W4RT Antenna BOSS II
- Overview -

 

The W4RT Electronics Antenna BOSS II interfaces directly with ICOM IC-706 series of radios for automatic tuning of motorized antennas from Hi-Q Antennas, High Sierra Antennas (with Blackhawk motors), and Tarheel Antennas, and others that draw less than 750 mA while running. The tuning is activated by pressing the IC-706 Tune button.

In addition, the BOSS II can be interfaced with many other radios from ICOM, Yaesu, and Kenwood. The BOSS II provides coverage capability from 6-160 m, even for Yaesu radios. Interfacing with non-ICOM radios will require the use of an appropriate One-Touch Tune module (LDG or W4RT) and appropriate cabling. The LDG Y-OTT must be modified by W4RT to convert it into an YB-OTT. The YB-OTT is sold by W4RT and for those already owning the LDG Y-OTT, W4RT can mod those for a modest fee.

The BOSS II is an intelligent antenna controller, not an antenna tuner in the classical sense. When activated, the BOSS II measures the frequency of the transmitted carrier, measures the SWR, and then adjusts the antenna-coil position to minimize the system SWR. The BOSS II does not have the capability to adjust match between the radio and the antenna other than by moving the antenna coil.

In order to have a successful installation of your radio system in your vehicle or fixed location, you must assure, as appropriate, that the antenna is correctly installed, the RF ground is adequate, RFI from the motor running while tuning is suppressed, electrical ground is proper, any common-mode current on coax is mitigated, ignition-noise generated RFI is suppressed, and so on. Generally speaking, it is significantly more challenging to accomplish a good mobile installation than it is to get a typical installation at your home shack to work well. In short, if you can not manually tune the motorized antenna and validate that the achievable SWR is definitely LESS THAN the maximum operating SWR value for your radio (typically 2:1 or 1.5:1) over all of the bands on which you intend to operate, then do NOT expect your installation to work correctly. When the SWR is greater than the manufacturer's stated limitation, the radio will foldback (reduce) the RF otuput power to protect the radio. Trying to achieve an SWR below 1.5:1 is often not a productive expenditure of your effort. Remember that an SWR of 1.5:1 is a power loss of less than 1/4 dB! You also have to be aware of false resonances (strong dips in the SWR at other than your desired frequency) with your installation and resolve them for obvious reasons. It is your responsibility to identify the causes and resolve them. The Antenna BOSS II instruction will include a section of mobile installation "help" and suggested reading material. Your antenna manufacturer is also a good source of installation guidance and problem resolution. As mentioned above, if you do not have the antenna installed such that it can achieve an appropriately low SWR at resonance by coil movement, then do not expect the BOSS II to work properly.

SPECIFICATIONS:

    · Operating Bands: 6-160 m (operation restricted in spectrum only by limitations of transmitter).

    · Pressing the Tune button on the ICOM IC-706 radios activates Antenna BOSS II.

    · Antenna motor should draw 700 mA or less when running.

    · Measures and stores tuning frequency so that motor moves in proper direction to minimize tuning time.

    · Tuning based upon locating an SWR minimum of less than about 2:1.

    · Dynamic motor braking is utilized (means to rapidly stop the motor).

    · Detects motor beginning to stall when it reaches end of travel and automatically reverses motor direction. Stall current detection value is user set (dip switches) for specific antenna.

    · During initialization or during any tune request, if motor reaches end of travel without locating the tune condition, the motor will reverse and search for the tune condition again. Should it reach the other end of travel without locating the tune condition, the motor is reversed and halted. Also includes a 90-second timeout monitor as an additional motor/antenna safety feature.

    · A proprietary search algorithm is used to locate the tune condition. It is a robust algorithm that examines the tuned resonance region and makes an intelligent determination of how to control the motor to achieve the desired tune condition.

    · Power for the Antenna BOSS II is provided by the radio and the BOSS II powers the antenna motor (which is the case for most radios anyway).

    · Compact package, same size as the Antenna BOSS.