| W0ARM |
Rating:      |
2021-08-26 | |
| A Simply GREAT, Well Designed Unit! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
I first saw the Emtron ES-4 Radio/Antenna selector displayed on the QRZ page of an operator I heard while tuning around on 20m (VK4SX). While I was waiting to make a contact with him, I looked him up on QRZ, and it was there I saw his setup , including the Emtron ES-4. I really like the idea, and the looks of the system, as it was exactly what I had been looking for, to reduce the clutter of multiple "Alpha-Delta" switches on my radio desk.
I ordered the unit directly from Dan Voican at Emtron in Australia (www.emtrondv.com). We exchanged a couple emails, and then he sent me an "Invoice" through PayPal; I made payment back through PayPal... super easy! He shipped it out within a day (confirmed with tracking number via email), and I received the unit in about 10 days, via USPS, and got it installed the same day. It works great!
The small "control head" takes up minimal space (I mounted it with double-sided tape on my radio-desk shelf), and the switching unit is screw-mounted on the backside of the desk with the included bracket. The inter-connect cable is a nice, small, flat "telco" type cable, utilizing RJ-12 modular connectors at each end (easy to make and/or replace, if ever necessary). Power is supplied into the unit at the switch-box end, and I power it from my 13.8-volt main shack power supply, using the included power cable.
Install was very straight forward, and the connections are well marked on the unit. I also utilize the "PTT" function, by running the amplifier's key-line through the switcher, and then to each radio, which prevents any antenna or radio changes if the radio/amp is keyed. There is also a ~2-second delay after un-keying, before switching is allowed. The blue "PTT" LED is illuminated when keying is active.
I'm currently using two radios and two antennas, all directed through my OM-Power 2000A+ amp, and will be adding another radio and third antenna very shortly. If you don't use an amplifier, simply jumper between the amp ports.
Isolation between input and output ports seems VERY good, and definitely seems better than the "Alpha-Delta" (2B & 4B) switches I was previously using. I say this because, even in receive, I could often hear strong stations "leaking through" on my receiver, when the active radio was switched off the antenna. With this Emtron unit, I hear NOTHING!
The "soft-touch" switches on the control head do require a purposeful, fairly firm press to make the switch. There is no way to accidentally bump it and make an unintended switch. And, with the radio's key-line connected through the switch box, antenna switching is inhibited when transmitter is engaged... a neat safety feature.
So that's the long version... The short version is: This is a great little combination radio & antenna switch! If you need to switch multiple radios, into multiple antennas (and even a dummy-load), this is the unit you want!
73
~Alan |
|
| VK4SX |
Rating:      |
2021-02-17 | |
| by far the BEST Internal shack switching system I have used, |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
ok well I really do not need an invitation to the expertise of Dan Voican, as I was introduced to his wonderful Electrical design, and mechanical design and finished hardware products for Ham radio and general Amateur Radio equipment back in 1995/6, along with Rudi of Emtron,
YES I have had an owned OTHER EMTRONDV / EMTRON Products, this switch is wonderful ham shack addition, Now I have moved radio platforms, and I am making the shack more minimalistic and more efficient, hence the EMTRONDV ES-4 switch, 3 Radios, 5 antenna ( or dummy loads) X 1 HF Amplifier,
all handled by a remote Soft touch pad ,
selection of any of the 3 Radios, and any of the 5 antennas (DL's) is a press of a soft tab (1/2 sec /release) button, to SWAP a HF amplifier, it is 1 X RELAY lead, and 1 X COAXIAL cable only,
I have used OTHER Multi multi multi systems requiring a HUGE amount of relay leads, data leads, and coaxial cables that the mind boggles,
not only are you removing a potential RF Ground loop system, but also an additional HF antenna system with all of the leads concerned,
my main question to Dan was the RF POWER handling capacity of the ES-4 switch, in factory testing, an EMTRON DX-4 HF amplifier was used to test the AMPLIFIER side of the switching MATRIX,the bigger brother to this one ; https://www.emtron.com.au/products/dx3sp.php
ALSO Input to Output isolation IS IN EXCESS OF 120dB @ 30MHZ,
ALL unused ports are GROUNDED,
totally 100% made in Australia, hand made by Dan one at a time,
you can order 1/2 & 1/2 S0-239 On Inputs, N Type on Output, ALL N type, or all SO-239 / PL-259 type,
ES-4 allows for a Linear Amplifier with up to 5 antennas, or 4 antenna and a Dummy Load, can be used WITH AN AMPLIFIER Bare foot by patching AMP IN to AMP OUT.
just jumping over the many benefits here, if data connection cable is damaged, 6 Core STRAIGHT THRU is ok,
Dan has thought of everything, ALC connections as well as PTT if your system use's ALC etc, the 12VDC power plug is CENTRE Positive @ 0.250ma
THERE IS WRONG POLARITY PROTECTION ALSO, just will not function until rectified, 11-15vdc
Dont panic on first switch on, as the ES-4 does a SELF TEST on start up, ALL LEDS ON for 5 Secs,
Now for some SMART STUFF, the Touch pad controller is not a standard soft pad,
press one tab / button at a time, MAKE SURE BLUE LED IS OFF.
This key pad is like a Medical Industry Security pad, you can NOT by ACCIDENT press a pad and have the cmd change RIG or Antenna etc,
as the CMD action will NOT activate until PAD / TAB is pressed for 1/2 sec, and then RELEASED, the cmd for that button is not ACTIVATED until actually Released
very very neat safety feature,
as with all antenna switch's, please make a change in RX Mode only,
for HOT SWITCHING PROTECTION the ES-4 Monitors the PTT voltage to inhibit Switching, this feature is activated ONLY when PTT connections ARE USED,
ANOTHER safety feature, IF BY ACCIDENT an attempt is made to change WHILE TRANSMITTING, pressing any button WHILE the BLUE LED is ON, will cause the Blue LED to FLASH as a visual indication, ( common sense but accidents happen)
Input POWER 200W maximum, 50 ohm load non switching,
ALL NON-ACTIVE Inputs GROUNDED,
OUTPUT POWER 3000W 50ohm non switching
non active antennas GROUNDED
The PTT (RCA)sockets output a weak voltage +5v, when pulled low, @ less then 8ma
2 years warranty ( not lightning damage)
Completely made in Australia by ADD Communications / www.emtrondv.com.
as mentioned I have used this ES-4's little brother the ES-1, this is BY FAR the best thought out Ham radio internal shack Switching system I have ever used,
Boy doesn't it tidy up the shacks coaxial cables,
***PLUS a new feature coming in the near future for the hams that want the SWITCH to TRACK with the RIG & AMP, the ES-4 will have BAND DECODER capability soon,***
Update information will be posted on web site,
everything protected and connected , to swap another Linear in,
1 x Relay
1 x AMP coax??
how simple is that,
Cheers
Dennis vk4sx
PS
there the facility to use TWO brackets, one at the top and one at the base, needs to be mentioned on order,
ALSO which type of Plugs SO-239 N TYPE . 1/2 & 1/2 etc all is hand made,
pps
I posted ERROR on price in header, it is currently $365.00 USD Delivered to USA.
ppps
Only modification I would and have made, is Very Good Quality DC ON / OFF Sw on DC lead, when OFF all grounded, unnecessary to have sw sit all day in ON position, |
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