Copper Talk » Ask The Tech » Antennas » Antenna switch giving higher swrs then straight thru? « Previous Next »

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Honkytonkman593
Intermediate Member
Username: Honkytonkman593

Post Number: 170
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 3:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

ok for years i never needed a coax switch but now that i have 3 antenna on one antenna input. ok i have 3 switches. one cs 201 one cx 201 and an alpha delta switch. now i have always hooked up my set up as follows.... radio to amp to meter to antenna with a 1.2 swr at 500 watts but now that i have added a coax switch (tried all 3 same results) it jumps it up to 1.9 or higher. this is with the radio to amp to meter to switch then out. now does this mean i need to retune all antennas due to this switch that shows reflection...i even tried other coax lengths other then the 3 footers i use now between everything. i am not satisfied with the 1.9 match at higher power so dont be smart ....as i use this radio for ham and cb.
basically what is the real swr that i am dealing with ....1.9 i see with the meter or is it really 1.2 that the antenna alone shows?? thanks
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 983
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 4:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Are you checking SWRS while amp is on or off???
Antenna Coax going straight into radio is showing
your true SWR at 1:2. But, something you have in line is throwing it higher OR fooling your
meter.

JIM/PA/CEF 375
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Wildrat
Intermediate Member
Username: Wildrat

Post Number: 376
Registered: 12-2003


Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 6:26 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Why do you have three switch's hooked up?

Wildrat
CEF674
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi

Post Number: 504
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Sunday, November 27, 2005 - 6:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hey Jim how do we know that his true SWR is 1:2 and on which antenna? It ain't likely that all three are good a 1:2 is it, but he doesn't tell us that does he, so I ask. We don't know, but the three are probably for three different bands as well since he has a ham rig.

Boy, this could be a can of worms for the "line don't make a difference" and the "yes it does" bunch, or it could be a trick question too.

563, I wasn't trying to be smart, but I would think that if your antennas are truely resonant and matched well then you should not be having this problem, but it does sound like a reactance problem otherwise.
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Road_warrior
Advanced Member
Username: Road_warrior

Post Number: 985
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 10:19 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yeah, had to carefully re-read the post again.
Could be a reactance problem also.
There's other possible problems also.
Hummm
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Honkytonkman593
Intermediate Member
Username: Honkytonkman593

Post Number: 171
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 12:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

wow didnt realize that with all the info in there i still confused people. only one coax switch used at a time. this was for a reference that i tried all three at different time....with amp on >>yes a quality amp no cb amp>> swr without a coax switch inline is 1.2...yes on the beam/diapole/ and imax all set at 1.2 swr when i set them up. nothing bad til i add any coax switch wheather quality one or not. tried all sorts of jumpers and such. i really hate having to reach back of the unit and change my coax to go from 10 meters/ 6 meters/ to cb which all run off of my 706mkiig. all antennas are over 40 feet separated from each other at various heights.
yes i even tried other rigs.
well lets see if that can get a answer. thanks
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Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi

Post Number: 505
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 4:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

563, in your original info, you noted an inline meter. Without the switch in line you get 1.2 on the inline meter with 500 watts in. How does the SWR look on your Icom SWR graphic sweep meter when doing this? I guess you get the same readings with the amp off also, right?

I figured you for multi band operations and three different (bands) antennas, thus it is not likely a simple line response problem. It's just unlikely that all three lines would react the same bad way with the switch in line and not bad without it unless the jumper or the switch is bad.

Try this; remove the switch and connect the jumper directly to one feed line using a barrel connector and see if the response is the same as with the switch in line? As I said before it is unusual that all three lines are acting the same way just by adding a good (???) switch into the system.

Check each line direct to the Icom and tell us what the SWR shows there as well and if they are all three the same and equal as noted above. This bypasses everything. Then connect the switch direct between the Icom and the antenna without the amp and inline meter and compare these SWR readings to those noted above.

Something here is not acting right. It may well be a jumper, the switch, the amp, or there is a remote chance that it could just be the random line length you have and were the meter sits in the line.

Otherwise, I just don't have a clue.

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Honkytonkman593
Intermediate Member
Username: Honkytonkman593

Post Number: 172
Registered: 12-2001
Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 - 12:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

radio straight thru nothing inline swr says on radio...between 1.1 and 1.3. lines are small could be either one. add linear inline swr on meter goes flat on radio. add amp and coax switch radio shows 1.5 on radios swr meter with amp off but inline. now turn it all on radio says 1.5 but meter external went from 1.5 or 1.6 to 1.9 at 500 watts .weird huh.

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