Can I use a 3 to 1 switch backwards?

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weccwwe

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Hi all,

I purchased a generic 3 into 1 antenna switch a little while ago,

My plans have changed and now I am going with a single antenna instead.

My question is, can I reverse this switch so that I can plug 3 radios into a single antenna?

It is this one:

51UFHUED6jL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg



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Thunderknight

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Receivers or transceivers? If you will be transmitting into the switch you need to worry about isolation and too much power getting fed back into the other radios.
 

weccwwe

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Sorry, I forgot to mention, they are transceivers.

Ok Thank you, I won't be using it that way then. Learned something new today.

Regards
 

hiegtx

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If that is a switch, as opposed to a coupler, then no, that will not work as you seem to want (connecting all three at the same time).

Since it is a switch, only one path is connected at a time. The single port side, which is what you are indicating the antenna would be connected to, is your source. With the antenna connected there, the switch would connect only one scanner at a time to the antenna. Changing to the next setting would disconnect that radio & instead connect a different one. If what you are wanting is to connect only one radio to the antenna at a time, and not use the other two, you could do that. But if you wanted to connect all three at once, you need a coupler, not a switch. While a coupler would work to connect three receivers to the same antenna, that would not be a good idea if you are transmitting on one or more of the radios.

As Thunderkight noted, if the radios are transceivers, as opposed to receivers only such as scanners, trying to transmit on one of them, with the other two connected to the same coupler, likely would cause damage to one or more of the units. Connecting the antenna to the single port side, and a radio to each of the other three ports would allow you to use one radio at a time for transmitting, selecting the active radio with the switch.

Edit to add: Look closely at the specs for your switch. I see it has a label of 1000 watts on it. If it isolates the output ports enough from each other, then you could use it to select one radio to utilize your antenna at a time,just not all three at once.
 

weccwwe

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Thanks for your response, hiegtx

I want to use only one transciever at a time, But reading what you guys are saying, I would rather not try with this cheap switch.

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hiegtx

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Thanks for your response, hiegtx

I want to use only one transciever at a time, But reading what you guys are saying, I would rather not try with this cheap switch.

Regards
Well, if it's rated at 1000 watts, the switch may be designed so that you could safely use it. But, as noted, it could always derail & go wrong.
 

Thunderknight

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The correct analysis is to find the specification for port to port isolation (if it’s published), and then, knowing your transmit power, calculate how much power will “leak” to the other two radios. Then find how much power they can handle without frying the receiver chain. (Often not a value manufacturers publish)

Safe bet: don’t try it.

Edit: just read some of the reviews at eham.....yikes! Definitely do not transmit through with another radio attached. https://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/8065
 
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K7MH

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The only coaxial switch that is designed and rated well enough for that is the Alpha Delta coaxial switches. Most do not have adequate isolation between switch positions. I use an alpha delta switch to switch between different 100 watt transceivers and have had no problems.


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