George,
Since you are dealing with monoband antennas the least expensive
solution might be in "Improved Stack Switching with Invisible
Stubs" by N4TZ/9 - NCJ Nov/Dec 2004. Optimum matching for
"any of four" antennas requires an 8 position switch box
but a useful "compromise" match can be obtained with a six
position box. A five position box is suitable for "any of
three" switching with compromise matching.
The five position box and an auxiliary relay to select between
the fixed SE and W antennas or the six position box might give
you what you are looking for with the resources already at hand.
73,
... Joe, W4TV
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:cq-contest-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of
> George Fremin III
> Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 10:49 AM
> To: CQ Contest
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Stack Switching
>
>
>
> Fellow contesters,
>
> I would like to add a bit more flexibility to my antenna
> switching systems and I was wondering how others are solving
> this problem.
>
>
> The example I will give you is my 10 meter tower.
>
> Four antennas.
>
> - 6 ele OWA that rotates
> - 6 ele OWA fixed to the northeast
> - 4 ele Cushcraft fixed to the southeast
> - 3 ele Mosely fixed to the west
>
> Currently I have an Ameritron RCS-8 five position remote
> switch and I can select the following choices.
>
> 1 - Top rotating 6 ele
> 2 - Both of the OWA antennas in phase with phasing lines
> 3 - Lower 6 ele fixed northeast
> 4 - 4 ele southeast
> 5 - 3 ele west
>
> I would like to be able to do a few more combinations of antennas.
>
> The stack NE and the SE antenna for example.
>
> It would be really nice if I could use the existing relay or
> something that I already have since my budget is limited.
>
> I also have some six position relay switches.
>
> I have seen the N4ZR (I think) descriptions of how to use
> switches like I have to do any or almost any combination of 3
> and/or 4 antennas. While I do not think I need nor want to be
> be able to choose every combination of the 4 antennas - I
> would like to be able to
> have more choices that I have currently
>
> The thing that trips me up when thinking about this is how
> manage the control. If anyone is using this system - how are
> you controlling the switching?
>
>
>
> --
> George Fremin III - K5TR
> geoiii@kkn.net
> http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr
>
>
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