Another Aerial Question

[Geaney]

I've now got about four radios restored and I'd like to set them up so each has an aerial fitted and I can use them without having to unplug aerial connections every time. What is the best way to set up an aerial distribution system (lw, mw, sw) so one aerial can feed all the radios?

Thanks, John

[Yorkie]

Great to see you back on good form John - hope you're well on the way to a full and speedy recovery, 'firing on all cylinders', or perhaps I should say hopping around on both legs!

You can buy antenna switches for use in amateur radio, but they're for coaxial feeders and designed to carry up to 1kW of transmitted RF power. Most are only two or three way, and they're not cheap - even the cheaper ones. For receiving, I'd suggest that all you need to do is to use a multi-way single pole rotary switch, which you can get with up to 12 positions, and mount the switch in a small 'project box'. Fit a socket (say a 4mm 'wander' socket) into which the aerial can be plugged, then mount however many 4mm output sockets that you need on the box to feed your radios, and wire each socket (number 1 - 12 or less), to one switch position. You can then plug as many radios into those sockets as you wish, up to 12, and then simply turn the switch to whichever radio you wish to listen to.

For transmitting or at VHF/UHF, there would be considerations such as matching the impendances and losses to take account of, but for receivers there are no such considerations and any losses introduced by the switching arrangments would be insignificant.

Hope that helps a bit.

[Steve_P]

Just split the cable four ways and use one for each set. That'll do....

Cheers,

Steve P.

[Geaney]

Thanks David,
I'll go for the selector switch option then - probably mount it at the base of the aerial itself if I can site the aerial close to the sets, otherwise mount the selector separately beside the sets and run the aerial feed to it, etc.

Cheers, John
Getting back to form - last of the stitches came out yesterday and I got the OK to drive again so life is starting to get back to normal. I've had great help from neighbours, etc. but one does like to be independently mobile!