It’s the middle of a contest. You switch bands from 20 to 15 meters, your hand reaches for the controller, the switch clicks – and a moment later you realize you’re transmitting into the wrong antenna, because in the heat of the moment you fumbled the position. Sound familiar? That exact moment – a split second of inattention that costs you a QSO or, worse, a fried relay – is why we built HamCore: a fully automatic, remotely controlled antenna switching system, integrated with FlexRadio, N1MM+, and DXLog, and on top of that controlled straight from your web browser.
Before HamCore — a short history of antenna automation
The path to a fully automated station usually looks similar. First there’s a plain manual antenna switch – you flip it by hand, watching an LED. Then comes a rotary controller, which at least lets you do that from one spot. The next step is full automation – for us, that’s represented by MOAS II, a modular system we built on Paul K1XM’s original design, integrating with logging software and managing the entire station, filters and amplifiers included.
MOAS II is powerful, but it needs a Windows PC running a server and a properly configured JSON logic file. It’s the right tool for large, elaborate Multi-Multi stations. HamCore started from a different question: what if automation could live entirely inside one self-contained device – no separate computer, no software to install, accessible from any browser? That’s how HamCore came to be – not a replacement for MOAS II, but an answer for smaller and mid-sized stations, where ease of setup is what matters most.
The end of the separate controller
A standard antenna switch is always two devices: the switch itself, plus a separate controller connected by cable. That’s an extra point of failure, extra cable runs, and one more thing to configure. HamCore breaks that pattern – all the automation logic is already built into the device. Connect power, join your network, and you’re done. No controller, no extra wiring, no software to install on a hard drive.
Three ways to connect – pick what suits you
Every station is different, so HamCore doesn’t force a single way of connecting. You get three networking modes to choose from, depending on where and how you operate:
- Ethernet: the most stable connection – just plug a cable into your router. The recommended choice for a permanent home installation.
- WiFi: HamCore joins your home network wirelessly, with no extra cabling at all – convenient when the router is nowhere near the operating position.
- Access Point: the device creates its own WiFi network that you connect to directly – ideal for field operation, Field Day, or a DXpedition, with no existing infrastructure required.
That is a real difference on DXpeditions or Field Day trips – no separate controller to pack, no tangle of control cables. Everything runs wirelessly, so your luggage carries less gear and you have one less thing to worry about when every kilogram counts.
Control it from whatever you have on hand
Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, Linux – HamCore doesn’t require installing any dedicated app. A regular web browser on a computer, tablet, or smartphone is all you need. That matters in practice: if your logging computer crashes mid-contest, you don’t lose control of your antennas – a teammate’s phone is enough to keep the station running. Connect to your network and control your antennas from whatever device happens to be within reach.
In fact, you really only need the browser once – to set things up. Once your antennas and radio integration are configured, switching happens completely automatically in the background – you don’t need to have the browser open at all during normal operation. You only open it again when you want to change something.
HamCore vs. MOAS II — which one do you need?
Both systems come from the same philosophy at SO9I Engineering – equipment safety and operator convenience – but they answer different needs:
- HamCore is the right fit when you want fast, self-contained automation for one or two stations – no server PC, no JSON configuration, managed entirely from a browser.
- MOAS II is the choice for very elaborate stations, where alongside antennas you also need to manage filters, amplifiers, and complex shared-resource logic across several radios at once, involving many different types of switches.
Plenty of stations end up running both over time – HamCore for fast switching at a single operating position, MOAS II to manage the station’s entire infrastructure.
Full automation with FlexRadio, N1MM+ and DXLog
Real automation requires integration. HamCore communicates wirelessly with FlexRadio and with logging software (N1MM+, DXLog.net) to continuously read the operating frequency. This means changing bands on the radio automatically switches the antenna assigned to that range – with zero operator intervention. You don’t have to remember, think, or react – the system handles it for you, faster than a blink.
To be clear – automation is optional, not mandatory. You can switch to manual control at any time: click your antenna of choice from the six buttons on screen, or pick a band from a list and let HamCore suggest the antennas available for it. You can change modes on the fly, with no reconfiguration needed – independently for each radio.
Protection against “hot switching”
Equipment safety is a priority. Switching an antenna while the transmitter is active – so-called hot switching – is one of the most common causes of relay damage in cheaper, less thought-out solutions. Repairing a burnt relay in the middle of a contest means lost time, and sometimes a lost result for the entire event. HamCore reads the PTT signal wirelessly from FlexRadio, or via an RCA jack from any other transceiver – an essential safeguard that prevents this scenario before it ever happens.
Separate TX and RX antennas
Every antenna can get its own name and be assigned to specific bands – receiving antennas included. HamCore lets you independently assign a TX antenna and an RX antenna: receiving works independently from the transmit side, and every PTT activation automatically switches to the antenna chosen for transmitting. In practice, that means you can listen on a dedicated receiving antenna (a Beverage or a Hi-Z 4Square, for example), pulling weak signals out of the noise, and the moment you key up, the system switches you to the transmit antenna on its own – no manual switching, no lost split second.
Two versions: 6×1 and 6×2
- HamCore 6×1: automatic switching across 6 antennas from a single transceiver. Ideal for a compact, tidy station.
- HamCore 6×2: for two transceivers working at the same time – built for SO2R and Multi-Operator. Each station gets its own protection against the other radio accidentally taking over an antenna. It’s also a great solution if you’ve got two radios and you’re lazy (or maybe just smart) and don’t want to swap cables by hand.
Proven at WRTC 2026
The World Radiosport Team Championship is the most demanding amateur radio competition on the planet – teams from around the world compete on identical equipment, under identical conditions, where every second counts and every piece of gear that fails shows up mercilessly in the score. HamCore 6×2 was on the air right there, at WRTC 2026. This isn’t a product tested only in a lab – it’s gear that had to hold up under the pressure of real, top-tier competition, where there’s no second chance.
Have questions about how HamCore fits your station?
Contact us – we’re happy to help you pick the right configuration!
