[WT-support] New "Serial Box" provides four serial port keying circuits to Win-Test

[Bob Wilson, N6TV]

I've recently developed a new product for Win-Test (and other loggers) that
I call "The Serial Box" (S-BOX), a simple serial port "splitter" that also
provides four (4) serial port keying circuits, compatible with both
Win-Test and MMTTY.  The new "USB" model also includes an internal FTDI
USB-to-Serial adapter.

Win-Test sends great CW over a serial port, even over a USB cable.  No
WinKey required.

For photos, details, and ordering information, please see:

https://bit.ly/S-BOX


The S-BOX has many possible uses and configurations, from CW keying to
remotely powering up your transceiver and amplifier, and it can easily be
rewired "in the field" when your hardware changes.  No soldering required.

First, the S-BOX makes it easy to connect the "CAT" or "XCVR" port of an
automatic ACOM, SPE, or Elecraft amplifier to your transceiver so that it
can automatically track the transceiver's frequency and change bands and
tuning settings when needed, for any transceiver that your amplifier
supports.  No custom "Y" cables are required to connect Win-Test and these
amplifiers to your transceiver at the same time.

Second, you may also add additional devices, such as a SteppIR antenna
controller, or an RFSpace SDR-IQ, which supports a waterfall display with
automatic transceiver tracking.  A PC and up to three other devices may all
be connected to you transceiver's serial port at the same time through The
Serial Box.  The PC does the "talking" (polling), and the other devices
just "listen" to the radio's response.  The "AUTO INF" setting of the
transceiver will also work.

Finally, the S-BOX makes it possible to do SO2R CW or RTTY without
requiring a separate SO2R box.  All you need for SO2R are some serial ports
and a headphone switch.

Even if you don't operate SO2R, the S-BOX provides many convenient
features, such as optionally keying CW and PTT over the same serial port
being used for rig control, even if your transceiver doesn't support this
feature.

In Win-Test, you can use the Interfaces Configuration dialog to program the
COM port pins, setting DTR=CW, RTS=PTT, "Active With"=Radio 1 or Radio 2,
and Win-Test will automatically take care of the rest.

Two instances of MMTTY may also be used with the S-BOX, since it provides
dual FSK keying circuits.  In MMTTY, one usually selects TXD=FSK, RTS=PTT.

The detailed schematic showing the jumper wire positions to configure The
Serial Box for SO2R CW and FSK keying is documented on the "Features and
Wiring Diagrams" page, here
<https://www.kkn.net/~n6tv/S-BOX/Features.html#SO2RCW>. Scroll down to see
the block diagram.

I will wire and label every S-BOX before shipment to any configuration that
you want, based on your hardware and requirements.

I think Win-Test users will find it useful in the shack, or on a
DXpedition, as an alternate keying system if nothing else, and I hope you
will agree.

Please send any questions or comments about the S-BOX directly to me, not
to this reflector.

Thank you!

73,
Bob, N6TV
p.s.  I also make "The Y-BOX," which was designed as a 4-way Elecraft
ACC/AUX port splitter and breakout box, but It may also be used with any
devices that has a 15-pin D-SUB connector.  See https://bit.ly/Y-BOX .
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