Topband: Video Switch for Low Band Antenna switching

[Tim Shoppa]

I've used the K9AY pushbutton RX select switches at W3LPL and they are a
very fine ergonomic solution. Definitely prefer the pushbuttons to rotary
switches.

At home I use footswitches for 1-of-4 RX direction selection on 160M. Very
easy for me to cycle multiple directions after each CQ. Two feet gets me to
4 directions, I don't know that I'd be able to grow the last foot to help
with an 8-circle, but that doesn't matter because I do not have room in the
yard for an 8-circle :-)

One mistake I've made a couple times is changing transmit direction switch,
while transmitting. This was especially likely while I was trying to do 2
different receive antennas or having a conversation with others in the
shack. Didn't blow anything up but maybe I was just lucky! A slight
evolution would be a pushbutton transmit direction selector, that would
lock out direction changes while transmitting (or the other way around).

160M in a big DX-only contest requires much less antenna switching, than a
contest where there are many domestic callers worth points as well as the
DX.

Tim N3QE

On Sun, Jul 5, 2015 at 4:07 PM, Mike Waters <mikewate at gmail.com> wrote:

> I'm not sure that I would like pushbutton antenna switching. Especially in
> a contest.
>
> I use a 4-position rotary switch to select all four directions of the two
> Beverages. (The same principle would apply to more than four directions.)
> All four RX directions are within a 90 degree rotation of the switch;
> adjacent positions are just 22.5 degrees apart. (And rotary switches are
> available with less than 22.5 degrees between positions.)
>
> To its immediate right is a toggle switch that selects either the Beverage
> RX rotary switch or the TX antenna. Both the rotary and toggle can be
> operated conveniently with just my right hand, while tuning across the
> band, etc. with my left. It is a very ergonomic design; if it could be
> improved upon, I've never figured out a better way.
>  (But I'm listening with an open mind. :-)
>
> A photo of the switching arrangement here can be viewed at
> www.w0btu.com/Beverage_antennas.html#more_than_one_way_to_build
> Click on the image to zoom.
>
> I think W8JI --and somebody else who copied his design-- has eight PB
> switches in a ~2" diameter circle, all barely protruding just past the
> panel. Maybe if I had one, I would prefer it over what I built, but I
> really don't think so. When my fingers are on that switch, I don't have to
> feel around for pushbuttons nor take my eyes off more important things.
>
> IMHO, a rotary switch is the way to go.
>
> 73, Mike
> www.w0btu.com
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