The CX-AUTO offers the following features:
- Strong RF shielded enclosure
- .090″ aluminum, anodized and powder-coated chassis and cover/mounting bracket
- Low loss (< 0.1dB) and excellent isolation (>60 dB)
- Un-selected ports are shorted to ground
- Low power operation (10-15VDC, 30mA, no output selected, 120mA w/one output selected)
- Uses common, readily available, non-proprietary cables and connectors.
Any one of 256 output combinations are possible.
The CX-AUTO was designed to satisfy the many requests from AT-AUTO owners for additional coaxial outputs. It does that quite well and more! The CX-AUTO is a QRO-capable RF coaxial antenna switch that integrates seamlessly and automatically with the AT-AUTO and expands the AT-AUTO’s singular coaxial output to 8 coaxial outputs.
The CX-AUTO operates from 160-6M and will conservatively handle 1500 W CW key-down. Competitors offer multi-port, remotely controlled antenna switches but none of them are capable of automatic integration with the AT-AUTO. Once the CX-AUTO is connected to the AT-AUTO, the user’s choice of any one-of-eight coaxial outputs may be automatically selected whenever the user changes bands – all done autonomously – without need for operator intervention.
The AT-AUTO / CX-AUTO combination provides the user with a fully-autonomous antenna selection capability regardless of the make/model of radio used with the AT-AUTO (requires AT-AUTO firmware version 2.13 or later). Automatic antenna selection works with Icom radios by utilizing the radio’s CI-V frequency data, and with non CI-V capable radios by counting the transmitted RF frequency.
With AT-AUTO firmware version 2.14 and later, the CX-AUTO may also be used to switch between multiple radios — permitting the AT-AUTO to work with up to 8 different radios, selected via the AT-AUTO’s front panel controls. Using two CX-AUTOs, one for radio selection and one for antenna selection, provides a true 8×8 matrix capability — any 1-of-8 radios operating into any 1-of-8 antennas, all utilizing the same AT-AUTO. Convenient & cost effective!
Not limited to just the AT-AUTO, although the CX-AUTO was originally intended as a companion product to the AT-AUTO to automatically select from one-of-eight antennas, the CX-AUTO’s firmware and flexible switching scheme enable it to simultaneously select multiple output combinations as would be needed to switch antenna arrays or antenna phasing networks – all without needing to change jumpers or wire settings. Merely by sending it simple serial data commands, you may select any of the possible 256 combinations of the eight coaxial outputs. As an added advantage, un-selected coaxial outputs are shunted to ground.
The CX-AUTO uses the simple but effective and robust CI-V protocol implemented by Icom and is fully compatible with any device using the CI-V system & protocol. For rigorous deployments, the CX-AUTO may also be controlled via its RS-422 port for distances up to 3600′ from the shack and uses standard networking CAT5 cables and connectors. Nothing to disassemble or solder, and nothing complicated, proprietary, or expensive.
The CX-AUTO employs user-selectable addresses permitting multiple CX-AUTOs to be deployed on the same CI-V/RS-422 bus, eliminating extra control cable runs – something else that the competition can’t do.
The CX-AUTO is normally powered via the front panel from the 12 volt “wall-wart” provided or from any convenient 10-15 volt power supply. However, for convenience and flexibility, the CX-AUTO may also be configured to receive DC power via the RF coaxial cable.
Price: TBD