My Homebrew Antenna Switch
2 posters
Page 1 of 1
My Homebrew Antenna Switch
ka9mot Mon Oct 21, 2013 5:33 pm
The Parts:
1 Recycled metal data switch box painted flat black.
6 Number 6 screws and nuts with attached star washers
3 SO-239 coax connectors
1 DPDT toggle switch
3 Four inch RG-8X Jumpers
The box bottom.... This was a Networking (data) Switch with 3 sockets on the back and an A/B switch on the front. I painted it Flat Black so it would match my station. Drill a few holes for screws and make the switch hole large enough to fit the DPDT toggle switch. I used my Dremel tool and a sanding roll to remove the paint from the mounting points so I'd get a good ground.
DA Top of the case
The back with SO-239s mounted.
The inside...notice the yucky computer off white paint inside....
I tried these wires and had pretty poor results so I changed them to RG-8X coax. Shields to ground on the SO-239 side and switched the shields along with the center conductor at the switch.
All done!
The end results.
This was through 2 other coax switches to my dummy load. Note the perfect SWR as well as 50 Ohm Impedance..... It works perfectly and it is soooo pretty!
SWR raises to 1.2 with 46 Ohms impedance on 50 MHz. Looks like 50 MHz is the upper limit for this switch.
1 Recycled metal data switch box painted flat black.
6 Number 6 screws and nuts with attached star washers
3 SO-239 coax connectors
1 DPDT toggle switch
3 Four inch RG-8X Jumpers
The box bottom.... This was a Networking (data) Switch with 3 sockets on the back and an A/B switch on the front. I painted it Flat Black so it would match my station. Drill a few holes for screws and make the switch hole large enough to fit the DPDT toggle switch. I used my Dremel tool and a sanding roll to remove the paint from the mounting points so I'd get a good ground.
DA Top of the case
The back with SO-239s mounted.
The inside...notice the yucky computer off white paint inside....
I tried these wires and had pretty poor results so I changed them to RG-8X coax. Shields to ground on the SO-239 side and switched the shields along with the center conductor at the switch.
All done!
The end results.
This was through 2 other coax switches to my dummy load. Note the perfect SWR as well as 50 Ohm Impedance..... It works perfectly and it is soooo pretty!
SWR raises to 1.2 with 46 Ohms impedance on 50 MHz. Looks like 50 MHz is the upper limit for this switch.
ka9mot- Charter Member
- Posts : 29
Join date : 2013-09-11
Age : 63
Location : Macomb, IL -
Re: My Homebrew Antenna Switch
N9XR Mon Oct 21, 2013 6:09 pm
Congrats on a nice project. That is really cool.
N9XR- Charter Member
- Posts : 67
Join date : 2013-09-17
Age : 66
Location : Oregon, IL
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum