Two rigs on one antenna through a coax switch

[ND9B]

I have two high powered rigs that I want to use with one antenna. Would it be safe to use a Daiwa CO-201 coax switch for this purpose? This particular switch shorts the unselected port to ground, but the actual isolation is not specified. I just want to make sure transmitting on one rig won't nuke the other.

Bobby Dipole

[K8AXW]

You shouldn't have a problem with this setup.  The offline radio antenna terminals are shorted to ground which prevents RF from getting into the radio.  I would also have the offline radio shut down as well to prevent RF from getting into the radio by any other means. 

[ND9B]

I have two high powered rigs that I want to use with one antenna. Would it be safe to use a Daiwa CO-201 coax switch for this purpose? This particular switch shorts the unselected port to ground, but the actual isolation is not specified. I just want to make sure transmitting on one rig won't nuke the other.

Bobby Dipole

I just realized that I could measure the switche's isolation with my RF generator and the S-meter on my rig. I cranked the generator up on 20M (the highest freq band I use) for a reading of 60 over 9, then flipped the coax switch. The S-meter fell all the way to the end of it's range. The isolation must be at least 100db if the meter is right! I see no problem now.

Bobby Dipole ND9B

[W8JX]

I have two high powered rigs that I want to use with one antenna. Would it be safe to use a Daiwa CO-201 coax switch for this purpose? This particular switch shorts the unselected port to ground, but the actual isolation is not specified. I just want to make sure transmitting on one rig won't nuke the other.

Bobby Dipole

Been doing this for many many years with up to 3 rigs with a few other brand switches over years and never had any problem with my Kenwoods.

[M5AEO]

I asked exactly the same question a few months ago!
I run two transceivers and a receiver in this same way via a 3-way coax switch from Diamond.  The company specifies 60dB of separation between the 3 ports and I have experienced no problems or interaction between the rigs.  I am only running up to 100 watts however, so the higher RF power that is generally used in the USA should be taken into consideration.

Jonathan, M5AEO, London UK.

[W8JX]

I asked exactly the same question a few months ago!
I run two transceivers and a receiver in this same way via a 3-way coax switch from Diamond.  The company specifies 60dB of separation between the 3 ports and I have experienced no problems or interaction between the rigs.  I am only running up to 100 watts however, so the higher RF power that is generally used in the USA should be taken into consideration.

Jonathan, M5AEO, London UK.

Not really a problem unless you have more than one amp in line too and I switch rigs BEFORE amp.