[CQ-Contest] Stack Switching

[Stan Stockton]

George,

What I did for 20M was to make two stack matching devices - 
homebrew using some information T93M gave me.  One stack 
matching unit is on the tower with two 20M antennas fixed on 
Europe.  The other is in the shack.  The one on the tower 
will take care of Upper/Lower/Both for those two stacked 
antennas fixed on Europe and the coax from that stack goes 
into one of the inputs on the one in the shack along with a 
rotating antenna on another tower.  Another input on the one 
in the shack has a Southeast antenna and one extra relay 
that will select that one alone.

With this combination, from one control box, I can select:

Upper 8L
Lower 8L
8/8 in Phase
6L rotary
Upper 8L & 6L
Lower 8L & 6L
8/8 & 6L
6L only
SE only

The stack matching units are somewhat rewarding to build. 
If you value your time at zero cost but take satisfaction 
instead for payment, the cost will be about 1/4 of the most 
popular brand.

I think within a few days, I could take some pictures and 
document what is needed if anyone is interested.

Stan, K5GO
.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George Fremin III" <geoiii at kkn.net>
To: "CQ Contest" <cq-contest at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 9:48 AM
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 at kkn.net
> http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr
>
>
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>
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