Not having an RCS-12 in front of me, if you have voltage on multiple
pins I can only assume one of two things: the jumper is in the wrong
position (e.g. BCD 4 instead of 1 of 8) or there is a failure in the
unit. Unless the circuit board is clearly screened, I would sooner
suspect an incorrect jumper (configuration) but you can certainly
tell by stepping through the antennas manually and measuring voltage
at each pin of the Relay Connection Jack. If BCD 3 or BCD 4 is
actually selected you should not see any voltage on pins 5-8 - if
you see voltage on pin 5 - 8 and 1 - 4 at the same time, there is
most certainly a failure of some kind.
Since the RCS-12 is processor based, I'm sure you must remove power
and restart after changing jumpers and would not recommend changing
jumpers with power applied.
Again, I would recommend removing power, setting the output select
jumpers for the desired relay configuration, connecting power and
performing the factory reset procedure documented in the manual.
If, after that, you continue to see anomalous results, there is a
number for factory Technical Assistance in the manual.
73,
... Joe, W4TV
On 3/16/2014 6:23 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote:
Joe, You are always so very helpful in solving problems....but in this
case I must have read and re-read the skimpy Ameritron manual 10 or more
times. The jumpers are in the right setting per the manual JMP1 is 1 of
8 and JMP4 is "direct" as the manual suggests. Even on the bench on the
"Relay Connection Jack" multiple votages appear on different wire in one
setting of the switch in the manual mode. this is with both my RCS-12C
one just purchased to see if I have a bad controller. As I mentioned the
previously the RS-232 9 pin has individual voltage output 1-8 and no
ambiguity. However this output is only 5 volts DC on either controller
as it appears to be for the purpose of switching other external
devices. Absent a detailed schematic my ability to troubleshoot the 8
higher current switching transistors is limited. Any suggestions?
Herb, KV4FZ
On 3/16/2014 6:03 PM, Joe Subich, W4TV wrote:
Herb,
Read the RCS-12 manual. The answer you need will be found on pages 4
and 5. See the 1 of 8 configuration for the "Relay Connection Jack"
and the appropriate setting for JMP 1.
RTFM OM!
73,
... Joe, W4TV
On 3/16/2014 5:16 PM, Herb Schoenbohm wrote:
I am trying to get my RCS-12C Ameritron antenna switch interface working
with a DX-Engineering 8-Port Antenna Switch in a 1-8 configuration.
However the Ameritron box outputs switching voltage on more than one
wire simultaneously even in the manual setting via the 8 pin connection
jack thus causing more than one relay to reference an antenna. The
switching closures from the common main feed port to the various
antennas are all over the place thus causing high VSWR on the selected
antenna. One would think that Ameritron would have 12 VDC or what ever
the switching voltage might be to only output one wire at a time but
that is not the case. There is however on the RCS-12C an Auxiliary
Output DB9 connector which provides a single voltage of 5 volts DC with
respect to ground and these are all correct and non are duplicatd on
other ports like the Din Relay box port Unfortunately the DX-Engineering
box type RR8B-HP Remote Antenna Switch requires a control voltage of
10-14VDC, not 5 volts. The cable used is CAT 5 of very good quality and
I have even made a new run with a new Din connection to the antenna
control port on the RCS-12. All my setting inside the Ameritron are
simple 1 through 8 switching. I have searched for solution and maybe
the only way the RCS-12C will control the DX=Engineering Antenna Switch
is by building a board of 8 five volt relays which then send 10-14 volts
out to an external supply. Yes the Ameritron 12-RCSC has provision for
inputing up to 30 volts and an internal jumper for a direct feed to the
Din relay box connector. However there is enough voltage on non
switched wires to cause the remote antenna switch to do all sorts of
unfortunate things. Sometime the 20 meter antenna shows up on position
8 even though the coax is into port 5. Sometimes the 10 meter port and
the 160 meter port are cross connected. This is all very strange and I
would like to know if any other user of this configuration has had
similar problems and discovered solutions. I have even purchased a new
RCS-12C controller and this performs the same way. Again I have a BCD
connection to my Icom but this is not the problem since the bad
switching occurs in manual mode as well as auto mode.
Please let me know if you have a solution to this. I would like to get
it running before the CQ WPX contest or else try to switch this box with
some clip leads and a 12VDC supply. This must be something simple to
correct.
Regards,
herb Schoenbohm, KV4FZ
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