MBD-8G Automatic Antenna & Rtotator Switch Controller

Description

Description:

MBD-8G is an intelligent controller compatible with all eight-antenna switches manufactured by Hamplus. It has a band decoder to receive the information coming from the connected radio equipment. In addition to antenna switching, the MBD-8G also offers seven frequency-driven GPOs (General Purpouse Output), one Band Data BCD Output, one output to command Band Pass Filter, 12 GPOs to automate the operation with TopBeam’ s Waller Flag receiving antenna. The MBD-8G also commands the RS-24 and RS-44 Rotator switches.

There are four ways that antennas and enabled rotators can be selected:
1) Manually by the front panel of the MBD-8G,
2) Manually by frequency or band change on the front panel of the transceiver,
3) Automatically by frequency or band change by the remotely controlled transceiver,
4) Automatically by a remotely controlled personal computer via RS-232 serial port to the MBD-8G.

Front Panel:

On the front panel is a set of eight illuminated push buttons for manual selection of antennas, eight “Busy” LEDs to indicate which antennas are in use by other MBD-8G Controllers, four LEDs to indicate rotator selection, one LED to indicate when the radio is transmitting, one LED to indicate the controller is in Split Antenna mode and one LED to indicate when the MBD-8G is connected to +13.8 Vdc power.

 

The MBD-8G receives from the transceiver the power supply (13.8VDC), the Send line and the information about the band in use. The controller recognizes the following Radios:
1- CI-V (Icom)
2- BCD (Yaesu and Elecraft)
3- RS-232 (Kenwood, Icom and Elecraft)

Antenna Split:
With the MBD-8G it is possible to operate with one antenna for the transmission and another one for reception. The commutation of the antennas is automatically made when the MBD-8G receved the “Send” information from the transceiver.

Auto Split:
The split is automaticly engaged when you select an antenna set up for recieving only, not allowing it from transmission.

Memory:
The memorization is automatic, just press a push button of the desired antenna. Any one of the eight antennas can be used in any or all the bands. Whenever the radio will power ON or change the band, the last antenna chosen for that band will be set automatically.

Frequency Driven GPO:
The MBD-8G provides seven tuning points for automatically controlling shortened antennas with high Q coils. The tuning points are easily found by the operator using the radio and push buttons

Band Data Output:
The MBD-8G receives the radio information by CI-V (Icom), or by RS-232, or by BCD and provides a BCD output for use in external equipment.

Command output for the RS-24 and RS-44 Rotator Switch:
The MBD-8G has the command output to the rotator switch RS-24 or RS-44. On the front pannel there are four LED´s to indicate the rotor in use at the moment. The programming to associate the rotator to each antenna is one easy job made by the user in a couple of minutes. This configuration is saved in a not volatile memory.

Wiring diagram exemples:

MBD-8G is expandable from 8 to 16 antennas or more.

Band Pass Filter commands output:
The MBD-8G only needs one cable to automatically control most Band Pass Filters on the market.

 

Waller Flag Receiving antennas:
The MBD-8G provides automation for the TopBeam Waller Flag ( https://top-beam.com/ ) receiving antennas with automatic filter exchange and the addition of an auxiliary keyboard to control the internal four-input Switch.

Remote operation:

Printed from the screen of ROS-8, the MBD-8G remote control software for PC

 

Downloads:

Operation Manual

MBD-8 PC Remote Controller v.1.21