For what it's worth (.02?) here's my solution to the many-antenna problem on
the cheap...
I have a Heathkit 4-position remote antenna switch selecting 160, 80, 40 and
20-10. I then cloned the technology to build my own relay switchboxes that
give me 4 positions each with only two wires (off, +DC, -DC and AC). I
cascade these after the Heath remote box, using ordinary 4-wire telephone
cable to switch them (over a 350-foot run). That potentially gives me a
choice of 4 antennas for each band (or in the case of 20-10, the high bands)
Reliability could be a problem, with cascaded active switching systems.
I've designed it so that at least if things fail de-activated, each set of
antennas will default to the most generally useful one. So far, so good, and
the add-on boxes (and their controllers and power supplies) only cost about
$65 each with all-new parts from RS.
73, Pete Smith N4ZR
n4zr@contesting.com
West (bigawd) Virginia
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