RE: [AMRadio] Switching between multiple rigs
I tell you what guys Glen K9STH built me a switching unit that is beyond words. Probably a little over kill but works great...Changes rigs feeds an amp mutes receivers ect ect... Contact Glen on the group he may be able to build more... Neat little box... Bob W1PE -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brett gazdzinski Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 6:43 PM To: 'Mike Duke, K5XU'; 'Discussion of AM Radio' Subject: RE: [AMRadio] Switching between multiple rigs Here is what I did: I found a small rack mount box from work, and put lots of coax connectors on it, a bunch of terminal strips (screw type), and inside I have a bunch of rotary switches of various types. Its about 5 inches high, rack mount, front is painted black and the switches are labeled. I have from left to right, mod monitor sample control (high voltage variable capacitor, about 50 pf) Receiver selector switch, 7 positions, AC switch, 7 positions, this connects to various transmitters, Antenna switch, 4 position (big heavy duty ceramic switch) Transmitter antenna selector switch, 4 position heavy duty ceramic. Inside is a big open contactor mounted on rubber isolators, that is my T/R relay. I can pick any antenna (or dummy load), any receiver, any transmitter, and which transmitter keys the T/R relay. I also have a pair of coax connectors to go to the watt meter and or tuner, no matter what selections are made. I also have two small relays to do muting and so on, about 6 normally open, common, and normally closed contacts out the back on screw terminals. For the audio, I use one setup, one mike into the berringer, the berringer goes to a dual output audio amp that drives 2 modulators at once. One side goes to my pair of 813's rig, the other goes to the push pull 812a transmitter. The 32v3 uses its own D104. Any and all receivers have audio line level outputs going to a rack mount Marantz audio amp, 5 inputs, line in and outs, bass, mid and treble controls, headphone jack, low and high filters, etc. into one nice 3 way speaker. I use an icom 756 pro to excite the transmitters, it has two antenna outputs and a separate receive input, so all I have to do is push a button there. its keyed by one of the relay contacts in my switch box. I don't remember what I did with the push to talk setup, I have a small DPDT switch on the mike base that runs to both big transmitters to key them. This all adds up to a mess of wires and cables, but allows me to hook up anything, and select it once its hooked up. I can switch between transmitters or receivers in 2 seconds, do A/B/C antenna switches, all from one location. Any transceiver gets hooked up to a spare receiver position, since it has its own TR relay built in. This is one of the best things I ever did for the shack, no ugly coax switches all over the place, no confusion as to what is hooked up, no dow key relays, etc. Brett N2DTS > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Duke, K5XU > Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 8:18 AM > To: Discussion of AM Radio > Subject: [AMRadio] Switching between multiple rigs > > I want to be able to select between my current 3 rigs via a > switch. Since > rice boxes are included, I want the best isolation possible for the > unselected equipment. > > Recommendations, please. > > > > Mike Duke, K5XU > American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs > > > > __ > AMRadio mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html > Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net > AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net > AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb > __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
RE: [AMRadio] Switching between multiple rigs
Here is what I did: I found a small rack mount box from work, and put lots of coax connectors on it, a bunch of terminal strips (screw type), and inside I have a bunch of rotary switches of various types. Its about 5 inches high, rack mount, front is painted black and the switches are labeled. I have from left to right, mod monitor sample control (high voltage variable capacitor, about 50 pf) Receiver selector switch, 7 positions, AC switch, 7 positions, this connects to various transmitters, Antenna switch, 4 position (big heavy duty ceramic switch) Transmitter antenna selector switch, 4 position heavy duty ceramic. Inside is a big open contactor mounted on rubber isolators, that is my T/R relay. I can pick any antenna (or dummy load), any receiver, any transmitter, and which transmitter keys the T/R relay. I also have a pair of coax connectors to go to the watt meter and or tuner, no matter what selections are made. I also have two small relays to do muting and so on, about 6 normally open, common, and normally closed contacts out the back on screw terminals. For the audio, I use one setup, one mike into the berringer, the berringer goes to a dual output audio amp that drives 2 modulators at once. One side goes to my pair of 813's rig, the other goes to the push pull 812a transmitter. The 32v3 uses its own D104. Any and all receivers have audio line level outputs going to a rack mount Marantz audio amp, 5 inputs, line in and outs, bass, mid and treble controls, headphone jack, low and high filters, etc. into one nice 3 way speaker. I use an icom 756 pro to excite the transmitters, it has two antenna outputs and a separate receive input, so all I have to do is push a button there. its keyed by one of the relay contacts in my switch box. I don't remember what I did with the push to talk setup, I have a small DPDT switch on the mike base that runs to both big transmitters to key them. This all adds up to a mess of wires and cables, but allows me to hook up anything, and select it once its hooked up. I can switch between transmitters or receivers in 2 seconds, do A/B/C antenna switches, all from one location. Any transceiver gets hooked up to a spare receiver position, since it has its own TR relay built in. This is one of the best things I ever did for the shack, no ugly coax switches all over the place, no confusion as to what is hooked up, no dow key relays, etc. Brett N2DTS > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Duke, K5XU > Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 8:18 AM > To: Discussion of AM Radio > Subject: [AMRadio] Switching between multiple rigs > > I want to be able to select between my current 3 rigs via a > switch. Since > rice boxes are included, I want the best isolation possible for the > unselected equipment. > > Recommendations, please. > > > > Mike Duke, K5XU > American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs > > > > __ > AMRadio mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html > Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net > AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net > AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb >
Re: [AMRadio] Switching between multiple rigs
I use the alpha delta coax switches for the antenna connection between transcievers. these have built in lightning protection if you run a good ground to the switch and short the unused antenna connection to ground. I do not use this on the output of the linear amplifier, rather on the input so 2 different radios can share the amp. One radio is a TS 2000 Kenwood, the other a Ten Tec Orion. I have never had a problem and the switch has an off position which connects neither rig and grounds both antennas for additional lightning protection. - Original Message - From: "Mike Duke, K5XU" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Discussion of AM Radio" Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2006 7:18 AM Subject: [AMRadio] Switching between multiple rigs I want to be able to select between my current 3 rigs via a switch. Since rice boxes are included, I want the best isolation possible for the unselected equipment. Recommendations, please. Mike Duke, K5XU American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs __ AMRadio mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:AMRadio@mailman.qth.net AMfone Website: http://www.amfone.net AM List Admin: Brian Sherrod/w5ami, Paul Courson/wa3vjb
RE: [AMRadio] Switching between multiple rigs
Mike Duke, K5XU says: I want to be able to select between my current 3 rigs via a switch. Since rice boxes are included, I want the best isolation possible for the unselected equipment. Recommendations, please. Mike Duke, K5XU -- Mike, This is a nice idea, and it would be helpful in many ham shacks. I wonder how far you want to go here. Some of us use the same microphone, compressor, equalizer, speaker, etc. on all our rigs. So what do you want switched? Here are some examples that come to mind: 1.) coax to tuner or antenna. A 3 position coax switch will do nicely here, and most will short out the unused inputs 2.) Microphone and speech processing equipment. This usually will need to be home-made, with attention to shielding, and the impedances involved. Ground loops might make this troublesome unless great care is followed, or go to a balanced line situation like broadcasters do. 3.) Speaker / headphones. A 2 pole triple position rotary switch with some means to provide a load (maybe 8 ohms) to the unused output is needed here. I say 2 pole switch because tying all the audio returns together might cause a ground loop and aggrivate your transmit audio. Regards, Jim WD5JKO -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.1/292 - Release Date: 3/24/2006
[AMRadio] Switching between multiple rigs
I want to be able to select between my current 3 rigs via a switch. Since rice boxes are included, I want the best isolation possible for the unselected equipment. Recommendations, please. Mike Duke, K5XU American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs
