Welcome to the new FlexRadio Community! Please review the new Community Rules and other important new Community information on the Message Board.
If you are having a problem, please check the Help Center for known solutions.
Need technical support from FlexRadio? It's as simple as Creating a HelpDesk ticket.
Need technical support from FlexRadio? It's as simple as Creating a HelpDesk ticket.
Need the latest SmartSDR and Power Genius Software?
SmartSDR v3.1.12 and the SmartSDR v3.1.12 Release Notes. | SmartSDR v2.6.2 and the SmartSDR v2.6.2 Release Notes.
SmartSDR v1.12.1 and the SmartSDR v1.12.1 Release Notes. | Power Genius XL Firmware v3.4.16. | Power Genius XL Utility v2.2.10.
SmartSDR v3.1.12 and the SmartSDR v3.1.12 Release Notes. | SmartSDR v2.6.2 and the SmartSDR v2.6.2 Release Notes.
SmartSDR v1.12.1 and the SmartSDR v1.12.1 Release Notes. | Power Genius XL Firmware v3.4.16. | Power Genius XL Utility v2.2.10.
Flex radios in an in-band configuration

First, happy holidays to all! Hope everyone is enjoying the wonderful season.
Second, my question is aimed at contesters with real hands on M/n experience. Speculations can be helpful, but at least must understand the use case and its implications.
So I am in the process of building a bunch of in-band radio switching boxes to be used in M/n contesting environments. In a very simple example, imagine you have two radios- Radio A and Radio B- that share the same amplifier and TX antenna. They may (likely) or may not (unlikely) have a separate RX antenna.
When Radio A starts TXing, the box switches A's antenna output to the amp's input, switches Radio B to the RX antenna, and finally sends a PTT to the amp. Things work the same way if Radio B starts TXing and the box locks Radio B if both radios attempt to TX at the same time.
So my question is how do I send a TX Inhibit signal to a Flex? Before you respond "let the logger do interlocking", please consider the following:
1) Some contests do require hardware interlocks
2) The logger cannot handle SSB where I can simply press the PTT on the mike and cause the radio to TX (or grab the paddle and start CWing away).
Yaesu and Electraft radios have TX Inhibit inputs. Kenwood and Icom do not, but even if using them there is the solution to have all controls signals (e.g., CW, mike, FSK, etc.) go into the controller and have the controller disable the inputs for one radio when the other one is TXing.
By the way, this use case is not just limited to M/n; it applies to SO2R as well where you don't want to have two signals at the same time.
Every now and then the question of using Flex in contesting comes up. In order to have Flex radios show up at major and winning stations, it is critical to have a solution for interlocking across two or more radios. You may want to watch the TK0C YouTube videos showing how 6 guys do M/2; their use of multiple rigs is a great example of maximizing what's allowed in M/2. These have 1 x Run and 2 x S&P radios PER BAND.
Second, my question is aimed at contesters with real hands on M/n experience. Speculations can be helpful, but at least must understand the use case and its implications.
So I am in the process of building a bunch of in-band radio switching boxes to be used in M/n contesting environments. In a very simple example, imagine you have two radios- Radio A and Radio B- that share the same amplifier and TX antenna. They may (likely) or may not (unlikely) have a separate RX antenna.
When Radio A starts TXing, the box switches A's antenna output to the amp's input, switches Radio B to the RX antenna, and finally sends a PTT to the amp. Things work the same way if Radio B starts TXing and the box locks Radio B if both radios attempt to TX at the same time.
So my question is how do I send a TX Inhibit signal to a Flex? Before you respond "let the logger do interlocking", please consider the following:
1) Some contests do require hardware interlocks
2) The logger cannot handle SSB where I can simply press the PTT on the mike and cause the radio to TX (or grab the paddle and start CWing away).
Yaesu and Electraft radios have TX Inhibit inputs. Kenwood and Icom do not, but even if using them there is the solution to have all controls signals (e.g., CW, mike, FSK, etc.) go into the controller and have the controller disable the inputs for one radio when the other one is TXing.
By the way, this use case is not just limited to M/n; it applies to SO2R as well where you don't want to have two signals at the same time.
Every now and then the question of using Flex in contesting comes up. In order to have Flex radios show up at major and winning stations, it is critical to have a solution for interlocking across two or more radios. You may want to watch the TK0C YouTube videos showing how 6 guys do M/2; their use of multiple rigs is a great example of maximizing what's allowed in M/2. These have 1 x Run and 2 x S&P radios PER BAND.
0
Leave a Comment
Categories
- 69 Community Topics
- 1.9K New Ideas
- 120 The Flea Market
- 5.4K Software
- 4.9K SmartSDR for Windows
- 35 SmartSDR for Maestro and M models
- 87 SmartSDR for Mac
- 143 SmartSDR for iOS
- 149 SmartSDR CAT
- 69 DAX
- 279 SmartSDR API
- 7.1K Radios and Accessories
- 5.8K FLEX-6000 Signature Series
- 557 Maestro
- 14 FlexControl
- 723 FLEX Series (Legacy) Radios
- 150 Power Genius Products
- 117 Power Genius XL Amplifier
- 11 Power Genius Utility
- 22 Tuner Genius
- 41 Shack Infrastructure
- 22 Networking
- 89 Remote Operation (SmartLink)
- 50 Contesting
- 127 Peripherals & Station Integration
- 62 Amateur Radio Interests
- 405 Third-Party Software
Answers
Mack
W4AX