4O3A Antenna Genius User manual

Antenna Genius Manual
Version 3.0.4, rev 01
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Table of Contents
1. WELCOME ........................................................................................................... 3
2. SPECS & FEATURES...........................................................................................3
3. LEGAL................................................................................................................... 4
3.1. Radio & television interference...........................................................................4
3.2. European Community CE conformity.................................................................4
3.3. Product updates................................................................................................. 5
3.4. Limited warranty................................................................................................. 5
3.5. Trademarks........................................................................................................ 5
4.1. Multiple control options....................................................................................... 6
4.2. FlexRadio Integration.........................................................................................6
4.3. SO2R and multi-op with a single FLEX-6000.....................................................6
5. HOW IT WORKS................................................................................................... 7
5.1. Tech.................................................................................................................... 7
5.2. Hardware............................................................................................................ 7
5.3. Software............................................................................................................. 7
5.4. FlexRadio Ecosystem.........................................................................................7
6. ONLINE RESOURCES.........................................................................................7
7. WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?...............................................................................8
8. HARDWARE......................................................................................................... 8
8.1. Bottom panel...................................................................................................... 8
8.2. Top panel............................................................................................................ 9
8.3. Where to put it?.................................................................................................. 9
8.4. DC power connection....................................................................................... 10
8.5. Network cabling................................................................................................11
8.6. DIP Switch configurations.................................................................................12
8.7. LAN control....................................................................................................... 13
Click Save ad Reset................................................................................................15
8.8. Interface Genius control...................................................................................15
Click Save ad Reset................................................................................................16
8.9. BCD control...................................................................................................... 16
8.10. Pin-to-Port control.......................................................................................... 17
You can use the 4O3A manual controller for this purpose:......................................18
9. ANTENNA GENIUStm APP...................................................................................18
9.1. Initial set-up......................................................................................................19
9.1.1. Confirm DIP switches....................................................................................19
9.1.2. Download and install the AG Windows App...................................................19
9.1.3. Using DHCP to set the network address.......................................................22
9.1.4. Setting the network address manually...........................................................23
9.1.5. Launch the Windows App..............................................................................23
9.1.7. Programming antenna data...........................................................................24
9.2. Device Information...........................................................................................24
9.3. Is your firmware up-to-date?.............................................................................25
9.4. AG Control Window programming....................................................................27
9.4.1. Full duplex ‘in band’ operation.......................................................................30
This feature is still not implemented and will be released as a software update ....30
10. OPERATION..................................................................................................... 30
10.1. Local (LAN) operation....................................................................................30
10.2. Internet (WAN) remote operation....................................................................31
11. ADDITIONAL FEATURES..................................................................................31
11.1 Stacking multiple AG's into a superswitch.......................................................31
11.2 Custom Band Configuration.............................................................................35
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11.3 Output Module Relay Control..........................................................................37
11.4 PTT sense....................................................................................................... 43
11.5 Auto connect on startup...................................................................................44
12. PHOTO GALLERY............................................................................................ 44
13. CHANGELOG................................................................................................... 44
1. WELCOME!
Congratulations on your purchase of an Antenna GeniusTM 8x2 Plus Network-Enabled (TCP/IP) High-Isolation
Antenna Switch, a member of the 4O3A Genius SystemTM advanced station automation line including Rotator
GeniusTM, Station GeniusTM, and Interface GeniusTM. More information on these products can be found at:
http://www.4o3a.com/index.php/products/station-automation/
GENIUS TIP! Antenna GeniusTM is sometimes abbreviated as “AG” in this document.
AG is at home in all types of ham shacks: contest stations extravagant and modest, from single op to SO2R to
full blown Multi-Multi, DXers, remote operators controlling their station from their living room via LAN or over the
Internet from a hotel room thousands of miles away, to anyone wanting a better organized and more efficient
station.
2. SPECS & FEATURES
Manufacturer 4O3A SignatureTM by Sky Sat d.o.o.
Model Antenna GeniusTM 8x2 Plus
Functionality 8 antenna 2 radio RF matrix switch controlled via TCP/IP (LAN or WAN),
BCD, or +12 VDC pin-to-port
RF connectors UHF female (SO-239) standard, N female available by special order
Power handling → 3,000 Watts ICAS (SSB/CW) for 5 minutes @ 1.5:1 VSWR @ 30 MHz
→ 3,000 Watts ICAS (SSB/CW) for 3 minutes @ 1.5:1 VSWR @ 50 MHz
Ports → RJ-45 (LAN)
→ two DE-15 VGA-type (BCD band data or +12 VDC pin-to-port)
Network 100Base-T Fast Ethernet (100-Mbps), DHCP or manually-assigned
network address, TCP/IP
Power consumption 300 mA @ 13.8 VDC
Frequency range DC through 55 MHz
Port-to-port isolation → 90dB between ports worst case @ 14 MHz
→ 80dB between ports worst case @ 30 MHz
→ 70dB between ports worst case @ 50 MHz
CPU Microchip Technology 32-bit PIC processor
Automation Windows App, FlexRadio Systems SmartSDR API, Interface Geniustm
IG-M, BCD, Pin-to-Port
Features → hardware interlock prevents two radios connecting to same antenna
→ unselected antenna ports grounded
→ LEDs indicate antenna ports in use
→ firmware updates via LAN
Case rugged stainless steel chassis with wall mount flanges top and bottom
Dimensions 6.75” W x 13.25” H x 3.25” D including mounting flanges (21 x 17 x 6 cm)
Net weight approx. 4.4 lbs (approx. 2 kg)
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3. LEGAL
3.1. Radio & televi ion interference
(FCC Part 15 - §15.21 and §15.105)
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part
15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in
a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off
and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
You may also find the following FCC booklet helpful: "How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference
Problems" available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Info also available
online at FCC.gov:
https :// www . fcc . gov / guides / interference - defining - source
Changes and Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer or registrant of this equipment can void
your authority to operate this equipment under Federal Communications Commissions rules.
3.2. European Community CE conformity
Sky Sat d.o.o. declares Antenna GeniusTM 8x2 complies with the European Community EMC standards:
ETSI EN 300 330-1
ETSI EN 300 489-1
ETSI EN 300 489-15
CE compliance reports are available upon written request to Sky Sat d.o.o.
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3.3. Product update
Sky Sat d.o.o. reserves the right to make hardware and/or software product improvement or manufacturing
changes without notice or any obligation to update units previously sold.
3.4. Limited warranty
This product is warranted to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for one year from the date of
purchase. Sky Sat d.o.o. will repair or replace, at our option, any equipment proven to be defective within the
warranty period. North American warranty work F.O.B. Force 12 Superstore, 784 Valley Court, Unit C3, Grand
Junction, Colorado 81505-8722 USA. Europe and Rest of World warranty work F.O.B Sky Sat d.o.o., Ratiševina
bb, Igalo 85347, Montenegro. Please contact the appropriate party for your region and obtain a return
authorization (RA) number before returning any product for warranty service. RA number must be indicated on
box used to return product for service.
This warranty is exclusive of abuse, misuse, accidental damage, acts of God or consequential damages, etc.
Sky Sat d.o.o.’s liability shall not exceed the original purchase price of the product.
3.5. Trademark
4O3A SignatureTM, Antenna GeniusTM, Rotator GeniusTM, Station GeniusTM, Interface GeniusTM, and 4O3A Genius
SystemTM are trademarks of Sky Sat d.o.o.
FlexRadio SystemsTM and SmartSDRTM are trademarks of Bronze Bear Communications, Inc. d/b/a FlexRadio
Systems
PIC32TM is a trademark of Microchip Technology Inc.
All other products, company names, brand names, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
3.6. Copyright
This publication Copyright © 2015, 2016 by Sky Sat d.o.o. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in part or
in whole without Sky Sat d.o.o.’s prior written permission.
4. WHAT CAN ANTENNA GENIUStm DO?
Antenna Geniustm 8x2 is a matrix antenna switch which can route eight antennas to two radios using a variety of
control methods. Software and hardware interlocks - double protection - prevent the same antenna from being
connected to both radios. This, along with AG’s ultra-high port-to-port isolation help protect your radios from front
end damage.
AG in action with SmartSDR @ W0LFA (AG Alway on top option engaged):
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4.1. Multiple control option
You have five ways to control your AG:
1. FlexRadio SmartSDR API* over your network; AG will automatically follow two different Slice band
selections (at present connected through the AG Windows app, direct connection between SSDR and
AG is planned as a future capability to SSDR & Maestro)
2. Manual band change from the AG Windows app connected via your network
3. Interface Geniustm (IG) connected to your radio(s) via a USB or serial port and connected to AG via LAN;
IG will connect to pretty much any modern radio via its serial or USB CAT port
4. BCD (Binary-Coded Decimal) signals via the DE-15 VGA-style connector
5. +12 VDC “Pin-to-Port” via the DE-15 VGA-style connector
*Application Program Interface, tec nical protocols t at enable t ird-party software programs to interact wit an
application
4.2. FlexRadio Integration
Automated antenna selection controlled by FlexRadio SmartSDR API. Elegant and powerful.
GENIUS TIP! 4O3A Genius SystemTM products are popular with FlexRadio users, so its only appropriate that
SmartSDR be on intimate terms with a Antenna Geniustm At the time this manual was being written, there
were plans to add direct Antenna Geniustm support in SmartSDR & Maestro. Presently, you can connect AG to
SSDR via the AG App.
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4.3. SO2R and multi-op with a ingle FLEX-6000
AG’s extreme port-to-port isolation is perfect for SO2R contesting with a single Flex rig With AG, you can
operate SO2R (Single Operator 2 Radio) with one radio using a single FLEX-6700 transceiver in full duplex
mode, and soon, using the forthcoming FLEX-6000-PDC Controller/BPF, with FLEX-6300 and FLEX-6500
radios. In other words, the ‘two radios’ in SO2R are both inside your single Flex rig
GENIUS TIP! All 4O3A Genius Systemtm products use standard TCP/IP protocols to communicate with each
other and with other suitably-equipped devices. The 4O3A Signature team believes in open standards in ham
radio and makes its APIs (library of commands) available freely to other manufacturers and software authors.
5. HOW IT WORKS
Antenna Genius brings together a powerful CPU, fast network interface, rugged, high power relays and a
programming/control App that runs in all supported versions of Windows. We are confident AG is the best
antenna switch you can buy.
5.1. Tech
AG is powered by a Microchip Technology PIC32 microprocessor, a 32 bit device. Why so much horsepower in
an antenna switch? Advanced technology radios demand high-horsepower accessories Also, the extra
computing power enables the addition of new features via firmware updates in the future.
AG has 100BASE-T networking built-in. Based on the Ethernet standard. but ten times faster than 10BASE-T, it
is often referred to as Fast Ethernet. Officially, the 100BASE-T standard is IEEE 802.3u. 100BASE-T devices will
also work fine on older 10BASE-T networks albeit at slower speeds.
5.2. Hardware
AG uses high quality 16 Amp relays rated at 12,800 W DC and conservatively rated for 3,000 W RF at up to 50
MHz. AG’s relays are used for RF switching and also for the hardware lockout that prevents two radios from
being connected to the same antenna (there is also a software lockout for redundant protection). The design
priority was maximum port-to-port isolation coupled with power handling ‘headroom’ - twice legal limit at high
duty cycle - to enable reliable, long term operation.
5.3. Software
The AG App runs on all Microsoft-supported versions of Windows and is an integral part of the AG system. You
will use the AG App for initial set up and programming of your AG and also for alternate antenna selection when
you have more than antenna available for a particular band. The AG App can also serve as your AG control
interface if you don’t want automatic band selection controlled by FlexRadio Slice band changes.
5.4. FlexRadio Eco y tem
In the “FLEX-6000 Signature Series Ecosystem,” the AG App collects frequency and other data directly from the
SmartSDR (SSDR) API, a software-to-software connection performed inside your PC or over your LAN at very
high speed. No RS-232 cables to set up, no “stop bits,” nor lethargic baud rates. It is a truly modern, intelligent,
and high speed solution.
AG will monitor any two SSDR Slices to determine the bands in use and use this data to select the appropriate
antenna(s) for each Slice.
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GENIUS TIP! You can use up to eight AGs on the same LAN.
6. ONLINE RESOURCES
4O3A Genius SystemTM owners have many online resources available to help them fully realize the capability of
their Antenna Geniustm, Rotator Geniustm, Station Geniustm and Interface Geniustm. At the time of writing (March
2016), Sky Sat plans on adding new AG features via firmware updates and FlexRadio Systems is planning on
adding direct AG control capability to SmartSDRTM and MaestroTM:
Documentation and oftware: current owners manuals, white papers, Apps, firmware, and changelog are
available at:
http://www.4o3a.com/index.php/support/downloads/
4O3A Geniu Device Google Group:
https :// groups . google . com / d / forum /4 o 3 a - genius - devices
FlexRadio Sy tem Community: a great resource for anything related to FLEX-6000 Signature SeriesTM,
SmartSDRTM and MaestroTM:
https :// community . flexradio . com / flexradio /
EXPERT TIP! Join the 4O3A Genius Products Google Group to stay up-to-date, network with other users, and
get helpful tips:
https :// groups . google . com / d / forum /4 o 3 a - genius - devices
7. WHAT COMES IN THE BOX?
When you unpack your AG box you should have:
•Antenna Geniu
•Other items, such as LAN, DC and coax cable , are user supplied
•Owner’ Manual (this document) and other documentation is available for free download from:
http://www.4o3a.com/index.php/support/downloads/
8. HARDWARE
EXPERT TIP! Read thi and the following Software ection carefully before changing any DIP witche
or oftware etting .
8.1. Bottom panel
Bottom panel features:
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•LAN: RJ-45 jack connects to your home/shack network (assumes you are using the network control
option as most Flex users will be)
•LEDs: green LEDs indicate which B port antenna has been selected and red LEDs indicate which A port
antenna is selected
•Two DE-15 VGA-type for users opting for BCD or +12 VDC pin-to-port control in lieu of network control,
these are left unconnected if you are using network control (most FlexRadio equipped stations won’t use
these ports)
•12VDC: connect your shack 13.8 VDC power supply here paying attention to proper polarity, anywhere
from 12 to 14 VDC with at least 300 mA will be OK
•OM module: enables connecting the 16 relay output module for station automation
•DIP Switches: The side panel has 8 DIP switches for setting the operating mode configuration.
AG can be controlled four different ways: (1) LAN, (2) BCD, (3) Pin-to-Port, and (4) 4O3A Interface
GeniusTM. The control mode is set independently for Port A (Radio A) and Port B (Radio B) by the DIP
switches. For example, Port A could be controlled over the network and Port B could be controlled by
BCD signals.
8.2. Top panel
The top panel features a connector for stacking multiple AG units. This enables switching between 16, 24 or 32
antennas.
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8.3. Where to put it?
Most users will install AG near their station bulkhead, the location where their antenna feed lines, AC mains,
DSL, cable TV, and/or other cables enter the shack and where the single point ground system nexus is located
(you do have a single point ground system, don’t you?). Locating AG at your bulkhead or other remote location
means only three cables need to be run to the station operating position, coax for the A and B radios and a
Cat5e (or higher) Ethernet cable for the LAN (if not using LAN, you will need a pair of control lines, one for Port A
and for Port B).
Here is the bulkhead-sited AG @ W0LFA prior to connection of coax lines and ground connection:
AG can also be installed at the operating position or outdoors. If the later, install AG in an outdoor NEMA-rated
enclosure and make sure it has a ‘weep hole” at the bottom to allow air circulation and to let moisture out.
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