[volt-nuts] TASS Computer-Controlled Switch System

[David Smith]

John,
Very Cool! Thank you! I plan to use your board to switch six microwave transverters to my 144 MHz IF radio. Actually I will be replacing a Multi-port Transco relay.
I'll pass along your info to VHF rover community.
73, 

Dave - W6TE

> From: john at pcsupportsolutions.com
> To: volt-nuts at febo.com
> Date: Sun, 27 Sep 2015 12:07:05 -0400
> Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] TASS Computer-Controlled Switch System
> 
> Thank you John!
> 
> John K1AE
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: volt-nuts [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of John Ackermann N8UR
> Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2015 10:20 AM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement; volt-nuts at febo.com
> Subject: [volt-nuts] TASS Computer-Controlled Switch System
> 
> Every so often, I hijack the list to do some shameless self-promotion 
> when I think it would be of interest to the 'nuts community.
> 
> I've spent the last several months developing a computer-controlled 
> relay switch system.  The impetus was failure of the old HP 59307A GPIB 
> switches in my PPS measurement system and discovery that replacement 
> relays are unobtainium.  The only similar remote switches I could find 
> cost >$1K, which seemed a bit rich.  So, I decided to roll my own.
> 
> We ended up with an 8 port switch board controlled by an Arduino.  I 
> think it will have lots of T&F applications as well as usefulness in ham 
> shacks.  Like virtually everything I do, it ended up as a TAPR kit.
> 
> There's an introductory video at https://youtu.be/P-TUM2dOi4c
> 
> The relay board kit is $119 and we have a shield for the Arduino Mega 
> 2560 that can control 4 relay boards and costs $19.  The software is 
> open source.The boards are now available from TAPR at
> http://tapr.org/kits_tass.html
> 
> (BTW, I contribute my designs to TAPR and don't have any financial 
> interest in sales.)
> 
> Special thanks to time-nuts Bob Camp and Tom Holmes for a lot of 
> engineering assistance.
> 
> Here's the TAPR product announcement:
> 
> "
> Now Available: The TASS Computer-Controlled Switch System
> 
> The TASS (Totally Awesome Switch System) is a general purpose 8 port 
> DC-150 MHz relay-based switch. The hardware is designed to be very 
> generic, with an inexpensive processor such as an Arduino providing the 
> system logic. Control is via USB, with ethernet and other interfaces 
> also available.
> 
> The TASS can be configured several ways, and multiple boards can be 
> combined to create large switching systems. The TASS has many uses, from 
> switching signal sources on a test bench or in a laboratory, to 
> selecting receive antennas and filters in a ham or SWL station.
> 
> The TASS system has two boards:
> 
> *  The TASS-R relay board, which does the mechanics of signal switching 
> and provides a very simple 10-pin interface.
> 
> *  The TASS-SHIELD board for use with an Arduino Mega 2560 
> microcontroller. The TASS-SHIELD allows up to four TASS-R boards to be 
> controlled simultaneously.
> 
> Both boards are available now from TAPR as kits.  They use through-hole 
> parts and don't require any special assembly techniques.
> 
> The final component is open source software for the Arduino that acts as 
> an interface between a host computer or other input system, and the 
> switching hardware.  The software is available for download from TAPR.
> 
> 
> An introductory video is available at
> https://youtu.be/P-TUM2dOi4c
> or from TAPR at
> http://tapr.org/~n8ur/TASS/TASS_Intro_26Sep15.mp4
> 
> Software and documentation can be downloaded from
> http://tapr.org/~n8ur/TASS.
> 
> You may order the TASS-R and TASS-SHIELD boards by visiting
> http://tapr.org/kits_tass.html
> "
> 
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