Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Paradan Antenna Disconnect Switch

Category: Antenna Switching, Phasing, Controllers

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Paradan Antenna Disconnect Switch
Reviews: 5MSRP: 100
Description:
The Paradan Antenna Disconnect actuator protects your radio in two ways.
When your radio is on, it prevents static-discharge, surges, and lightning-
strike effects via a gas discharge tube on the coax line input. When it
senses your radio is turned off, the antenna's signal and ground wires are
shorted together and grounded plus both the coax center and coax ground
are disconnected from the radio. When the radio is powered on, the
actuator reconnects the antenna for normal operation. A great insurance
policy for your radio. The required 12 Volt power for the actuator comes
from the transceiver’s auxiliary power socket. If your radio does not have
an auxiliary power jack, then you can simply connect to your 12 VDC power
supply (presuming you turn the power supply off when not operating).
Product is in production
More Info: http://paradanradio.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0054.2
W9RAC Rating: 2022-05-13
Great remote switch when installed properly. Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have seen disgruntled reviews indicating this is not heavy enough for a lightning strike. Friends not much is. If you have your station properly grounded single point bonding as required this device is as good as anything. It really shines with nearby strikes or static built up. Again, proper grounding is in order. If you are like me and were sick and tired of disconnecting the coax (which is a joke once you learn how to properly ground). I use this in conjunction with polyphasers also. I did have to beef up the grounding lug inside the unit where a thin cheap star washer and powder coat over spray was present also. Overall its a good unit.
NA3NA Rating: 2021-03-02
Save your money. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought this thinking it would disconnect the antenna incase of lightening. It didn't come with any description nor specifications. So I decided to open it and see what the hype is all about. Well I don't know what the other reviewers want but small relays, a small diode and a small gas discharge tube WILL NOT survive lightening. Save your money and go to McMaster or another industrial supply, buy a large relay. Other items can be purchased from Mouser, such as a pair of high current discharge tubes, large current diode. All in all you'll probably be in for about $100. Wish I'd a been able to see a schematic or pictures of the inside before I purchased. I would have built a better unit.
K4TB Rating: 2018-11-15
Good Protection Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I had a lighting strike a year ago to my vertical antenna that did some damage to the equipment in my shack. I concluded that part of the problem was that my vertical antenna's ground was connected to the utility ground at the house, thus allowing charging of the antenna by current conduction from the utility ground, and possibly drawing the lightning strike. Despite having surge suppressors installed at my shack I concluded the real problem was not to let my antenna to be "charged up" by ground current from the oncoming storm. I decided I needed to completely disconnect my antenna coax from the antenna system so that there was no ground connectivity, other than the local ground system at the antenna. I was doing that manually and got tired of going outside to disconnect lines as a storm approached. I decided to install a Paradan antenna disconnect switch. So far so good and I am thankful that I don't have to go outside as the rain starts when a storm is coming to unplug the antenna. The Paradan switch does that for me very nicely.
N3PS Rating: 2017-03-15
Awesome Switch Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
These disconnects are awesome. I have 6 of them in use at my station (bought 2 of them from Dan directly at Dayton '16). Initially, I thought they were pricey, but have you priced th RF relay switches on eBay lately? When I shut down power to the shack, these switches disconnect. So much easier than manually flipping coax switches / unscrewing PL259s.
K1PJR Rating: 2016-05-02
Great idea, great product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I met Dan, N1ZZ at NEAR fest 2016. I passed by his booth and was intrigued by this little black box he was selling. Turns out it was an antenna disconnect switch. He explained how it not only disconnects the center conductor but the braid as well so it's completely disconnected from your rig. Both center and braid are shorted to ground in the off position. It's built extremely well. Looks like a mini version of my Palstar tuner. BTW, Dan is the former owner of West Mountain Radio. I connected the switch in my garage where the feed line enters. My shack is on the second floor and I did not want to run a ground wire that length. I ran some 16ga wire to my power supply to power the switch. Worked like a charm. Can't say that I want a lightening strike but I feel a bit safer knowing my feed line is disconnected and grounded.