[TowerTalk] Antenna switch choices

[Mike]

Thanks, Roger.

Roger (K8RI) wrote:
> On 6/15/2010 6:15 PM, Mike wrote:
>   
>> I have a 6M yagi and a SteppIR on my tower, as well as a couple of
>> slopers. The HF coax comes down the tower to a tower mounted Rat Pack
>> remote switch. The 6M coax runs straight from the antenna to the K3 (2
>> antenna ports).
>>
>> I'm getting a new amp that covers HF and 6M but has only 1 antenna
>> connector, so I'm going to have to do something different with the 6M coax.
>>
>>    
>>     
> Either way you are going to need to have one switch in the line. It 
> makes little difference whether it's at the rig or at the base of the tower.
> If you are young and can climb easily then it makes no difference if the 
> remote switch is at the top of the tower.  If you have to hire a climber 
> it's better to have the switch where you can reach it.
>   
It's at the base. No climbing, I don't even like being as tall as I am 
(5'9")  ;-o
> What you do save by having the remote switch close to the antenna is 
> coax. If you can afford the extra coax then the choice becomes one of 
> preference.
>   
It's a change to an existing setup, so I already have the coax.
> If you might possibly want to use two stations at once then you are 
> going to need a remote switch like the 6-pack with two lines to it.
>
> It depends on what you want to do, but if I had only one station a 
> single coax would work fine. With two stations I use the 6-pack.
>   
You mean use the switch "backward",  putting the radios on the antenna 
ports and the (single) antenna on the radio port?

>> Either cut it and put it on the Rat Pack, and have only 1 coax coming
>> into the shack, or put a manual switch in the shack to switch between 6
>> and HF.
>>
>> First consideration is for which scheme has the least loss. Opinions?
>>
>>    
>>     
> Are you thinking of, or is there a possibility of running more than one 
> rig at a time?
>
>   
No.
> 73
>
> Roger (K8RI)
>   
>> 73, Mike NF4L
>>
>>