> Part of my idea is to run coax out to the center of the field, and
> then use an Ameritron RCS-4 remote switch as the center hub.
The newer version of the RCS-4 should be better at switching receive-
only signals. It now uses fully sealed relays which are more immune
to contact contamination.
The older open-frame relays were OK if you transmitted through them
on occasion, but probably are not a good idea in receive only
application. The new boxes have the connectors in a rectangular
layout, rather than in a line.
Just be sure you have good clean dry coaxial cable connections
between the controller and the switch. 99% of the problems are from
poor or wet cable connections to the box.
> I am also considering putting one 9:1 xmfr inside the RCS-4 and
> then just running the each Beverage wire into each of the four
> antenna jacks ... thoughts on this ? (4 wires, 4 directions, etc. ...)
The following is true for almost any 160 meter switching system.
I would not put the transformer on the input. The primary mode of
unwanted coupling to unused ports is through capacitance. That means
port isolation of the switch increases as the impedance is reduced,
and unwanted port "leakage" increases quite rapidly as impedance is
increased.
Not only that, you would be running high Z leads to the switch, and
also have a common ground for ALL Beverages. Very bad news for
performance.
Use transformers at each antenna, use isolated primary and secondary
windings in the transformers, and use separate ground rods on each
antenna. The ground rods don't need to be exceptionally deep or good
at the feedpoint end, as long as you use an isolated winding
transformer.
73, Tom W8JI
W8JI@contesting.com
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