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The SAC X is a new and very unique product, dedicated to making the
automation of your station as simple as possible. Once you have integrated the SAC X in your shack, you will be surprised how tidy your wiring is, and how easy complex switching of all antennas at your QTH, including reception only antennas, can be.
The SAC X is a system which automates antenna usage based upon band
usage. It controls antenna matrixes, band pass filters and notch filters
switchers, and other peripherals in your shack.
If you have more than one radio, and would like to have full control of
antennas from each rig, then you need SAC X. The SAC X can operate in your network and has a FOLLOW ME philosophy in its design. Your SMART Antenna Controllers (SAC X) communicate via the network in your shack allowing complete antenna switching control from each operating position
while preventing the kinds of errors which will ruin your radios and your day. Any configuration - SO2R, MS, M2 or even Multi Multi is
quickly possible without chaotic rewiring of your station.
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 The SAC X connects to your radio, all antenna and filter switchers, and
various other peripherals. The SAC X tracks which band your radio is on
and brings up a highly configurable menu on a band by band basis. In
other words, you will not be offered your 2m Yagi when you go to the 160m band. You also have complete control and freedom to choose which antenna(s) you want to transmitt on and which antenna(s) you want to listen on, e.g. transmitt on your 80m vertical and then listen on your dipole and a beverage.
 At the same time, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, the SAC X will not allow simultaneous transmission and reception on the same antenna. After many hours of contest operation, tired people do stupid things. The SAC X helps prevent equipment fatalities.
The basic box allows for three antennas for TX/RX plus 3 RX only antennas per band. And if this is not enough, then we can provide button boxes allowing for almost any number of antennas.
The menu and status information is displayed on a large easy to read
display.
BAND DECODER built in
The band decoder in SAC X can be connected to YAESU, ICOM or KENWOOD radios. For other transceivers from other manufacturers, please get in touch with us.
The SAC X uses BDC data from YAESU and Kenwood transceivers and with ICOM radios the CI-V signal is used. The band decoder also has two relays per band, which can switch a positive or a negative voltage as
needed. The voltage for each relay can be configured using jumpers on the PCB. With the band decoder you can control your WX0B Six Pack, Micro Ham switches, etc. and switch band pass filters, notch stubs or anything else you need in your specific station layout.
The basic SAC X reception antenna control is connected to the switcher via a DB9 connector. The RX control bus offers following open collector outputs: 3 outputs for the antennas, and a fourth output for controlling RX ANT ON/OFF. The RX ANT ON/OFF switches automatically, e.g. when you choose any of the main antennas for receiving.
For very complex stations extention boards are avaidable. Just drop us a line with your requirements.
A perfect solution for all SO, SO2R, MS, M2 and MM stations
PROGRAMMING
General
 The heart of SAC X are the 18 programmable outputs for switching to the correct antennas based on the bands currently in use.
The programming of the SAC X requires a Windows PC with USB ports.
The first step is installation of the USB drivers and easy to use configuration software. The drivers and software can be downloaded HERE.
Once the software has been installed, you can configure SAC X and define which output will be enabled for each antenna and the names of antennas for each band.
With the basic version of the SAC X you may define up to three antennas for each band. Up to three reception only antennas may also be defined. This allows control of more than 20 antenna systems.
If you configure less than 3 antennas on some bands, only the corresponding buttons on the front panel will be active when SAC X is switched to that band. Also the display only offers you the antennas for
the current band. For example, on 160m band you set up a GP and two beverages, only the GP and two RX antennas will be visible on the display when you operate on 160m.
Storing data
Once you complete configuration for your station you have to store it in SAC X.
1. First have to reset SAC X by pushing together buttons TX3 & BEV3
2. After reset push and hold 3 second button TX1. On display will appear - 'Wait PC'
3. Click with mouse on Send To Controller button on user menu.
4. On display you will have messages about number of received, and after about number of send information's. When dialog finish, SAC X is ready for using.
5. In few seconds data will be stored in SAC X and you can use it.
You can change settings any time - changing names, adding or removing antennas etc.
NETWORKING
If you have two or more radios in your shack, you need a SAC X unit for each radio. They connect to your LAN with standard ethernet cables. In the network one SAC X is MASTER and the others have to be configured as SLAVE1, SLAVE 2, and SLAVE3. Apart from this the units have identical
configurations. A maximum of four SAC X can operate in network.
When you have them in network, on each SAC X you can monitor which bands are being used by others in the network. Each busy band is marked with an arrow on the left side of the display.
INHIBIT
If an operator switches to a band, already used by an other operator, the OP's SAC X will go into INHIBIT mode, the PTT is disabled, transmitting is prohibited, the INHIBIT LED will blink and INHIBIT is shown on the LCD display
DUAL AMPLIFIER FUNCTION
The SAC X can control two amplifiers, i.e. at the push of a button, you can run two amplifiers on two different antenna systems, e.g. one pointing towards North America and the second pointing towards eastern Asia, and each with its own PA. This requires special 3WAY Dual Amp switchers. These switchers will be available soon.
EXTERNAL KEYBOARD
For more flexibility, for very complex stations or for better ergonomics, you can use an external button boxes and extention boards.
The SAC KB button box has a flexible cable allowing optimum placement of the switching control according to your wishes.
PTT Sequencer built in
PTT signal from transceiver is connected to SAC X. From SAC X you can use four PTT outputs. Two of them have no delay, and other two have maximum delay of 100mS. It can be adjusted with a potimeter on the rear side of SAC X.
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