This is a GUI to control relays using a button box. The names of the relays are all based on my particular use of this software. I am using it to drive relays and preamps that set up my ham radio rig the way I want it. You can use it for anything, of course.
From here on, we have the description of MY use. My intent is to switch a software defined radio receiver (telemetry) and a Kenwood TS-2000 (TS2K) in various combinations with an omni dual band satellite antenna, an LEO Pack 70cm and 2m beam, and a dual-band J-pole for local work.
Note that the latest version also listens for a UDP message specifying the uplink and downlink frequency of a satellite. It looks at the downlink frequency and based on the band, changes the switches. The message is one that could be sent via MacDoppler's scripting facility as of V2.39b1 when Don added the capability I needed. Thanks Don! It also can read the UDP message sent by the CSN Technologies S.A.T. satellite radio/rotator controller.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Preamp70 | Preamp on 70cm Beam |
| Preamp2m | Preamp on 2m Beam |
| Beam70 | Switch 70cm Beam to TS2K bus or SDR Bus |
| Beam2m | Switch 2m Beam to TS2K bus or SDR Bus |
| TS2K | Switch TS-2000 to TS2K bus or dual band J-pole |
| SDR | Switch SDR to SDR Bus or Lindenblad (Omni) |
| Button | Relay | State |
|---|---|---|
| V/u Satellite COM | Preamp70 | On |
| " | Preamp2m | Off |
| " | Beam70 | TS2K Bus |
| " | Beam2m | TS2K Bus |
| " | TS2K | TS2K Bus |
| " | SDR | Omni |
| U/v Satellite COM | Preamp70 | Off |
| " | Preamp2m | On |
| " | Beam70 | TS2K Bus |
| " | Beam2m | TS2K Bus |
| " | TS2K | TS2K Bus |
| " | SDR | Omni |
| Local Repeater | Preamp70 | Off |
| " | Preamp2m | off |
| " | Beam70 | TS2K Bus |
| " | Beam2m | TS2K Bus |
| " | TS2K | J-Pole |
| " | SDR | Omni |
| VHF Telemetry Beam | Preamp70 | Off |
| " | Preamp2m | On |
| " | Beam70 | TS2K Bus |
| " | Beam2m | SDR Bus |
| " | TS2K | TS2K Bus |
| " | SDR | SDR Bus |
| UHF Telemetry Beam | Preamp70 | On |
| " | Preamp2m | Off |
| " | Beam70 | SDR Bus |
| " | Beam2m | TS2K Bus |
| " | TS2K | TS2K Bus |
| " | SDR | SDR Bus |
| UV Telemetry Beam | Preamp70 | On |
| " | Preamp2m | On |
| " | Beam70 | SDR Bus |
| " | Beam2m | SDR Bus |
| " | TS2K | JPole |
| " | SDR | SDR Bus |
In addition there are some checkboxes for the preamps which are updated to match the preamp state when you click on a configuration. However they can also be checked or unchecked to override the default for the preamps.
Schematic of the coax relays as a PNG File or a PDF File. Note that the schematics do not show that each relay has a flyback diode across it.
Not shown anywhere but necessary are another set of relays triggered by the 3V Raspberry Pi GPIO outputs which switch the 12V coils of the coax relays as well as switching 12V power to the preamps. Here is an Amazon link to what I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DNB2NGD. However, this link appears broken, so try this (which appears similar): https://www.amazon.com/Yizhet-Channel-Optocoupler-Raspberry-Channels/dp/B08Q3QKF3D