Remote Rig
RRC 1258 Support in English => General discussion forum => Topic started by: ag7c - Pete on 2014-11-23, 17:24:50
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I just received my new AS-1289 Ant Switch.
Seems to work FB. Very nice addition to the remote shack.
2 issues were noted, however:
1. With no antennas connected, only the transceiver connected on COM and the AS-1289 powered up, a lot of RF hash noise is conducted on the COM coax to the transceiver. By making sure the AS-1289 logic board is grounded to the case, the noise on RX is gone and all TX tests good with under 100 watts TX on different antennas and also a dummy load.
2. There is a trace on the top of the logic board which is is much too close to the underside of a mounting screw head. Could be a problem if the soldermask gets scraped away and the mounting screw head contacts the pcb trace.
73
Pete
AG7C
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Pete, I've got the same kind of receiver noise after installing the AS 1289. Where did you make the ground connection?
/ Göstha
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I removed all cables and power from the AS-1289. I removed the case top.
I removed the 2 mounting screws for the logic board. Turning the board over, I carefully scraped away the soldermask on the copper ground plane in a ring around each of the 2 mounting screw holes. Just enough to mate with the metal standoffs. I tinned the bare copper. Then I remounted the logic board with the 2 mounting screws.
Pete
AG7C
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Thanks Pete! I'll copy your solution and report the result. My remote QTH is 50 km away, so the work will have to wait until my next visit there.
/ Göstha
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Hi
I tested to do the same modification and I could also register an improvement when it's done, so we will make the change manually from now on, and change the PCB from next batch, TU
73 de mike
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Thanks for the update Mike. As I mentioned, the AS-1289 is certainly a nice addition to the Radio site here.
Sure would like to have a one and only one antenna selection mode, though. :)
Pete
AG7C
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Sorry Mike,
I meant the ability to select whether I would have one and only antenna selected or not on the Set Antennas page.
Pete
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Hi, You mean that you want to be able to select more than one antenna at the time ?
/mike
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Hi Mike,
Yes. I was thinking of receive only situations with multiple antennas or for certain test setups here.
But then I realized everything is working FB as is and the idea may not be that important to anyone else.
Please forget I mentioned it.
Pete
AG7C
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Now I've made the modification you suggested, Pete. What a difference it made! All hash noise disappeared.
Thanks a lot and 73,
/ Göstha
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Thanks for the update Göstha.
Great to hear that you had good results.
73
Pete
AG7C
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Have you any picture¿¿¿???
I removed all cables and power from the AS-1289. I removed the case top.
I removed the 2 mounting screws for the logic board. Turning the board over, I carefully scraped away the soldermask on the copper ground plane in a ring around each of the 2 mounting screw holes. Just enough to mate with the metal standoffs. I tinned the bare copper. Then I remounted the logic board with the 2 mounting screws.
Pete
AG7C
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Here is some more info about improvements of the AS-1289
http://www.remoterig.com/wp/?page_id=2706 (http://www.remoterig.com/wp/?page_id=2706)
73 de mike
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Hi folks at RemoteRig,
Thanks for continuing to make the AS-1289 a better unit. I also noticed relay chatter on 6mtr SSB at 100 watts. Similar to your Ver1.3 fix, I installed 0.01uF 50V ceramic caps on each relay control line and 0.1 uF 50V ceramic cap on the +12V line to the relay board. No more relay chatter noticed The AS-1289 continues to do an excellent job for my remote station. Bypassing and shielding are most important, especially in an antenna switch box. Values for the bypass caps allows a little bit of leeway but soldering certainly requires a steady hand and a magnifying lens (for most of us anymore).
Pete
AG7C
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Thanks for your feedback! 8)