[Icom] Coax Switches Revisited

[wjdiamond]

Hi Folks,

Well on Thursday I decided to start doing some tests on my XXX brand coax
switches as to the amount of isolation between the selected rig and the
other 5 "grounded" positions.  I do have external grounds run to the case
of the switches.

I used some very small wire and a little pickup coil run to the outside the
box to a small 12 volt light bulb. When running 100 watts to the dummy
load, the bulb would light at about 50 to 60 % of it's normal output,
interesting.

Next I unhooked the other 5 rigs from the switch and hooked the bulb to one
of the unused coax connectors and fired up a rig at 100 watts in RTTY to
the dummy. Guess what? the bulb blew.., Burned out, toast etc.

So, I have to wonder what is this doing to the other 5 rigs hooked to the
switch even though the rigs were off?  I think I know now why my Icom PCR
1000 had the front end fried on it.

So, major changes took place based on these tests.

I removed the switches and went back to my old method of isolation and rig
switching by using feed thru bulkhead coax connectors mounted on a panel
with the various rigs hooked to the back side and then the antenna
selection just hooks to whatever rig I wish to use at the time. Simple but
I feel it is whole lot better and safer. I will update the pictures on my
web page later tonight.

This was my test run under controlled conditions and your mileage may
differ.

73

        William J. Diamond (Bill)
        Rogers, Arkansas USA
        wjdiamond@sbcglobal.net

        Ham Radio Operator WR�T
      Flying The Flag Long Before
            It Was Popular

 Please Visit My Icom Radio Page At

 http://pages.sbcglobal.net/wjdiamond/index.html