-to-Serial converter (which generates the Radio 2 COM port) changes between +6 (high) and -6 V (low), when the user switches between v/u and u/v satellites. The corresponding option in menu 'Options' must be checked, of course.
If the DTR pin is low, the buffer interface locks and the relay remains open. If the pin is 'high', the interface is routed and the relay closes. I do not have a transfer relay, but have successfully tested the function with a 12 volt coax relay.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org mailto:AMSAT-BB@amsat.org . AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Yes, I can also confirm that you get functional DTR & RTS from a USB-to-Serial cable. I use one for connecting to my PTT relay as illustrated here:
https://www.qsl.net/k/k4kdr//files/PTT-relay-wiring-plus-schematic.png
-Scott, K4KDR
==========================================
-----Original Message----- From: Tim Rife via AMSAT-BB Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2019 1:22 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Completion: Re: SatPC32 Antenna Swapping with SDR
Hi Erich,
Thank you for this. Yes, that was going to be the general plan. I am looking through my junk box to see what parts I have and if I have the needed hardware. I was not aware that a USB to Serial converter derived the extra pins (per your earlier post) like DTR and RTS from the USB inputs of Vcc, GND, D+ and D- and made them functional. I assumed it only provided TXD and RXD at RS-232 levels. So, if it makes those pins available and functional, that should do it. I just need to construct and test which might take a couple of days for me to accomplish. Thanks again.
73,
Tim
KK9T
Hi Tim, a problem with that configuration: you need access to the pins Ground and DTR (pins 5 and 4) of the serial port to steer the buffer interface. To steer your Yaesu radio via the Radio 2 COM port you will use a USB-to-Serial converter + a Yaesu CAT cable, e.g. the CT-62. This cable comes with a DB-9 connector on one side that connects to the converter and a mini DIN plug on the other side, that connects to the radio. So, you don't have direct access to the lines Ground and DTR. What you could do: Solder a short cable with a female DB-9 connector on one side and a male one on the other side. Connect the female side to the USB-to-Serial converter and the male side to the DB-9 connetotr of the CT-62. With that cable you can then easily lead out 2 extra wires to the Ground and DTR pins to control the interface.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
Am 01.06.2019 um 14:48 schrieb Tim Rife via AMSAT-BB:
Thanks for the reply Erich. I will give that configuration a try. 73,
Tim
KK9T
Hi Tim, I have described the feature on my website www.dk1tb.de http://www.dk1tb.de http://www.dk1tb.de http://www.dk1tb.de , Engl. page 'Downloads', sect. 5g (Buffer Interfaces). You don't need a PC with a phyical COM port. The voltage at the DTR pin of my USB-to-Serial converter (which generates the Radio 2 COM port) changes between +6 (high) and -6 V (low), when the user switches between v/u and u/v satellites. The corresponding option in menu 'Options' must be checked, of course.
If the DTR pin is low, the buffer interface locks and the relay remains open. If the pin is 'high', the interface is routed and the relay closes. I do not have a transfer relay, but have successfully tested the function with a 12 volt coax relay.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
Thanks for the confirmation, Scott!
73, Tim KK9T
-----Original Message-----
Yes, I can also confirm that you get functional DTR & RTS from a USB-to-Serial cable. I use one for connecting to my PTT relay as illustrated here:
https://www.qsl.net/k/k4kdr//files/PTT-relay-wiring-plus-schematic.png
-Scott, K4KDR
==========================================
I've had good luck with these on various projects involving 9-pin serial connections:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WW6P636/
-Scott, K4KDR
========================================
-----Original Message----- From: Erich Eichmann via AMSAT-BB Sent: Saturday, June 01, 2019 12:53 PM To: Lists_01@kk9t.net ; AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Completion: Re: SatPC32 Antenna Swapping with SDR
Hi Tim, a problem with that configuration: you need access to the pins Ground and DTR (pins 5 and 4) of the serial port to steer the buffer interface. To steer your Yaesu radio via the Radio 2 COM port you will use a USB-to-Serial converter + a Yaesu CAT cable, e.g. the CT-62. This cable comes with a DB-9 connector on one side that connects to the converter and a mini DIN plug on the other side, that connects to the radio. So, you don't have direct access to the lines Ground and DTR. What you could do: Solder a short cable with a female DB-9 connector on one side and a male one on the other side. Connect the female side to the USB-to-Serial converter and the male side to the DB-9 connetotr of the CT-62. With that cable you can then easily lead out 2 extra wires to the Ground and DTR pins to control the interface.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
Am 01.06.2019 um 14:48 schrieb Tim Rife via AMSAT-BB:
Thanks for the reply Erich. I will give that configuration a try.
73,
Tim
KK9T
Hi Tim, I have described the feature on my websitewww.dk1tb.de http://www.dk1tb.de , Engl. page 'Downloads', sect. 5g (Buffer Interfaces). You don't need a PC with a phyical COM port. The voltage at the DTR pin of my USB-to-Serial converter (which generates the Radio 2 COM port) changes between +6 (high) and -6 V (low), when the user switches between v/u and u/v satellites. The corresponding option in menu 'Options' must be checked, of course.
If the DTR pin is low, the buffer interface locks and the relay remains open. If the pin is 'high', the interface is routed and the relay closes. I do not have a transfer relay, but have successfully tested the function with a 12 volt coax relay.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
participants (3)
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Erich Eichmann -
Lists_01＠kk9t.net -
Scott