[TowerTalk] ? AMERITRON REMOTE COAX SWITCH

[Bill VanAlstyne]

I own this switch -- the model equipped with UHF connectors. It is also
available with N-type connectors. I've found that the switch remains relatively
"flat" well up past 50 MHz -- I feed my 6M yagi through one -- but somewhere
above that, it starts to introduce a measurable but modest amount of line
mismatch, loss, and increased SWR. This degradation just starts to be noticeable
at 144 MHz on my setup. I don't have 220 MHz capability, but at 440 MHz the
switch is really unusable. Of course they don't claim it will operate at 70 cm,
but since the degradation is noticeable at 2M, I would have to be skeptical of
Ameritron's claim of usability up to 250 MHz until I actually tried it there and
measured the degradation. Of course how much loss and SWR increase is tolerable
to someone is a subjective matter.

As regards contact cleaning, the guy who probably designed this box is on this
reflector, so he can chime in and address that question if he wants to. Relay
contacts, however, if they are designed and aligned properly, are self-wiping.
You shouldn't need to worry about cleaning them. (With any luck, we'll find out
if I'm right about that.)

Bill / W5WVO


Ron K8FG wrote:
> Hello to the Group,
> Anyone have any dealings with the Ameritron RCS-8V Remote Coax Switch
> ?
> One feedline into the shack sounds like a good idea so I purchased
> one of
> these
> critters. After a look inside and finding open frame relays I am
> wondering
> how to
> keep the contacts clean.
> Also bought the RCS-10 for the lower bands but this unit has sealed
> relays.
>
> Thanks Ron/K8FG...
>
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