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Reviews For: Woodbox Radio Switchbox

Category: Antenna Switching, Phasing, Controllers

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Review Summary For : Woodbox Radio Switchbox
Reviews: 2MSRP: 155
Description:
SwitchBox is a automatic T/R switch senses transmitted RF and switches your
antenna from receive to transmit using a relay. It shorts your receiver antenna
input to ground to protect your receiver. Instead of using RF sense to switch the
antenna, a control line input lets your key/keyer or PTT line switch the antenna.
Works on all modes -- CW, AM, SSB, FM, and digital modes.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.woodboxradio.com/uk/Switchbox.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0024.5
KD7RDZI2 Rating: 2020-02-09
does not always do what it was supposed to do Time Owned: more than 12 months.
This product is advertised to work essentially with any TX. Well, not really all o them. With a tube rig by Drake I have no problem, but using my favorite rig by AEG Telefunken I had to add a sequencer and use the PTT line all the time. I consider the RF Sensing as a safety device. If used just the RF Sensing the unit would switch on and off furiously. Maybe an easy mod with different caps could be used. As a matter of fact using the internal autotuner without PTT using just the RF sensing makes this Switchbox crazy.
My unit was sent back for repair once. Actually the inside was terribly dirty for unknown reasons and connectors were not doing proper contacts. I would suggest you to inspect the inside and, in case, clean the board with isopropyl alcohol and check the solder joints. Overall it is very easy to open it and have a look inside.
Having said this I have used it for more than ten years almost everyday.
W2NLS Rating: 2011-07-25
Nice Accessory! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I am using this to help me receive on my Flex-Radio 1500 while transmitting on my Icom 756 Pro III. This gives me the benefits of SDR on receive with 100 watts (instead of 5) on transmit. I am using Ham Radio Deluxe to monitor both xcvrs and to shadow the tuning of the Flex on the 756.

This Switchbox was very simple to hookup. The only caveat is the long delivery time from Italy to the US but that is hardly Woodbox's fault. Also they just supply a connector for power (no cord or supply). The back of the unit does not show the polarity of the plug. Nor is it called out in the manual's specs area. However, the somewhat fuzzy schematic diagram showed it was +12V on the tip so all went well.

I also like that this switches the audio as well as the antenna. So if, for example, I want to use the 756's monitor function on transmit to hear CW or PSK tones it will easily allow me to do that too.

I have it set to sense RF input and automatically switch. It can also use a PTT line to sense. It is small and compact, looks nice and does its job very well! Highly recommended.