| VE7REN |
Rating:    |
2023-01-07 | |
| works well,but gritty rough! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
bought new.
wanted to have all coax the same direction for better install.
previously used diamond brand switches that are my go to brand switch,although they did not offer the same configuration.
happy with the look,build quality of the alpha delta 2-b,BUT the switch seems rough/gritty while turning!
i re-re the switch knob via re adjusting the depth it sits on the shaft only to have the same results.im going to have to take the switch apart to determine the issue! For the price and reputation of alpha delta products,you should not have to re-re or have ANY issue with a new product!Diamond brand switches are velvety smooth and offer superior build quality over alpha in my opinion,but without the coax configuration on the back like the alphas. if diamond ever made a switch the same config as alpha,ide stick with diamond brand
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| K0SF |
Rating:     |
2021-12-19 | |
| A Great Design with Assembly Issues |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Update 19 Dec 2021: While my experiences below did occur, I have changed my opinion of the switch with the following caveats:
1.) The gas plug breakdown voltage is likely near that of running full legal power with moderate SWR (I suspect the plug is rated at 500V). Note that a 50 Ohm load with 1:1 SWR would create 388V peak at 1.5KW. Given that, those using the switch with amplifiers and moderate SWR may want to remove the gas plug.
2.) The assembly is what holds this switch back, not the design. There are a few modifications I have made to mine, to include fixes made to the damaged switches described below which are in use now 15 years later:
a.) The coax receptacles are mounted on paint: I recommend de-soldering the receptacles and scraping the paint away. I made a network analyzer 2 port sweep of the switch at VHF/UHF and the return loss (SWR) and thru loss decreased after the receptacles were re-mounted to paint-free surfaces. All switches I have owned required this modification.
b.) In all switches I have owned, stripline conductors are not mounted parallel to the ground channel. While scraping paint, one may as well re-align the conductors. Similarly, the 2 port characteristics revealed improved UHF performance by proper alignment of the conductors.
c.) The lift bar may not pick up properly, or not evenly from left to right, especially in the 4 position switch. It is fairly easy to re-adjust the contact bar by hand. Take care to make small adjustments. Clean the contact bar with Isopropyl alcohol to ensure the contacts are clean; some crud collected on a clean paper towel when I cleaned mine.
d.) The nylon fasteners may need to be re-secured or replaced. New fasteners can be purchased at a local home store.
e.) When re-soldering the receptacles, insert a mating coax plug so that the receptacle's center contact doesn't drift. To limit heat and dwell time, I use an aggressive water wash flux on the stripline contactor and receptacle pin, followed by washing.
This may seem like an inordinate amount of effort, but despite my 2005 experiences I decided to give this switch a second chance and they are working perfectly. I run them with my Collins 20V-3 broadcast transmitter and have made 5 minute long "buzzard" transmissions without issue.
A good design that just needs some assembly improvements.
***** Older 2005 Review *****
This is second AD antenna switch I've owned that has blown. The problem with the gas plug is that it will arc over on 15 and 10 meters running a kilowatt, even with low SWR (1.4:1) in my case. When the plug arcs, it takes other things with it. Fortunately, my amplifier is OK, but it did melt a 9914 coaxial jumper coming from the switch, and of course the gas plug internally. My amplifier: A QRO HF2500DX, which I guess says good things about it, it can handle the near dead short scenario briefly. |
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| K5DSQ |
Rating:      |
2017-12-22 | |
| Great Switch |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I purchased the two antenna switch probably five years ago, switch it between antennas and ground every day and have never had any issues. Great product! |
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| N0AH |
Rating:      |
2017-06-27 | |
| Well built, offers lighting protection at great value |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| I have my two backyard ground verticals lightning protected with ground rods next to the antennas, tied into the base of each antenna, and buried bare copper wire going to a common ground rod shared by all of my equipment under my utility box. That said, I needed to also protect my feedlines and found the Alpha Delta 2B switch to be an easy solution. They actually have drilled a hole for a ground lug bare of paint. The nicest thing is I can just switch the feedlines to ground when I leave the shack so I don't have to disconnect. The switch is surge protected......- Nothing will protect against a direct strike but nearby strikes, ambient built up static, are really minimized risk using this switch- I found it sturdy, well built, and without fault- I would suggest this to any one as part of a great way to tie in two antennas to a single radio feed etc... I paid $64.95 atHRO in Denver for it- |
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| WA0VY |
Rating:    |
2015-06-01 | |
| My Review, take 2 |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
This replaces a review I posted a few days ago. First, as mentioned, I like the idea behind this product: center unused antenna connector is grounded and both antennas are grounded when the switch is set to COM. Whether this is effective lightening protection or not, it would make me sleep better in a storm. So, a good idea. I noted that one of the N type connectors was flexing and found that the barrel had slightly separated from the base. At the same time, an amplifier was indicating arcing and SWR faults. I opened the switch intending to replace the suspect connector with a high quality Amphenol connector. Once inside, I did not like what I saw. The COM center pin connector strip terminates to a metal “T” which connects to the 1 and 2 center pin connector strips by a switch which uses a roller to push the 1 or 2 strip up to connect with the thin edge of the “T.” The “T” would rotate slightly as it was engaged and did not align well with the 1 or 2 strip. It would touch at an angle, not square. For a switch rated at legal limit, it seemed flimsy. I also noted some pitting on the No. 1 antenna center pin strip which looked like evidence of arcing. Since the amp had never faulted before, I concluded the switch was my problem and replaced it with a different switch rated a 3Kw.
The reason for this amended review is that I now have reason to believe that some or maybe even all of the faults I observed were phantoms. After installing the new switch I saw some odd instrumentation issues with the main amp. While it was not faulting like it had, it was still indicating transient SWR spikes, most at precisely 5.35:1, over and over. It also occasionally indicated a short blast of 1Kw RF power out while in standby and no drive. I swapped coax lines, switch positions, ran it direct and tried to confirm with other instruments. At the end of all that, I saw no evidence of any actual problem other than the instrumentation on the amp. While my observations about the AD are otherwise the same, I doubt that the switch caused the faults. Without the faults, I would rate the switch a 3. If your not running QRO and/or don’t get faults, the nice lightning protection features make this switch a reasonable option.
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| W0BKR |
Rating:      |
2015-04-09 | |
| Top Line Switches |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Never had an issue or problem with either my 2 position of 4 position switch....smooth movement changing positions, and very well made...no issues here... |
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| KG4FMQ |
Rating:      |
2014-10-11 | |
| GREAT!!! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I have had this model and the 4 position model for a couple of years now. I have had no problems switching, no problems on receive. Everything feels solid with the construction of the switching. I have NOT had to replace the plug yet, and I really have nothing negative to say! The bottom line is that it works as it should and is a great product!
73's
KG4FMQ |
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| W6LAX |
Rating:  |
2014-02-15 | |
| Relocated to Trash Bin |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| I don't like writing a negative review, but I've been through two of these switches in the past ten months. In both cases the SWR inexplicably started jumping all over the place as I transmitted. The first unit was replaced by Alpha Delta with the suggestion that I may have over-tightened the coax to it (I don't think I did). Now the replacement unit has failed as well and so has been relocated to the trash bin. |
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| W0CZE |
Rating:   |
2014-02-14 | |
| CENTER CONTACT ON ONE CONTACT NOT SOLDERED! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I HAVE HAD THIS SWITCH FOR THREE YEARS. I HAVE BEEN CHASING INTERMITTENT FOR THAT LONG! REPLACED ALL COAX FITTINGS AND FIGURED MY IC 7800 HAD A PROBLEM . FOUND IT TODAY. PICTURES ON REQUEST . |
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| VK2HLG |
Rating:     |
2012-10-13 | |
| Good -- but not all-weather |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
I made the assumption that I could put this device at the bottom of my two antennas, and that it was all right for exposure to the weather. It's not. Mine collected water, causing SWR spikes and eventual rusting of part of the switch. I will be able to clean and repair it, but be aware that this is not for unprotected outdoor installation.
Alpha-Delta does not say that it IS suitable for use that way, but they don't explicitly say that it ISN'T. So, my fault, but their documentation could be more clear about this.
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