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KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

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James Bennett

KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

I've got a KX3 and a K3 - I want to share an antenna between the two radios. I do this now by manually detaching the coax from one and connecting it to the other. Are there any quality coax switches on the market that have adequate isolation between ports that I could use for this purpose?

Tnx, Jim / W6JHB

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Reginald J Mackey SR-3

Re: KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

I 've use both MFJ and Alph-Delta switches and they work well. no problems even at 1k.

Reggie K6xr
Ham Radio Since 1955
DXCC, RCC, WAZ
QRP IS KING

On Dec 31, 2013, at 4:40 AM, James Bennett <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I've got a KX3 and a K3 - I want to share an antenna between the two radios. I do this now by manually detaching the coax from one and connecting it to the other. Are there any quality coax switches on the market that have adequate isolation between ports that I could use for this purpose?
>
> Tnx, Jim / W6JHB
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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>
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Fred Smith-2

Re: KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

I share 4 radios on the radio a position of a SO2R setup using a Bird 74
coax switch the best on the market with 6 positions. Shop for a good used
one new they are pricy but what you would expect from Bird.

73,
Fred/N0AZZ
K3 Ser # 6730--KX3 # 5210--K2/100 # 6470-KAT100
P3/SVGA--KAT500--W2
Amps Elecraft KPA500 HF/6m--Alpha's 9500 HF--87A HF--Mirage B-5030-G
300+w--(2) B-5016-G's 165w 2m

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Reginald J Mackey SR
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 6:42 AM
To: James Bennett
Cc: Elecraft List
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

I 've use both MFJ and Alph-Delta switches and they work well. no problems
even at 1k.

Reggie K6xr
Ham Radio Since 1955
DXCC, RCC, WAZ
QRP IS KING

On Dec 31, 2013, at 4:40 AM, James Bennett <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I've got a KX3 and a K3 - I want to share an antenna between the two
radios. I do this now by manually detaching the coax from one and connecting
it to the other. Are there any quality coax switches on the market that have
adequate isolation between ports that I could use for this purpose?

>
> Tnx, Jim / W6JHB
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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David Ek-2

Re: KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

In reply to this post by James Bennett

I just ordered an Alpha Delta Delta-2B switch for the same purpose
(except I'm not lucky enough to own a K3--I'm switching between my KX3
and my IC706MKIIG). This tech note indicates that these switches can be
used to switch radios just like they can be used to switch antennas:

http://www.alphadeltacom.com/pdf/DELTA-4B%20multi-connections-2.pdf

73, Dave NK0E

On 12/31/2013 9:30 AM, James Bennett <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I've got a KX3 and a K3 - I want to share an antenna between the two radios. I do this now by manually detaching the coax from one and connecting it to the other. Are there any quality coax switches on the market that have adequate isolation between ports that I could use for this purpose?
>
> Tnx, Jim / W6JHB
>
>
>
>

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Edward R Cole

Re: KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

In reply to this post by James Bennett

I am using a couple DAIWA manual coax switches. 2-pos selects either
K3/10 or KX3 (at 12w) and 4-pos is for antenna selection at 300w from
the amplifier. I do not use coax switches at QRO levels but I only
run that on 6m and 2m with dedicated antenna so no switching is
needed (I do use coax relays).

I am getting a used B&W 5-pos switch which will be used at HF/6m
under 300w. I have to check it out first.

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
"Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
[hidden email]

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Jim Bennett

Re: KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

Thanks for the info all -

I looked at that Bird 6 position switch - about 1/2 the cost of my KX3 - yikes! Think I'll pass on that one. I do have a Daiwa 2 position switch that I've hooked up to share my antenna - one side to the K3, the other to the KX3. Seems to work OK, although when a strong signal (S9+) on the K3, I can still hear it when the switch is set to the KX3. I wonder if the Alpha/Delta switches have any better isolation that thiat

Jim / W6JHB

On Tuesday, Dec 31, 2013, at Tuesday, 12:38 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:

> I am using a couple DAIWA manual coax switches. 2-pos selects either K3/10 or KX3 (at 12w) and 4-pos is for antenna selection at 300w from the amplifier. I do not use coax switches at QRO levels but I only run that on 6m and 2m with dedicated antenna so no switching is needed (I do use coax relays).
>
> I am getting a used B&W 5-pos switch which will be used at HF/6m under 300w. I have to check it out first.
>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
> http://www.kl7uw.com
> "Kits made by KL7UW"
> Dubus Mag business:
> [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Dick Dievendorff-4

Re: KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

Some of the relay-based antenna switches actually have two sets of relay
contacts between the antenna and the not-selected radio. This can improve
the isolation.

However the difference between "S9+" and "I can barely hear" is a whole lot
of dB, and asking for complete silence is asking for a lot.

http://www.qth.com/topten/abss.htm

Dick, K6KR

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Jim Bennett
Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2013 12:56 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector Reflector
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

Thanks for the info all -

I looked at that Bird 6 position switch - about 1/2 the cost of my KX3 -
yikes! Think I'll pass on that one. I do have a Daiwa 2 position switch that
I've hooked up to share my antenna - one side to the K3, the other to the
KX3. Seems to work OK, although when a strong signal (S9+) on the K3, I can
still hear it when the switch is set to the KX3. I wonder if the Alpha/Delta
switches have any better isolation that thiat

Jim / W6JHB

On Tuesday, Dec 31, 2013, at Tuesday, 12:38 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:

> I am using a couple DAIWA manual coax switches. 2-pos selects either
K3/10 or KX3 (at 12w) and 4-pos is for antenna selection at 300w from the
amplifier. I do not use coax switches at QRO levels but I only run that on
6m and 2m with dedicated antenna so no switching is needed (I do use coax
relays).
>
> I am getting a used B&W 5-pos switch which will be used at HF/6m under
300w. I have to check it out first.

>
> 73, Ed - KL7UW
> http://www.kl7uw.com
> "Kits made by KL7UW"
> Dubus Mag business:
> [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
> list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Bill Frantz

Re: KX3 / K3 Antenna Sharing

In reply to this post by Reginald J Mackey SR-3

One potential problem with the MFJ 4-way switch: It shorts the
unselected positions to ground. If you are using it to switch
between radios, transmitting on an unselected radio results in
transmitting into a short circuit.

I use it, but I try to be _very_ careful.

Cheers - Bill, AE6JV

On 12/31/13 at 4:42 AM, [hidden email] (Reginald J Mackey SR) wrote:

>I 've use both MFJ and Alph-Delta switches and they work well. no problems even at 1k.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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