Topband: Protecting RX input & FK8CP this morning

[Paul Kelley N1BUG]

Greetings fellow Topbanders,

When my rig comes back from the repair shop I want to modify it to 
add a RX antenna input. My current method of selecting RX antennas 
is awkward and may have resulted in the damage the rig is now at the 
shop for! I had a relay glitch just prior to the rig's demise. Some 
of my Beverages run quite close to the transmit antennas and I am 
concerned about damage to the receiver from excessive RF levels 
while transmitting. I thought about adding a relay to disconnect 
and/or ground whatever antenna is connected to the RX input during 
transmit, but since I will also be working on station mods to allow 
QSK I am interested in keeping the number of relays to a minimum. 
Are there other ways of protecting the receiver? Or is the relay my 
best bet?

I have been chasing FK8CP since he returned to top band. I have 
heard him a number of times, almost always with a sharp 2 or 3 
minute peak about 5 to 15 minutes before my local sunrise. That 
seems somewhat unusual but there has been a definite pattern to it. 
This morning timing and luck were on my side! Remi came on the band 
just at the start of my short peak (or was I just not hearing him 
before the peak?) and I was able to get his attention easily (there 
may have been no other callers... I didn't take time to check!) He 
was very solid copy during the usual short peak despite QRN and the 
temporary rig I'm using (NO filters and a horrible receiver in every 
way -- can't wait to get my good rig back!!)

73,
Paul N1BUG