tuner

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README

tuner

wireless remote control for different antenna tuners

Yaesu FC-1000 / FC-800 started with buying a Yaesu Automatic Antenna Tuner FC-1000 w/o control unit. I started with removing the existing controller and thought about to do a replacement with an atmega328p in combination with 3 HC595 shift register. Interface to a laptop pc via uart. I had this setup running (328p firmware in C). But after working with NRF24L01 modules I decided to do the interface wireless. 328p is no longer required but the 595 board can be used.The 3 HC595 are connected via wires and DSUB9 connector to an externel arduino with NRF24L01 module. I wrote a python script with slider and radio buttons. Best band settings were programmed to radio buttons of the script. Later I found out, that my FT-840 has a controller included and I only need to have a cable... But the new setup is more flexible and can be used with any transceiver.

LDG AT-1000 (2003) is a asymmetric low-pass 1kW antenna tuner with manual control. Automatic does not really work well and the tuner had some issues with internal EMC. But in general it has good L and C components an uses an Allegro UCN5832 to control the 15 relays. Allegro UCN5832 has an 3-wire interface similar to SPI (data, clock, strobe). Some housings have a hole for D-SUB9 connector, but I have not found an controller option. I have have removed the connection between MC68HC11 and UCN5832 (chokes L11, L12 and L13) and connected UCN5832 with wires to a DSUB9 connector (data, clock, strobe, gnd, 12V).

Christian Koppler (DL3LAC) is a symmetric antenna coupler. The main unit contains only L, C and relays and will be controlled with a control unit via a 25-wire cable (16 pins for relays, 7 pins for 12V, 2 pins spare). I have created an interface board with TI TPIC6B595 driver 2s (2p for inductor relays) and 5V Supply. A arduino uno with NRF24L01 will be connected to this interface for receiving control data from the NRF24L01 transmitter.

The NRF24L01 transmitter will be the same for all 3 antenna tuners. NRF24L01 receiver hardware is equal for Yaesu and Christian Koppler. LDG needs a Strobe signal from pin 3 of the arduino. It is not required to build up 3 receiver but a dedicated receiver for each tuner helps to keep the overview. Each receiver requires a separate arduino firmware.

Software is written very straight forward (no error correction / udp style). GUI does not show the real state after start (only after pushing the button). After start you have to press the "AllOff" button to set everything to zero/off.Terminal shows the output sequence.

Additional interface hardware is required for Yaesu and Christian Koppler. The schematics for the Yaesu tuner has an wrong order for the relays connected to pin 12 to 19 (RL11,10,9,8,7,6,5,1_2 would be better). Later I have fixed that mistake with jumper wires. In between I have used a python script with LUT to do the correction but correction in hardware makes programming easier. U1 of the Christian Koppler interface needs a 2nd TPIC6B595 on top (all pins connected except pin18 (nc)) because current output of a single chip is too weak for driving 4 relays in parallel. The board of the LDG Tuner has already the Allegro UCN5832 shift-register which can directly connected to the external arduino. Please check wiring.txt file for connections (is more recent than the existing schematics).