workman antenna switch LOL

[KD2GOE]

Well i got this little gem in the mail for $12 shipped

First thing was all the wires, good god cut them a little shorter maybe they will save $0.10 per unit...


Here it is after i some work to it...



Then i fixed the wattage rating to 100watts...

 

[Radioman1]

Workman antenna switch

Go ahead and put that KW thru it, watch it V A P O R I Z E.

Scares me to look at it and I am fearless...............

 

[Mudfoot]

Looks like a Redman design...

 

[RatsoW8]

They cost less than $20 so you're lucky to get wire at all!

 

[C2]

complaining about too much wire?

looks like you got the newer improved version.

I should make that wattage mod to mine, but I think it was already rated, for 5 Watts. I got the low power model.

 

[KD2GOE]

complaining about too much wire?

looks like you got the newer improved version.

I should make that wattage mod to mine, but I think it was already rated, for 5 Watts. I got the low power model.

Not complaining more poking fun if it... i kind of knew what i was getting in to when i ordered it..
It is only to switch 3 radios to my a99.

Go ahead and put that KW thru it, watch it V A P O R I Z E.

Scares me to look at it and I am fearless...............

Yeah when i seen 1,000 watts and opened it i just smiled

 

[Mudfoot]

Not complaining more poking fun if it... i kind of knew what i was getting in to when i ordered it..
It is only to switch 3 radios to my a99.



Yeah when i seen 1,000 watts and opened it i just smiled

That's Dosy watts.

 

[KD2GOE]

That's Dosy watts.

So that would be 700 bird?

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

It looks like it was made by someone without a clue for someone without a clue and sold by someone else without a clue.

 

[222DBFL]

The name says it all lol.

 

[w9cll]

Toss it in the can and get a real switch.

 

[binrat]

got the same switch, use it for vhf fox hunts. switch from 1/4 wave vert to a 3 element yagi to a tomato juice can with a small hole in the end and a 50 ohm resistor in it. |Works great for that and that's about it.

 

[Mudfoot]

I'd use it until something better comes along. Just keep an eye on it, don't abuse it.

 

[KD2GOE]

I had to trim 2" to 3" off each wire, I'm only using it with my Anton 99 when I get some money together ill get a nicer 4 port switch...

I sprayed the switch contacts with lube to keep them from oxidizing. tested it with my antenna analyzer with a dummy load and my A99, every thing looks good. I will be putting no more then 100watts pep through it so ill be ok for now. I will keep an eye on it from time to time.

my friend has one and I took my antenna analyzer over to test his antennas, his was giving him 3.0:1 through it so his is junk...

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Trimming the wires back no doibt improved things somewhat. The big issue is that the switch can't handle much RF current. The builder probably tbouht that ig tbe switch was rated for 5 amps then it should be good for a kilowatt which is about 4.5 amps into 50 ohms. Funny thing how 5 amps DC behaves a lot differently than 5 amps of RF flowing especially when it is flowing when the switch is operated.