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Re: [TowerTalk] RCS4 Antenna Switch - Noise

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] RCS4 Antenna Switch - Noise
From: "Roger (K8RI) on TT" <K8RI-on-TowerTalk@tm.net>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 20:07:36 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
On 11/24/2014 3:29 PM, Ron W8RJL wrote:

IIRC Mine had Aluminum Rivets. They are also hard wired. No decoding required. Over the years, I've had to rebuild them a couple of times because of corrosion of the UHF connectors. I prefer to keep electronics off the tower because of so many lightening strokes.

OTOH I'm going wireless because of running wires between two buildings with separate electrical feeds Is a bit hard on the network because of lightening. That and wireless is finally getting up to a decent speed. It's 130 feet from the computers in the shop to the network switch, or 260 feet round trip.. Backing up to the new USB 3 drives at the computer takes 3 to 4 hours. Doing it via the Gigabit network is just shy of 24 hours. Those long runs sure slow it down.

73

Roger (K8RI)


Tom,
I think it is better to drill out the steel rivits and install SS bolts, nuts and tooth washers (all stainless) than just solder a wire between all SO-239's. If not you still have a corroded connection which in some situations can produce problems. How do you know the noise is from the switch? does it go away when you remove power to the switch control box? There are diodes involved in the switching scheme, you might replace those as they are cheap. 73, Ron W8RJL

----- Original Message ----- From: "K0YR" <k0yr@tomrieff.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2014 2:58 PM
Subject: [TowerTalk] RCS4 Antenna Switch - Noise


TT,
I inherited a RCS4 Antenna Switch from an estate.
When first installed it generated noise when using the 1,2 or 3 switch positions. The default is #4. Did some Google'ing and found discussion about corrosion on the SO239's mounted to the base plate. Ran a ground wire across the SO239's to the circuit board. Cleaned up some of the other connections. All seemed well and much improved. This past weekend the noise returned and was sometimes intermittent. Switch is located about 450 feet out at the towers. Fed with 7/8 hardline.
This unit was manufactured in 1992, so could be anything.
Any thoughts on what I may be missing or failing in the switch to eliminate the noise.
Tom, K0YR


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--

73

Roger (K8RI)


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