Topband: Single antenna port xcvr but want to employ separatereceive antenna

[Shoppa, Tim]

> If you pull a relay low to go TX and you ever lose power to the relay, lose the relay, or lose the relay path, the system defaults with the transmitter running into the receiver antenna.
> You have to decide if that can damage RX antenna stuff. This requires a fast relay pull in time, and a slow release time..

I've done that several times, usually right after I "clean up the cabling". I've had several QSO's with me using the RX antenna for transmit :-).

In fact modeling puts the K9AY loop at 25 or so dB down compared to my transmit antenna and this is consistent with observed performance both transmit and receive!

I usually run the rig at about 60W out into the amp which puts about 600W out. So 60W into the receive antenna, minus 25dB, is around a few hundred milliwatts ERP. The better equipped 160M stations within a few hundred miles can still hear me but it takes some effort to complete the Q. I know in the yearly NAQCC 160M QRP sprint, I work easily into the better stations in the upper Midwest and NE with 5W.

I think I should sponsor a Stew Perry plaque, "most QSO's made transmitting into the receive antenna", but that would be unfair because I would probably win it.

Tim N3QE