Topband: Protecting short receive antennas and Phasers

[Les Rayburn]

For the second time in as many years, I fried my Quantum Phaser (I use
this to phase a beverage on the ground and an EWE against each other)
by "tuning up" into the receive antenna input on my MFJ-933. 

The auto-tuner has an A-B switch to select either the transmit
antenna or the output of the phaser (receive antenna). I had
been listening to some DX, then switched frequencies. I hit
the "tune" button on the rig and watched in amazement as
it struggled to match the antenna. 

Seconds passed, and I was wondering why the tuner couldn't find a match.
Then I started screaming! As feared, it had blown a bi-polar transistor
inside the unit. So I was without the phaser for the duration of
the contest. 

Can someone recommend a way of protecting the receive antennas,
phasers, and transformers from accidental transmissions. 

73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF


Les Rayburn, director
High Noon Film
100 Centerview Drive Suite 111
Birmingham, AL 35216-3748
205.824.8930
205.824.8960 FAX
205.253.4867 CELL
http://www.highnoonfilm.com
205.253.4867