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| Reviews Summary for microHAM Station Master |
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Reviews: 2
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $400
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Description: Station Master™ is unique controller on the market designed mainly for small or moderate, multiple antenna, single rotator/SteppIR stations. Provides radio control, antenna switch control, band pass filters switching, selective SteppIR tuning, computer controlled rotator interface, interface for automatic power amplifiers, sequencer for receiving antennas and many additional features.
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Product is in production.
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More info: http://www.microham-usa.com/Products/sm.html
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OH2XX
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 28, 2008 13:00
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Great box
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have just installed my SM and the first impression is very good. It controls now my Steppir+other antennas, amplifier and rotator. My station automation and protection is now on the level I like it to be. SM was a perfect fit for my needs.
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W8FN
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 26, 2008 13:09
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Complete Station Automation In A Little Black Box!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is one amazing little black box. If you have a complex station with multiple antennas, especially one oriented toward contesting or low band DXing, the Station Master will automate virtually all aspects of your antenna switching and station control. It's essentially a microprocessor-controlled programmable relay bank with many unique features written into the system software. Since the Station Master allows you to define a nearly unlimited set of switching combinations based solely on frequency read from virtually any radio that provides serial port communications, all you need to do is change the radio frequency or mode and the device will automatically switch antennas and control signals for all other station switching hardware as required — no more fooling with complicated arrays of coax switches, or having to remember which antennas can be used on which bands and/or modes. Once you've defined the way you want things to be connected, just QSY and the station will be automatically configured for wherever you go. If you have a SteppIR, the Station Master can even control it as well.
The Station Master connects to a computer for configuration and control via a single USB port and to the radio via a dedicated cable to its serial control port (CAT, Remote, etc.). The device can be configured internally for either RS-232 or TTL interface, depending on the radio it is used with. The Router software that controls the Station Master creates multiple virtual COM ports to control the radio, the rotator and other functions from applications software such as logging programs or rig control programs. Routine operation of the Station Master is provided by a simple front panel interface consisting of a pair of Up / Down selection buttons and a rotary encoder knob with a push switch. An easily-readable two line LCD display shows current status. Even greater convenience is provided when a simple PS2 keypad is connected; all operating functions can be accessed directly from the keypad.
The Station Master's functions can be broken down into five categories: Antenna switching, auxiliary switching functions, PA control, rotator control, and auxiliary serial port control.
The antenna switching and auxilary switching functions are configured as two groups, or "Ports", of ten relays each, which are labeled Port A and Port B. These ports can be set up independently to control different types of hardware requiring different control voltages. If, for example, you have an antenna switch that requires +12V to actuate the appropriate port, this switch can be controlled by the relays in Port A. If you also have receiver bandpass filters that require a current sink (short to ground) to actuate, they can be connected to Port B. All ten relays in Port A are implemented as SPST contacts with closure to a common ground or power source and must therefore be wired alike. In Port B, six of the outputs are wired as SPST contacts to a common bus and the remaining four are implemented as SPST contacts with independent input and outputs. Port A and B control outputs are software defined as members of one of three "classes": Antenna class, Filter class, or Sequencer class.
Antenna class outputs are controlled on the basis of band, mode and transmit/receive status and are used to select among available antennas. For the Station Master, a "band" is an entirely arbitrary user-defined frequency range, not necessarily just one of the allocated ham bands. There is no limit on the number of bands that can be defined, as long as they don't overlap. Multiple antennas can be selected for any band, with the ability to switch among these antennas using the front panel Up / Down buttons or by direct selection by number on an optional PS2 keypad. Antennas can also be defined as receive-only antennas, and the Station Master will not allow transmission when receive-only antennas are selected. A split function using different transmit and receive antennas is also available.
Filter class outputs are controlled on the basis only of operating frequency, and are used primarily to select bandpass filters, switch in stubs, etc..
Sequencer class outputs are controlled on the basis of the selected antenna, operating frequency and transmit/receive status, and are used for timed on/off switching of such things as PA controls and receiver preamps The timing of each sequencer output can be controlled relative to the PTT (transmit/receive) state.
This flexibility allows switching functions of almost unlimited complexity. If, for example, you have an 80 meter antenna that needs an additional loading inductance switched in to cover frequencies below 3600 kHz, just define one of the Antenna lines as control for the loading switch. When you tune the radio below 3600 kHz, the antenna tuning will be automatically switched, with no user action required. If you have a Beverage antenna that needs a preamp, a sequencer output can be defined that turns off the preamp instantly at PTT assertion and delays 50 msec following return to receive mode. If you want to use the Beverage for the receiving antenna on 80 meters, select the Split mode. The possibilities are endless, and the station configuration can be changed with software alone rather than requiring tedious rewiring of dedicated relays or manual switches.
If you have a power amplifier in the station, the Station Master PA control function sequences the PTT control to the amplifier and makes it impossible to hot-switch antennas or transmit into receive-only antennas. Additionally, the Station Master provides Icom format CI-V data and parallel BCD band data to interface with virtually all automatically-controlled amplifiers.
The Station Master provides a rotator control function that is compatible with most popular rotators and allows either control from the Station Master front panel controls (or the optional PS2 keypad) or control from software applications such as logging and rig control programs. Dedicated relay outputs for CW rotation, CCW rotation and AUX (brake or speed control) are brought out to a separate ROTOR jack on the rear panel. CAUTION!: The relays in the Station Master are not rated for sufficient current to allow direct control of most rotators, especially the Hy-Gain / CDE family. If you intend to use the device to control a rotator, it is STRONGLY ADVISED that you provide external relays with a 10-20 Amp contact rating to buffer the internal Station Master relays. The ROTOR port provides a +12V line to power these external relays.
The Station Master provides an Auxiliary serial port that can be configured in three different ways:
1. It can function as a general purpose auxiliary RS-232 port that is available to any application. This mode can be used to provide an additional "real" hardware port for a computer that has only USB ports or simply needs an extra serial port to control some external hardware.
2. The Serial port can function as a dedicated Icom format CI-V control port, providing broadcast of frequency data in Icom format at RS-232 levels even if the attached radio is not an Icom radio.
3. The third mode for the serial port is used for SteppIR control. In this configuration, the Station Master serial port is connected to the SteppIR control box Data Out port via a null modem cable. The Station Master issues commands directly to the SteppIR in native SteppIR format to control frequency and mode (i.e., it can turn on the 180° or Bi-Directional mode for SteppIR Yagis or toggle the 3/4 wave mode for SteppIR verticals). These control functions are also available on the optional PS2 keypad.
This is a staggering amount of functionality in a package that's only 9" X 6.25"X 2.75" (W X D X H). At first look, it may seem pricey at $400, but it you've struggled to keep up with rigging control and switching hardware for even a moderately complex station you'll undoubtedly find that the ability to concentrate all the configuration in one place and change the station setup with a few clicks of a mouse makes it well worth the price. It's difficult to recommend this little box too enthusiastically.
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