Top Ten Devices, Inc. logo

Automatic Band Decoders

for Icom and Yaesu Radios

As Well As the Elecraft K3

Announcements:

March 13, 2008 - The Band Decoder for Yaesu works perfectly with the Elecraft K3.  Top Ten Devices now can provide an interface cable to connect a K3 to a TTD Band Decoder for Yaesu.  See our order form.

August 1, 2007 - The following products are discontinued:

    1. Decoder for the Orion
    2. Modification kit to convert a BD-Yaesu to a BD-Orion
    3. Non-Source Driven models of decoders for Icom and Yaesu

Automatic Band Decoders are available for ICOM and Yaesu radios (for Kenwood, see below).  These decoders attach to the radio and decode the band information from the rig, allowing for automatic selection of antennas, amplifiers, bandpass filters, and any other band-specific device. The "sink (switch to ground) output" of the Band Decoder can accept up to 500 mA of relay current, and is directly compatible with the Top Ten Devices Six Way Relay Box and A/B Station Selector products described elsewhere on this web site.

Picture of Automatic Band Decoder

Kenwood owners are not left out in the cold. Although Kenwood has not seen the need to provide band data directly on the radio as have ICOM and Yaesu, several popular logging programs, such as N1MM Logger, provide a solution. These programs provide the radio's band data on the computer's LPT port in a format which emulates a Yaesu radio. All you need to do is to connect the input of a Yaesu Band Decoder to the computer's LPT port and you are in business.

Top Ten Band Decoder sink outputs are designed to provide a ground to relays that are connected to a DC power source. The voltage may be anything up to 50 volts. More than one relay may be actuated by each output and different sources may be used for the relays. For example: bandpass filters using 12 volt relays may be actuated from the same output that is actuating a 28 volt antenna relay.

If you want to automate the operation of an existing Ameritron, DXEngineering, Array Solutions SixPak, or similar remote relay which needs a source of 12 Vdc for activation (as compared to the 'switch to ground' output), you attach to the Source Driven outputs. These outputs are in addition to the sink outputs, and can be used simultaneously. Starting in 2007, the band decoders are shipped with an improved version of the Source Driver circuitry.  This new circuit provides the following advantages/features:

If you are interested in upgrading an older, non-Source Driven model, please inquire to n3rd@arrl.net .

The decoders are easily programmed for your specific antenna farm by installing diodes on a removable programming header. Automatic bandpass filters, such as the Dunestar Model 600, can be easily switched along with the antenna relays.

Interconnecting Cables for Automatic Band Decoders

Top Ten can provide the following cables:

If you are using a Kenwood transceiver with a Yaesu band decoder attached to your computer's LPT (printer port), we recommend that a standard DB25M-DB25M, full 25-wire cable be used to connect the LPT port to the Band Decoder. This cable is very cost effectively acquired at your local computer store.

Automatic Band Decoder and Cable Pricing




 Band Decoders with Source Driver:

BD-I-SD (Icom radios) or BD-Y-SD (Yaesu radios).......$155 + s/h


Package Prices (Decoder Plus Relay Box):
         


BD-I-SD or BD-Y-SD + Six Way Relay Box................$266 + s/h


Cables to Connect Decoder to Radio:

Band Decoder to Icom, Yaesu or Elecraft K3 Radio.......$25 + s/h
        
Click here 
 to order!

Automatic Band Decoder Six Way Antenna Relay A/B Station Selector 
Band Reject Coaxial Stubs
Application Notes About Top Ten Devices
Order Products Home Page Send E-Mail to Top Ten Devices Ham Heaven
©2008, Top Ten Devices, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Hosted by QTH.COM