[SixClub] Dipole spacing

[mikea]

On Tue, Jun 06, 2006 at 08:18:37AM -0700, R. W. Royal wrote:
> OR...Would I be better off using one antenna and a coax switch? Any 
> suggestions?
> 
> R. W. Royal wrote:
> 
> > Anyone have a ballpark figure as to how far I would need to space a 
> > pair of stacked rotatable dipoles? One for transmiting and one for a 
> > seperate receiver.  Or if and when I get  some extra time, the same 
> > idea with a pair of moxons for the same setup on 6m.

I think I'd go with the coax switch or relay.

With the two stacked dipoles, you have to disable (preferably short) 
the RX input when you key the TX, to avoid zapping the front end, plus
you have two stacked dipoles. That's three things to fiddle with, and 
one of them, if it fails, can let the smoke out of parts of the RX. 
Not good. 

With the single dipole, you still have to switch the antenna from RX 
to TX, and the RX input should be shorted while the TX is on, but 
(barring a really serious -- and flying-pigs-unlikely-- failure that 
shorts the TX output directly to the RX front end) if it's not shorted
the RX probably won't see a dangerous signal level at the input. _And_ 
you've only got one dipole to fiddle with. 

-- 
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mikea at mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin