Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: The Serial Box (S-BOX) by N6TV

Category: Interfaces, Radio to computer, amp, rotor, coax switch, internet

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : The Serial Box (S-BOX) by N6TV
Reviews: 25MSRP: 149
Description:
The "Swiss Army Knife" of interface boxes:
Serial Port Splitter / Amplifier Interface / FSK, CW, and PTT keying interface / Breakout Box

The Serial Box (or "S-BOX") makes it easy to connect multiple devices to any transceiver with a serial
port, including:

o Any control device with a serial port or USB-to-Serial adapter (PC, MAC, Linux, microHAM, RemoteRig)
o Any automatic amplifier designed to monitor serial port traffic (Elecraft, ACOM, SPE)
o Any automatic antenna controller that monitors serial port traffic (SteppIR, KRC2)
o Any other device designed to track frequency changes by monitoring the transceiver's serial port
(e.g. RFSpace SDR-IQ)
Product is in production
More Info: http://bit.ly/S-BOX
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
45255
KM6WSI Rating: 2021-07-20
Amazing product & service! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Bob is awesome! His S-Box is right up there with a Bird or LP-100 as a must have in the shack. His devices are built exactly to your need and are adaptable. I had 2 S-Boxes built for SO2R IC7610 & Flex 6500 into SPE amp as my 4 ant switch/amp & controller... I also have a SteppIR controller in the mix... Bob built it, mailed it off fast with EZ to understand diagrams and all the cables. And if that's not enough.. just email him and you'll get precise ASAP response. I almost never leave reviews for anything but this is one product I'm 1000% behind.

BYW.. This is a perfect device for anyone wanting to go remote ops. I was making contacts off beaches @ San Onofre w/my rig at home.

I should have left this 1 yr ago but... maybe it's better now because I've had it 1 yr and I still love it!

Mike
NY6G
W9CLA Rating: 2020-12-05
Great value for Acom 2000A, Acom 2000S users Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I recently purchased the N6TV S-Box from Bob. My installation was a bit more complicated than most. I was interfacing an Acom 2000A, Icom IC-7610, Acom 2000S remote 10 position antenna switch. Bob was very helpful and with a couple of phone calls and more than a few emails, we got everything to play together. Everything now tracks with my 7610 via CI-V and creates a totaly automated experience.

The box is well made, custom cables are available and custom layout diagrams are included. I wish I would have done this earlier!
K7NNV Rating: 2020-07-06
Great Unit and support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I found that setting my station up for remote operation was a lot more difficult than I realized. A ham friend of mine recommended the S-Box. It works great and really made the whole job easier.
Now, I'm not the brightest light bulb in the pack when it comes to networking but Bob N6TV's excellent customer support made the installation much easier. Without his email support the setup would not have been so easy for me.
Thanks to Bob N6TV and Radolfo K7OTA for all their help and now I have complete remote control of my station.
VK7IO Rating: 2020-05-06
Fantastic product and outstanding support Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
After being out of the hobby for some time, we have just re-established our shack and had read about the S-Box. The main components of the shack are older K3, P3, Steppir SDA100 controller, and a SPE Expert 1.3K-FA amp, and of course, computer interfaced. The ordering process was straight forward, and Bob was quick with his reponses and postage.
After an initial query, that Bob answered thoroughly and quickly, the S-Box which had already been configured by Bob, was quickly connected, controller, amp and computer configs carried out, and it just worked. I had been dreading the thought of all the interconnections and cable making that I was preparing for, before I found Bob's S-Box. Now we are back on the air with a nice clean layout, and are very, very happy.
NJ3A Rating: 2020-01-22
S-BOX Interface, IC-7300, ACOM 1200S, ACOM 04AT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Background: I've recently updated my ham shack in the most pleasing way. After purchasing an IC-7300 (Awesome Rig BTW), I additionally, I purchased an ACOM 1200S Solid State amp. This ACOM 1200S is perfect for my needs. I also use an N6TV S-Box interface between the rig and the amp...(Bob sends great instructions). This interface makes connections easy and expandable to other hardware. Finally, I decided I needed an all around all band (almost) wire antenna due to, how shall I say...the need to run in total stealth mode due to some antiquated HOA rules...so, I choose the MyAntennas EFHW-8010 2K wire. Perfect fit in my situation. ...Back to the amp. While I had hoped to only drive 600W output, I actually get closer to 850W with 20W drive from the IC-7300. I also added the inline ACOM 04AT Tuner to the HF team. This tuner requires no control wires and once the bands are tuned (ALL BANDS 10-80 <1.3 SWR) with the tuner during setup the memories are there and band switching is immediate as everything is linked. If I were to do it again...I would have built a house where I could have my old tower and M2 KT36XA...but...that's not where I am. I'm a happy camper with the ACOM 1200S, ACOM 04AT, ICOM IC-7300, N6TV S-Box and MyAntennas EFHW-8010 2K...IT ALL WORKS... BTW: The S-Box makes connections of the Rig and Amp simple as well as expandable. Directions are there as well as YouTube and Google..

Very satisfied with the S-Box Interface
KE4UW Rating: 2020-01-08
Great product, but outstanding support! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Bob designed a custom S-Box for me to be able to connect an SPE amp, stepper controller, and a new HamPlus antenna switch to the same DB-9 on the back of my Kenwood radio. This included the amplifier keying line and ALC as well. Now all devices (amp, stepper, and switch) read the band/freq from the radio and follow along whenever the band is changed.

Bob was super helpful in offering suggestions and guiding me through testing the way each device worked in my shack to come up with just the right design. Bob also made some custom cable for me that were high quality and well labeled. When all was connected, the setup worked exactly as intended. Couldn't be more pleased.

Dave KE4UW
NI8R Rating: 2019-12-16
Multiple configurations, service after the sale Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I like to buy and sell radios, The serial box makes it very convenient to change from rig to rig with only the addition or subtraction of a cable and a few minor changes inside the box. One box is capable of managing cat control of 2 radios to one amp with 2 cat interfaces.
Bob includes a color coded schematic and a connection flow chart for simple interface connection instructions.
I have controlled cat commands with traditional rs232 and usb software connections at the same time.

The Value of the box is great, but the service after the sale is even more valuable. Bob is selfless with his time and works with a servants heart. He has spent time on the phone with me when i am sure he had something better to do. I currently run a k3 and a Anan 7000dle to a SPE expert 1.5kfa with this interface. If you purchase this box , it will work as described.

Greg NI8R
N4RF Rating: 2019-08-31
Wonderful addition to my shack Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
If you want a tidy & simple to understand shack connections, the S-Box if for you. It is solid gold!

Bob N6TV spent a good deal of time helping me with other issues with my ICOM 7610. I ended up buying a S-Box USB interface. Bob is the best Elmer ever!

I couldn't be happier and I will be buying another S-Box USB as I am adding an ICOM 7300 back up transceiver to my shack.

It intuitive and worked the first time with no issues.

I enthusiastically recommend this product.

Bob N4RF

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by N4RF on 2019-03-16

N6TV did a great job designing and manufacturing the S-Box. It worked flawlessly on the first try.

It is nice to have such a tidy wiring system for my station. Before it was a bit of a rats nest. Now I have a very tidy station.

Every connector is labeled perfectly, which makes the installation exceptionally simple. I don't know how even I could mess this one up. The packaging is also first class.

The box itself is labeled nicely and the documentation is excellent. This new product is a winner. I love it!
N4FN Rating: 2019-08-06
OUTSTANDING Service and Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
As the description indicates it is truly the "Swiss Army Knife:" of control boxes. I have a Yaesu FTdx5000 and am adding an Elecraft K4. I wanted to interface and switch seamlessly both radios with Ham Radio Deluxe, Rig Control, Rotor Control SteppIR BigIR SDA-100 Controller, Rigblaster Advantage, and the Elecraft KPA1500 amp. Not an easy task. We talked on the phone and Bob sent block diagrams showing several options. I ordered the unit configured the way I wanted and in two days I had it in Atlanta. All cables were plainly marked where they went so it was literally a "plug and play" setup. I did have some configuration questions and Bob answered promptly. He also called to be sure all was working and offered to come in via Team Viewer and make some suggestions. Bob knew the ins and outs how to configure the radios I have had rhe Yaesu for several years and he showed me some things I never knew the radio could do. He has a FIRST Class product and Superb service before and AFTER the sale. If there were a higher rating i would rate it 5++ Neil N4FN
N8VZ Rating: 2019-03-17
Good Box, Great Support Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have both a Y-Box and an S-Box in service at the moment. I recently purchased a new rig that I wanted connected. Bob N6TV gave me very detailed directions and answered every question that I had as I changed the setup to interface my K3 with a KPA500, KAT500 and SteppIR Controller. The same cables worked for this setup as for setups with my other radios.

Bob responds very quickly to your email questions. On the fly, he wrote new diagrams and sent them to me with detailed instructions.

When I first wired up things to my K3, I had a problem. Bob gave me further instructions about things to check out and troubleshoot the problem, and within a matter of 15 minutes I was able to find the problem and fix it. I had left an RCA cable in place between the KPA500 and KAT500 that was no longer needed once the Y-Box was in place.

Bob's products are well designed and his customer service is first-rate. I highly recommend them.