Multicoupler, Diplexer, combiner

[scanmanmi]

I have two antennas I want to bring into my scanner. I have been reading a lot about using a multicoupler but when I Google that, the results talk about one antenna and multiple receivers. I think there is a lot of confusion about these terms. I believe what I need is a Diplexer. I am not interested in Stridsberg and most I find pass only ham bands. I have a 800 mhz yagi and a VHF/UHF omni so I want from 118 to 900 mhz. Any recommendations?

 

[Bmacs]

This is the solution - a broadband combiner...

2 Ways Power Splitter, 10 - 1000 MHz, 50Ω | ZFSC-2-2+ | Mini-Circuits

Mini-Circuits is a global leader in the design and manufacturing of RF, IF, and microwave components from DC to 86GHz.

www.minicircuits.com

It is available in different connector types (see data sheet). The penalty is 3 dB of signal loss from each antenna - but there is no other way.

A diplexer (frequency selective) could provide less loss, but as you have found out - no one makes a broadband diplexer with the frequency range you seek.

 

[APX8000]

I have a custom diplexer if you're interested, PM me.

 

[vagrant]

I use a K&L 5IZ10-20/X1300-0/0 diplexer. One port handles 20-508 MHz and the other 518-1300 MHz. You may need to pray to the eBay gods and make a sacrifice to find one. Mine are not for sale.



Here's a thread about them. Here is a great and cheap diplexer for 20 to 500MHz and 700/800MHz

 

[prcguy]

Either Comet or Diamond make a diplexer that will seperate a VHF/UHF antenna and an 800 on up antenna. The one I have buried somewhere passes VHF/UHF up to about 470MHz on one port then about 840MHz on up on the other port. These frequencies are a bit fuzzy and it will actually pass up to about 500MHz on the low side and a little lower than 840MHz on the high side. A diplexer will combine the two antennas onto one coax with very little loss. I'll try to find mine and post the part #.

You don't want to use a broad band power splitter as mentioned above because it will have a minimum 3dB loss on both ports, you will loose half your signal right out the gate and it will not separate the antennas, causing signals from both to combine possibly out of phase with much more loss.

 

[sonm10]

Diamond Antenna MX3000N

Triplexer: 1.6-160/350-500/850-1300MHz

www.gigaparts.com

 

[scanmanmi]

Either Comet or Diamond make a diplexer that will seperate a VHF/UHF antenna and an 800 on up antenna.

All I can find are Duplexers which are for hooking 2 radios to one antenna. My VUHF has an N connector and my 800 yagi has an F.

 

[KevinC]

All I can find are Duplexers which are for hooking 2 radios to one antenna. My VUHF has an N connector and my 800 yagi has an F.

They work in reverse as well (two antennas into one radio).

 

[KevinC]

I use a K&L 5IZ10-20/X1300-0/0 diplexer. One port handles 20-508 MHz and the other 518-1300 MHz. You may need to pray to the eBay gods and make a sacrifice to find one. Mine are not for sale.

View attachment 149632

Here's a thread about them. Here is a great and cheap diplexer for 20 to 500MHz and 700/800MHz

I have the same one thanks to @prcguy posting about them way back when.

 

[APX8000]

Microlab also makes one, BK-24N I think was the model number. This is my custom diplexer (from a company no longer in business)...

 

[prcguy]

Microlab also makes one, BK-24N I think was the model number. This is my custom diplexer (from a company no longer in business)...

The Microlab BK-24N is the best I've found for combining an antenna that covers 80MHz through 520MHz and another that covers 694 through 2,700MHz. Problem is its expensive at $500 on up new. I've found two on eBay in the $100 range but they don't show up that often.