Antennas are a pain...

[Jeremy McDermond]

On Oct 21, 2009, at 7:21 PM, Bill V WA7NWP wrote:

>> I'm looking for a coax switch with BNC connectors on it to switch the
>> antenna from the K2/10 to the HPSDR.  Anyone have some suggestions  
>> that are
>> relatively inexpensive?  I find plenty of SO-239 ones, but not much  
>> with
>> BNC.  I'd need them for 80-6m.
>
> We should use more of those as the BNC is 'better' then the 239's.   I
> don't know of a BNC switch off hand...    Google just showed one:
>
>  http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/7371?cookietest=1

I'll have to keep my eyes out for one.  I think I may have to break  
down and buy BNC -> PL-259 cables and use a "normal" switch.  I'm  
really anxious for the cash flow and at least get the receiver side of  
the HPSDR rig working to see how it runs.  John Melton's GHPSDR  
software that drives the rig for Linux has added some code in to have  
four simultaneous receivers on one single receiver board.

>  I've also thought about using one with soundmodem on my
>> APRS Digi to handle the 9600bps.
>
> It's good to take it for a test drive but a general rule is that
> anybody that tries soundcard packet ends up going to a dedicated TNC
> when it's time for a permanent installation.

I'm only running it on 1200 bps, but NH6Z-10 is running the Linux  
soundmodem, and I haven't had a real issue yet, although I haven't  
done a hell of a lot of checking about overdriving the radio.  I'm  
going to tweak things during Christmas break when I'm home.  I'm not  
sure how this will transfer to 9600 bps though.  My current plan is to  
get a TNC-X with USB to drive the 1200bps VHF, and use the current  
soundmodem to drive the 9600bps side.  I haven't decided whether to  
put that on UHF of VHF yet.  There are ups and downs to both, and  
mainly I have to figure out how to put antennas up on the datacenter  
for everything.  I'm open to suggestions from more experienced folks  
because while I am experienced with networking, I'll admit to being a  
packet/APRS noob.

>
> 73
> Bill - WA7NWP
> _______________________________________________
> Seatcp mailing list
> Seatcp at wetnet.net
> http://wetnet.net/mailman/listinfo/seatcp
>

--
Jeremy McDermond (NH6Z)
Xenotropic Systems
mcdermj at xenotropic.com