| Author |
Message |
    
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 149
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 10:38 am: | 
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Hi. As you know I plan on installing an IMAX. I also plan on having a few radios in the house in different rooms. So I would like to get a 3 (prefer 4) way antenna switch. I don't mind spending a little extra for quality. 1KW power would be preferred. Even a little more just to play it safe. Quality is the key here. Thanks.
PS---Where can I buy ground rods besides Radio Shack? I am in NY. Thanks. |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 892
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 2:45 pm: |
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go to MFJ, that's where I got mine, and it's the one I was told about by people here. It's an MFJ-1700C. It works for me. You can hook 6 radios and 6 antennas up. It has pass thru, two selector switches, and each position is grounded when not selected. It handles the power of my equipment so yours should be fine also. |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1518
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:28 pm: |
|
Ground-rods can be bought at any Hardware
Store. At least around here they can.
Your other question i'll leave it up
to someone that has one to answer as i
do not know.  |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 895
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 4:50 pm: |
|
you can get ground rods at Lowe's and home depot in the electrical section. You can get 6 GA. solid copper bonding wire in a 25 foot box at Lowe's. It's cheaper in the box than buying it by the foot at Lowe's or depot. You get nearly all your grounding needs at Lowe's or depot including terminal blocks for grounding your equipment. There is nothing at the •••• shack that you should be buying except uniden radios if they are marked way, way down. Go look at tech808, sinkers, and my pictures to get ideas on how to do things. You can also read mine and sinkers postings in the installation section that will likely answer most of your questions. |
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 153
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 9:18 pm: |
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How do you bond together two 25 foot lengths of ground wire to get a total of 50? Thanks. |
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 155
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 10:43 pm: |
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Does copper sell this MFJ-1700C? Thanks. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10100
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 12:10 am: |
|
Jameslarson,
Sorry but No.
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Road_warrior
Senior Member
Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 1530
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 10:37 am: |
|
James- your better off to have one solid
piece of groundwire going from point A
to point B. |
Jameslarson
Intermediate Member
Username: Jameslarson
Post Number: 159
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 4:06 pm: |
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OK, where does one then buy this meter from? |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10110
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Friday, May 26, 2006 - 4:21 pm: |
|
Jameslarsen,
That is easy, just go to www.google.com and TYPE: MFJ-1700C in the Search Box.
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Yankee
Senior Member
Username: Yankee
Post Number: 1220
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 1:29 pm: |
|
I have the MFJ-1704 four position coax switch on my system to switch between my different radios and it works well for me, also a Paradynamics PDC-3HD for the three incoming coax lines from the beam and Imax-2000.
The MFJ-1704 also has a center position to connect a ground wire for lightning storm protection, But in my case before leaving for work or any other reason, and before going to bed for the night. I'll disconnect all my incoming coax lines and all the power lines to my radio equipement, and power to my computer, just so I have a feeling all my stuff is safe from a lightning strike. Several years ago my antenna took a direct lightning strike, not only the antenna but all my radio equipement got fried, even though every thing was well grounded. Causing about a total of $3000.00 in damages over all. |
Wildrat
Advanced Member
Username: Wildrat
Post Number: 897
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2006 - 7:19 pm: |
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If you go to Lowe's or Home depot's electrical section you can find copper clamps to connect the two pieces of copper bonding wire or you could solder it together like I did on some. I used my acetylene torch and oxygen to solder it together, but you can use a propane torch or even a good soldering gun. I had about 6 pieces that came all together and rather than clamp them I just used the torch and silver solder to connect them. The MFJ-170c also has a grounding stud. You should also start learning about PolyPhasers, Copper sells them, they will protect your equipment. |
