Antenna Switch for Multiple Sources

[Anonymous]

I get tired of moving my antenna coax between my base station and my SDR dongle. Is it practical to use an antenna switch to connect my HF antenna to my base station and SDR dongle and a second antenna switch to connect my VHF/UHF antenna to my base station and SDR dongle?

73, Duane  KD9LIL

[Burns FISHER]

Sure.  Of course each switch will have a certain amount of insertion loss, but it works for me at 2M and 70cm.  I have a whole slew of coax relays that switch things all over the place (and I used switches before I got the relays set up).  There are certainly 2 in a row in at least one place.

[Jwahar Bammi]

Better yet buy a matrix switch for example a MFJ 1700c, you get two switches, to switch any of 6 Antennas to any of 6 Radios, plus a spot to hook in your SWR/Wattmeter. Or you can go for 2 ubiquitous  Alpha Delta Switches for more money and a marginally better switch.

 

Another advantage of a switch solution is that when you switch away from a selected position, that position gets grounded, so you get protection from transmitting power from other positions.

The insertion loss is negligible up to 300 mHz or so.

73 de k1jbd

bammi

[Dave Mackey]

Be careful when using a switch arrangement which has two radios sourcing one or more antennas. The isolation rating of the switch is very important in such cases because RF during transmit on one radio is physically very close to the receive input of another radio. Depending on power levels the receive front end could be overloaded and burn out. Check the isolation specifications of the switch and highest power output you are planning.

 

73 Dave K1KA

[Anonymous]

Thanks all for the excellent suggestions.

73, Duane

[Author]

Posts