Antenna switching between 2 radios
I am using HPSDR and SDR Play as my receiver radio, and a Yaesu FT-857 for my transmitter. I am looking for an easy way to switch the VHF and UHF antennas to the appropriate radio. I have found a discussion on automating this process with SatPC32 and a "coaxial transfer switch" but there is no information on what switch to use for this. I don't need this to be automated but I am looking for something better than manually swapping coax cables.
73,
Don K9AQ
Don, Something like this?? https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-1708b-sdr I have no experience with this product. I just know about it. 73, Adrian AA5UK
On Monday, November 9, 2020, 10:08:47 AM CST, Don Solberg via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
I am using HPSDR and SDR Play as my receiver radio, and a Yaesu FT-857 for my transmitter. I am looking for an easy way to switch the VHF and UHF antennas to the appropriate radio. I have found a discussion on automating this process with SatPC32 and a "coaxial transfer switch" but there is no information on what switch to use for this. I don't need this to be automated but I am looking for something better than manually swapping coax cables.
73,
Don K9AQ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I use two Alpha Delta Model DELTA-2B/N coax switches for this very application.
Bob W7OTJ
On Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 8:10 AM Don Solberg via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
I am using HPSDR and SDR Play as my receiver radio, and a Yaesu FT-857 for my transmitter. I am looking for an easy way to switch the VHF and UHF antennas to the appropriate radio. I have found a discussion on automating this process with SatPC32 and a "coaxial transfer switch" but there is no information on what switch to use for this. I don't need this to be automated but I am looking for something better than manually swapping coax cables.
73,
Don K9AQ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I use the MFJ-1708SDR switching system this way with an SDRPlay RSPdx... works beautifully, runs off my field Bioenno.
Jack Spitznagel - KD4IZ Science River LLC Biomedical Consulting Services
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org On Behalf Of Bob Hammond via AMSAT-BB Sent: Monday, November 9, 2020 12:55 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Antenna switching between 2 radios
I use two Alpha Delta Model DELTA-2B/N coax switches for this very application.
Bob W7OTJ
On Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 8:10 AM Don Solberg via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
I am using HPSDR and SDR Play as my receiver radio, and a Yaesu FT-857 for my transmitter. I am looking for an easy way to switch the VHF and UHF antennas to the appropriate radio. I have found a discussion on automating this process with SatPC32 and a "coaxial transfer switch" but there is no information on what switch to use for this. I don't need this to be automated but I am looking for something better than manually swapping coax cables.
73,
Don K9AQ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
The MFJ box looks nice, but you can do this with just an RF relay if you have one in the junk box. Maybe you have one lying around from an amplifier project that never quite got finished.. You could switch it with 12V and a toggle switch. I switch between an SDR and my 2m transmitter when FalconSat needs to be sent a packet. The TNC keys a sequencer which then switches everything over including the antenna. So the 2m antenna is only connected to the 2m radio when it sends a packet. The rest of the time it is connected to an SDR monitoring telemetry.
73 Chris
On Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 2:03 PM Jack Spitznagel via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
I use the MFJ-1708SDR switching system this way with an SDRPlay RSPdx... works beautifully, runs off my field Bioenno.
Jack Spitznagel - KD4IZ Science River LLC Biomedical Consulting Services
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org On Behalf Of Bob Hammond via AMSAT-BB Sent: Monday, November 9, 2020 12:55 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Antenna switching between 2 radios
I use two Alpha Delta Model DELTA-2B/N coax switches for this very application.
Bob W7OTJ
On Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 8:10 AM Don Solberg via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
I am using HPSDR and SDR Play as my receiver radio, and a Yaesu FT-857 for my transmitter. I am looking for an easy way to switch the VHF and UHF antennas to the appropriate radio. I have found a discussion on automating this process with SatPC32 and a "coaxial transfer switch" but there is no information on what switch to use for this. I don't need this to be automated but I am looking for something better than manually swapping coax cables.
73,
Don K9AQ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Good point, Chris. I have several different combos that I want and use a few RF relays. I have a Raspberry Pi with a touch screen that I use to switch the various combinations. The Pi code and a coax schematic is at github burnsfisher/PiRelayButtons if anyone wants it. I think there is a description of the Pi setup in the comments, but essentially you need some 3V relays on the Pi to drive the 12V coax relays coils and (in my case) the 12V preamps.
I use Tohtzu relays that were fairly easy to find on eBay (and a couple from a fellow ham).
73, Burns WB1FJ.
On Wed, Nov 11, 2020 at 9:20 AM Chris Thompson via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
The MFJ box looks nice, but you can do this with just an RF relay if you have one in the junk box. Maybe you have one lying around from an amplifier project that never quite got finished.. You could switch it with 12V and a toggle switch. I switch between an SDR and my 2m transmitter when FalconSat needs to be sent a packet. The TNC keys a sequencer which then switches everything over including the antenna. So the 2m antenna is only connected to the 2m radio when it sends a packet. The rest of the time it is connected to an SDR monitoring telemetry.
73 Chris
On Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 2:03 PM Jack Spitznagel via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
I use the MFJ-1708SDR switching system this way with an SDRPlay RSPdx... works beautifully, runs off my field Bioenno.
Jack Spitznagel - KD4IZ Science River LLC Biomedical Consulting Services
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org On Behalf Of Bob Hammond via AMSAT-BB Sent: Monday, November 9, 2020 12:55 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Antenna switching between 2 radios
I use two Alpha Delta Model DELTA-2B/N coax switches for this very application.
Bob W7OTJ
On Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 8:10 AM Don Solberg via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
I am using HPSDR and SDR Play as my receiver radio, and a Yaesu FT-857 for my transmitter. I am looking for an easy way to switch the VHF and UHF antennas to the appropriate radio. I have found a discussion on automating this process with SatPC32 and a "coaxial transfer switch" but there is no information on what switch to use for this. I don't need this to be automated but I am looking for something better than manually swapping coax cables.
73,
Don K9AQ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions
expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
-- Chris E. Thompson chrisethompson@gmail.com g0kla@arrl.net _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
On 11/11/20 08:16, Chris Thompson via AMSAT-BB wrote:
The MFJ box looks nice, but you can do this with just an RF relay if you have one in the junk box. Maybe you have one lying around from an amplifier project that never quite got finished.. You could switch it with 12V and a toggle switch. I switch between an SDR and my 2m transmitter when FalconSat needs to be sent a packet. The TNC keys a sequencer which then switches everything over including the antenna. So the 2m antenna is only connected to the 2m radio when it sends a packet. The rest of the time it is connected to an SDR monitoring telemetry.
Also, one doesn't necessarily need a "RF" relay, if the band is 1.25m or longer:
https://www.w6pql.com/using_inexpensive_relays.htm
If you do want a "RF" relay, I use the Axicom HF3 relays in my 70cm LNA. They will handle 50 watts and seem to work well.
--- Zach N0ZGO
participants (7)
-
Adrian Engele -
Bob Hammond -
Burns Fisher -
Chris Thompson -
Don Solberg -
kd4iz＠frawg.org -
Zach Metzinger