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Author Topic: One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?  (Read 327 times)

NH7WG

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One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?
« on: February 23, 2023, 07:27:01 PM »

I have a 2m, 1.25m, .7m antenna and a 2m/.7m dual band mobile as well as a separate 1.25m radio (all 50 watt radios).  I'd like to connect the two mobiles up to my tri band antenna at the same time (but transmit one at a time of course).  Right  now I'm using an antenna switch to move between radios.  Is is possible to connect the two mobiles to the single antenna and use either radio to transmit?

Bruce, NH7WG
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K6AER

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Re: One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2023, 07:33:33 PM »

You would use a tri-plexer with outputs for each band. Each radio will need to be a dedicated  radio for that band.

https://www.dxengineering.com/search/part-type/duplexers-and-triplexers

73, Mike K6AER
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KA4WJA

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Re: One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2023, 08:57:56 PM »

Bruce,
1)  First off, good on you for asking questions!  :) 

2)  Secondly, the short answer is yes....yes, you can use "combiners" (what are generally referred to as "di-plexers" and "tri-plexers"), to do what you desire.
{although, in order to provide you with a precise, definitive answer on exactly what models of "di-plexers" and "tri-plexers" you'd need, we'd actually need to know what radios you have , and actually more precisely does your "2m/.7m dual-band mobile" radio have one single antenna jack, or two separate ones?}

I have a 2m, 1.25m, .7m antenna and a 2m/.7m dual band mobile as well as a separate 1.25m radio (all 50 watt radios).  I'd like to connect the two mobiles up to my tri band antenna at the same time (but transmit one at a time of course).  Right  now I'm using an antenna switch to move between radios.  Is is possible to connect the two mobiles to the single antenna and use either radio to transmit?

Bruce, NH7WG

3)  Since, there aren't many "dual-band mobiles" that have separate/dedicated antenna jacks for each band, I'm going to assume it has just one, yes?

So, with that assumption, then what you'd need is one "di-plxer" for the 2m/70cm radio...and one "tri-plexer" for the antenna feedline...

--- where your 2m/70cm dual-band radio's antenna jack would be connected to the "Common" ("combined") port of a "2m/70cm di-plexer" (such as the Comet CF-416a)

---and the "diplexer's" separate 2m and 70cm cables would connect to the "2m" (low) input and the "70cm" (high) input of a "tri-plexer" (such as the Comet CFX-324)....

--- your 222mhz radio would connect to the "220mhz" (mid) input of the "tri-plexer"...

--- your coax from your tri-band antenna would connect to the "Common" ("Combined") output of the "tri-plexer"...

And, then you have seamless, easy-peasy, and simultaneous, use of both radios, on all 3 bands, using your one tri-band antenna!  :)
While I doubt there would be a time when you'd need/desire to transmit on both radios at the same time, please know that this is do-able with this set-up! 
 

Have a look here for the "di-plexer":
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/cma-cf-416a

And, here for the "tri-plexer":
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/cma-cfx-324j


You'll see that their combined cost is ~ $143...
As you're using a coax switch now, you obviously have adequate coax jumpers, etc., so the above costs (plus shipping) is it. 
You'd simply replace the coax switch with these two devices (the diplexer and triplexer)....and, aside from placing them out-of-your-way, that's it!


I have personal experience with the Comet CFX-324, and have found it to be well made (better than your average ham-grade items), and mine has lasted ~ two decades without issue.  (don't have personal experience with their di-plexer, but assume it's of same quality?)


Bruce, my only question for you (aside from what radios / does your dual-band rig have only one antenna jack) is what antenna switch are you using to switch between your two radios now?   'Cuz, I hope it's a Daiwa CS-201, as it is a great switch for this....and, I really hope it's not an MFJ...


I hope this helps.

73,
John,  KA4WJA
« Last Edit: February 23, 2023, 09:10:00 PM by KA4WJA »
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K6JH

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Re: One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2023, 04:10:20 AM »

If you dedicate one radio to a particular band(s) then the duplexer/triplexer solution can work.

If your intention is to be able to use either radio on any band you have to rig up an antenna relay and wire into the Ptt wires on the microphones to build a little driver circuit. But only one radio works at a time. This is just a more automated antenna switch.
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73
Jim K6JH

K4PIH

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Re: One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2023, 06:43:30 AM »

Don't do it. Unless you have HOA restrictions, buy appropriate antennas and use them correctly. I had to replace 3 radios, all connected to one antenna switch which was used in reverse mode. I didn't do the original install and I would not have done it that way. I did have to fix the mistakes made by another "well meaning ham".
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AC1LC

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Re: One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2023, 09:13:59 AM »

I have a Comet GP15 antenna (2m/70cm/6m) and I have a diplexer set up just before my radios.  The 2m/70cm signal goes to my Anytone 578 and the 6m leg goes to my Yaesu FT450D.  That's the simple explanation.  The more involved on is that I use a single run of LMR400 from my vertical VHF/UHF/6m antenna and my OCF 10-40m dipole.  The coax is 125' long and runs underground through a conduit.

I have a cable TV entry box mounted on the bottom of my antenna mast.  The feedline for the OCF dipole and vertical antenna both come in to the box.  I then have a diplexer that combines both feedlines into one (the LMR400) and runs the 125' to the shack.  Inside the shack I have another diplexer that splits the signal into 6m and lower, that runs to my HF rig and the other higher frequency leg goes to the UHF/VHF radio. 
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KA4WJA

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Re: One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2023, 09:16:48 AM »

Just to push into some clarity here for everyone...assuming I correctly understood what he wrote and asked:

Bruce has ONE 1.25m (222mhz) radio....(which is a dedicated single-band radio)

Bruce has ONE  2m/70cm (144mhz/440mhz) radio....(which is dedicated dual-band radio, that of course does not work on 222mhz)

He is currently using both of these radios with a "tri-band" (2m/1.25m/70cm) antenna, by using a coax switch....and as such, he can only use one at a time....hence the reason he asked a question here --- to see what (if anything) he could use in order to allow him to use both radios at the same time.

And, the good news is, there are some things ("tri-plexers" and "di-plexers") that do exactly what he desires, and the ones that I've have used (Comet) are well-made, seem to meet their spec, and have been reliable for many years.


So, there is no need to further complicate things here.

Unless I have somehow misunderstood what equipment he has, and what he asked, all that I wrote last night (above in reply #2) is true and accurate.



And, while I cannot speak to Jacquet, K4PIH's specific problems ('cuz I don't know the situation, radios, switch, cables, etc.)....but we can all take notice of his unfortunate rig failures, and use this as a reminder to make sure you use good (hi-isolation and "positive" / solid switching) coax switches!

Especially when using them to switch between radios! 

And, if using radios that do not have VSWR protection (which is lacking in most of the lesser-expensive / made-in-China rigs), you also need to make darn sure you have the coax switched to the correct radio before transmitting! 
And, btw, when using a coax switch to switch between two (or three, or four) VHF-FM and/or UHF-FM radios this needs to physically verified ---- as, unless you can actually receive a signal from some station(s) before you transmit, even if you "unsquelch" the radio to hear the "noise" like you do on HF (SSB, CW, etc.), all you're listening to is the receiver's noise, not atmospheric noise ---- so, you do need to physically verify the switch position!

And again, while I don't know the radios....the generic facts are, that in the past 20 years or so, some manufactures have made/sold single-band and/or dual-band radios that have "wide receive coverage", etc....and if you use a crappy coax switch and/or have poor connections and/or just poor isolation, these radios are more sensitive to issues than more "dedicated" ham rigs...
{oh, and don't get me started on the Baofeng / Anytone craze of the past 10 years or so, with their poor design/construction and lack of reliability...and, their pushing of components well-beyond their design spec, especially in the transmit PA's...ugh! (I just don't get their appeal...heck, even if on a budget, the amortized cost of an Icom or Kenwood is MUCH lower than what buying a few Baofengs would cost you over the years)...sorry for the small rant.  hi hi}

Anyway, there is no need to run 3 runs of coax to 3 separate antennas, just to use 3 different bands.
And, btw....if Bruce did wish to do this, he'd need to buy another radio, as well as new antennas, more coax, etc....
Again, to be 100% clear, there is no reason to do this!  :(
Just use a tri-plexer and di-plexer!  :)

I do hope this clears things up?

73,
John,  KA4WJA
« Last Edit: February 24, 2023, 09:23:29 AM by KA4WJA »
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NH7WG

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Re: One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2023, 01:14:28 PM »

First, thanks very much for all the replies.  And John KA4WJA, you have it exactly right.  Thanks for restating it.  I have a 50-watt single band 220 radio and also a 50-watt dual band VHF/UHF radio.  The antenna is an Ed Fong TBJ-1 tri band antenna which I use because it isn't very conspicuous and it handles 50-watts.  My HOA restrictions are something else.  Anyway i like your idea John about using a di-plexer and tri-plexer.  I've used them before (actual have a Diamond that I could use) and hadn't thought about using a combo to get the job done.  Oh and the antenna switch is a Diawa and it works just fine, but i'd like to improve my setup so I don't need one.  I'm definitely  going to tri the di/tri-plexer approach.

I've been a HAM for over 30 years and enjoy learning new approaches to things.  Thanks again for the great ideas.

73,
Bruce, NH7WG
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KA4WJA

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Re: One tri band Antenna & two radios. How can I hook them up?
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2023, 06:55:11 PM »

Bruce,
You're very welcome!

Good luck and 73,
John,  KA4WJA
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