Topband: rx antenna switch

[Ronald Gorski]

I have used this type of switch for years with varying success. The older 
style (square pushbuttons) of A/B or A/B/C switch has a more positive 
"feel" when the switch engages. The newet style is a bit more "mushy". Both 
styles have significant isolation when used to switch receive antennas 
and/or preamps. I have had some switch failures through the years but have 
never disassembled same for failure analysis; just replaced the switch as 
the cost is low.  Ron N9AU

At 09:39 PM 9/2/03 -0500, John Langridge wrote:
>I think someone mentioned quite a while ago that they used a simple radio
>shack A/B or A/B/C pushbutton switch designed for vcr/cable to switch their
>receive antennas.  I skimmed through the archives hoping to chance upon the
>thread but suspect that the mention was only incidental, embedded within
>another thread.
>
>I purchased one of the "newer" models this past weekend and found that when
>I hooked it up, there were no signals whatsoever.  The cables and connectors
>were fine and there was plenty of signal when I took the switch out of line.
>Thinking I had a bad unit, I took it back only to find that the unit I had
>was the last one in stock.  Instead of bringing it back home and opening it
>up to see what was inside, I returned it on the spot.
>
>Has anyone actually used one of these switches successfully for this
>purpose?  Could the fact that they are advertised as "high isolation"
>indicate that these are not just simple switches and may not pass a signal
>in the HF/MF range?
>
>Thanks in advance for any info you might have.
>
>John KB5NJD
>
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