Need to control keying relay to Amp

Dennis Daniel KM6DF

I got my UGreen FTDI usb cable yesterday from amazon and set up my ALS-1306 to my flex 6500.    I have one request however, it would be nice to be able to turn off the amp relay automatically during tuning so not to trip the amp when changing bands or frequencies. Can this be added to radio settings. 
Thanks
Dennis KM6DF

Gastonet

+1

Walt

And maybe even TX Transmit / TX inhibit (when in tune) lines for the USB-to-BCD cable -  would solve the interface to the KPA500 when doing antenna auto-tuning.  Perhaps other amps could use the same info . .

Just one more step of this USB thing and this could be a complete solution for some or many of us - in my opinion. 

Please Flex . . .

And Cheers . .

WX7Y

What kind of tuner do you have?
The MFJ 998 and the AT-Auto and I'm sure others have this feature built in to the tuner. 

To bad all the Auto tuners don't incorporate this very useful feature. 

Really this should not be the radio that controls this but the tuner because the radio has NO idea the external tuner is tuning.

just my 2 cents
73's and Merry Christmas

Bret
WX7Y

Dennis Daniel KM6DF

Bret you are correct the tuner should do it . I have the HF-Auto and it doesn't have this feature.
Thanks
Dennis KM6DF 

Walt

Was thinking more of telling the amp when the flex is in transmit or tune mode so the amplifiers actions can be differentiated between operate and standby, but maybe did not describe it properly.

oh well - just an idea.  Thought a couple of control lines would be useful without a great amount of programming effort from Flex.  Maybe its just too involved.  I know DDUtil will solve all this but I have been looking for solutions without the use of a PC for middleware.  The KPA500 will auto-sense a lot and maybe just need to stick with that.

Cheers and time for a pint or two . . .

Mack

Walt, Flex cannot support the hundreds of different peripherals on the market. We all have our pet preferences and their time is much better spent making the best radio server platform on the planet. Perhaps in the future Flex will provide a capability for 3rd party individuals or companies to write to their own peripherals. This is a possible suggestion though I'm unfamiliar with the amp. If there is a separate line to trigger the behavior you desire on the amp you could potentially use an FTDI bit cable to trigger that line only during certain Flex events. 73, Mack W4AX Alpha Team

Walt

Thanks, Mack - appreciate the feedback.  It might be time to dive into the programming power that Flex provides and see if I can come up with a specialized interface with a PIC or Arduino. 

I know others have done so with good results and it could keep me out of the Pub !

Cheers and thanks again.

dl9eri/oe9eri

Flex could at least use one of the 3 PTT-Key outputs for the TUNE-Button to disable - and on normal PTT the Amplifier gets the key-down-signal. This would be a solution for users of auto-tuners like SGC MFJ etc. to tune only with abt 15W. Others could use the remaining 2 PTT-outputs.

WX7Y

Don't want to open a big can of worms here and won't comment on this again so these are my last comments. 

Some people need all three PTT ports for there VHF and UHF Amps and transverters so some users need all three Amp Key ports.

What needs to happen is WE as CUSTOMERS need to refuse to purchase a TUNER that doesn't have the AMP KEY bypassed while the tuner is tuning and maybe then they would get the idea it's required by there customer base and put it in, it's really not hard to do in the Auto Tuners these days with there CPU's, I modified a OLD LDG AT-1000 when I had one about 6 or 7 years ago my self so I know it can be done by the manufacture.

We can only ask so much from FLEX  and then we need to have the other hardware manufacturers step up to the plate to fill the gaps and fix deficiencies of their products. 

Merry Christmas 
73's
Bret
WX7Y

Dennis Daniel KM6DF

Bret I understand your comments but there are many Ham devices that would benefit from this addition and it could be user defined. I am not the programmer but it would seem to be a feasible request.
Thanks
Dennis KM6DF   

Walt

As for a tuner, my tuner is out in the antenna field and is powered off a bias-T - I do not have control lines coming back to "Switch" the amplifier on and off depending on SWR readings.

So - I would like Flex to include a tune lead indicator when I press the 'TUNE" button in SSDR.  And with the lack of all the TX keyed output pins on a 6300, I thought it would be easier and made available to everyone if they would include that logic and indication in one of the unused leads on the BCD cable.  That way, when I press TUNE, I do not need to also manually switch the amp.  Flex made the BCD cable to send the band info to the amp, now, just one more control line, would be very nice.

And thats it for me - I do not want to get into any dog-fights over what Flex can or wants to develop for a user.  I wanted to simply say that they are very very close to providing a complete solution for those who do not have tuners located at the desk or radio location, or could use a 'TUNE' indicator for some other purpose.

Cheers

WB9IXS

Has this topic been resolved by anyone yet?
I am not using my HFAuto tuner at the antenna it is in my shack right beside my amp. However I do operate frequently from another location using my Maestro. If I change bands the amp follows the change but now I need to give the tuner a shot of RF. If I hit the tune button then the amp is also engaged and it senses a high SWR and goes to standby. Now I have no amp on line anymore and have to go back to the shack location to hit the operate button. If I could only disable the PTT line during tune function the problem would be resolved. 
Anybody have any tools to make this work with my 6500?

Thanks
Jim

David Decoons, wo2x

Easiest solution is to use DDUtil and its Auto Drive feature. You can also create macros in DDUtil to stack commands. Create one to disable the TX out RCA to amp, set tune power and ket radio in tune mode. Create a second macro to unkey radio and enable the TX RCA. I use a Genovation keypad which is supported by DDUtil. There are two buttons mapped to the two macros above. It is all covered on the DDUtil WiKi. http://k5fr.com/DDUtilV3wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page Dave wo2x

WB9IXS

Thanks Dave,
You must be a whole lot smarter than me because I can not figure out how all the DDUtil features work. Maybe if you can take few snapshots of your setup screens and and I can study it from that end.

I still am not sure how I will operate the macros when I am operating with the Maestro no where near the computer that is connected to the radio.

Jim

Wally

My amp is in the basement 85' from the den where I operate and once I got the Kenwood cord thing working I ran into the same problem with my HF-Auto not disabling the amp and then I have to run downstairs to work the Standby/Operate switch. A friend told me I needed to break the relay line to keep the amp from operating during tune. I have an unused Cat6 line running with the control lines so I used two shallow outlet boxes, two Keystone Cat6, J45 punch out jacks and several RCA jacks and made a circuit with a switch in the den to break the relay line in the basement. 1 RCA jack upstairs and two downstairs for the TX from the Flex and then to the Relay on the 1306. It was simple and it works just like the Standby/Operate switch except it doesn't reset anything it just breaks the connection. If I forget to hit the switch before I tune I still have to run downstairs to reset the amp. The wiring is all in the two outlet boxes and the Cat6 run isn't altered if I need to use it again.