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Re: [TowerTalk] 12V through coax to switch antennas remotely

To: "N2TK, Tony" <tony.kaz@verizon.net>, towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 12V through coax to switch antennas remotely
From: Grant Saviers <grants2@pacbell.net>
Date: Tue, 3 Apr 2018 08:59:27 -0700
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
I have the same interest for a 160/80m relay switchable receive antenna feed design on RG6 and came to the following conclusions (probably better ideas out there).

The inductor should have its self resonant frequency at or above the maximum frequency to be passed on the coax. I selected a Bourns 652-RLB0608 180uH with 235ma current rating and corresponding low R and spec 4MHz SRF on a ferrite bobbin. I've seen what appear to be 100uH Miller solenoid wound chokes in commercial designs but have never measured their SRF.

The capacitors should have a SRF well above the max frequency. I chose 0.1uF Kemet 1210 SMD size 500v rated chip caps for the LC block and the C pass . The 500v rating is for a big lightning/static/crosstalk safety factor. (I can show you some leaded 0.1uf HV ceramics with a measured SRF below 2MHz, I gotta wonder how one can make them so bad). SMD multi-layer chip caps are really superior to any leaded ceramic.

Elsie showed the DC block yields a 2k or so impedance across RG6 on 160m and twice that on 80m, so a few percent loss of signal which for a receive antenna is negligible.

Everything in stock at Mouser, not yet delivered.

Grant KZ1W

On 4/3/2018 6:32 AM, N2TK, Tony wrote:
Have a question about the values of the choke to keep RF from the relay and
the caps for coupling of the signal. In different products I see quite a bit
of different values of both components.

For the coupling caps I see values from .01-.2uf. It would seem increasing
the value of the cap reduces the Xc. And for the choke I see values of
100uh-2.5mh. And it seems increasing the value of the choke also increases
Xl.

My application is for 160M and 80M only with receive antennas.

My question - does it really make a difference over the values listed above?
Do all the values offer enough Xc or Xl to not cause any problems?  Is there
really a recommended "good" value for the caps and coils? Even 100uh offers
1K ohms at 1.8MHZ and .1uf is .8 ohms.

Still learning.

Tnx

N2TK, Tony

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