I have used Mini Circut Labs ZFSC-2-1 and a 2 port passive Stridsberg. I
obtained the MCL's at hamfests for $10 and the Stridsberg new Presently I
am using a MCL PSC-3-1 to feed 3 receivers. I also got this at a hamfest.
My receivers make up the nearly 5 db loss.
Charlie

"Drifter" wrote in message
...
question. anyone recommend the rf-system-SP-1?
or the mini-circuits- zsc-2-2? or, what are you
using and why? looking for suggestions...
thanks...
Drifter...

"Charles W. Hinkle" wrote:

I have used Mini Circut Labs ZFSC-2-1 and a 2 port passive Stridsberg. I
obtained the MCL's at hamfests for $10 and the Stridsberg new Presently I
am using a MCL PSC-3-1 to feed 3 receivers. I also got this at a hamfest.
My receivers make up the nearly 5 db loss.

How do they make up the loss? Just curious.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

In article ,
dxAce wrote:

"Charles W. Hinkle" wrote:

I have used Mini Circut Labs ZFSC-2-1 and a 2 port passive Stridsberg. I
obtained the MCL's at hamfests for $10 and the Stridsberg new Presently I
am using a MCL PSC-3-1 to feed 3 receivers. I also got this at a hamfest.
My receivers make up the nearly 5 db loss.

How do they make up the loss? Just curious.

Maybe his radios have pre-amps like the Drakes.

When you use a passive splitter the loss is 3dB power and 6dB voltage. I
think most radio S meters are responding to the voltage number due to
the nature of the AGC circuits. Someone can correct me on this. Should
be easy enough to take a splitter in and out of line.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Telamon wrote:
Maybe his radios have pre-amps like the Drakes.

When you use a passive splitter the loss is 3dB power and 6dB voltage.
I
think most radio S meters are responding to the voltage number due to
the nature of the AGC circuits. Someone can correct me on this. Should
be easy enough to take a splitter in and out of line.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California
------------------------------------------------------------
Almost all modern receivers use teh AGC voltage for the
"S-meter". And very few have any meaningfull calibration.

Terry

wrote:

Telamon wrote:
Maybe his radios have pre-amps like the Drakes.

When you use a passive splitter the loss is 3dB power and 6dB voltage.
I
think most radio S meters are responding to the voltage number due to
the nature of the AGC circuits. Someone can correct me on this. Should
be easy enough to take a splitter in and out of line.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California
------------------------------------------------------------
Almost all modern receivers use teh AGC voltage for the
"S-meter". And very few have any meaningfull calibration.

Yes, the calibration may indeed be off with various manufacturers, however all
things being equal it should be very easy to determine various antenna changes
with a 'particular' receiver.

Damn simple.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

dxAce wrote:
dxAce Apr 17, 3:11 pm show options
Newsgroups: rec.radio.shortwave
From: dxAce - Find messages by this author
Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 18:11:26 -0400
Local: Sun,Apr 17 2005 3:11 pm
Subject: splitter ?
Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show
original | Report Abuse

- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
Yes, the calibration may indeed be off with various manufacturers,
however all things being equal it should be very easy to determine
various antenna changes with a 'particular' receiver.

Damn simple.

dxAce
Michigan
USA
---------------------------
Sadly very few radios have S-meters that behave in a "correct" way.
I have a HP calibrated step attenuator, with .5dB steps. Zin 50Ohm
Zout 50 Ohm. When checked at the electronics lab (at UK) the
error was less then .07dB worst case. I have a simple crystal osc that
is very temp stable. Zout 50 Ohms at .1V. Measured to be 0.10V.

I have had chance to check quite a few receivers. From the famous
R390, to one of the Lowe 150s. I would have to dig out my notes, if
I even still have them, and the R390 was the ony one that tracked
6dB/1S unit.

This url has better data then I can dig out out the moment:
http://www.ac6v.com/sunit.htm

Unless you know, that is have measured, your S-meter, it is only
a rough indication.

You can clearly use your S meter to compare one antenna to another,
but I would be very hesitant to say that "antenna 1 is S2 and antenna
2 is S6, therefore antenna 2 has 24dB more gain then antenna 1."
Based on the assumption that 1 S unit equals 6 dB.
S6-S2=4 S-units, 4 X6dB = 24dB
(Math shown for those new to the hobby)

Now if you have a calibrated step attenuator you could show that:
Ant 1 gives S2
Ant 2 requires 20dB of attenuation to give a reading of S2.
Ant 2 has about 20dB more gain then Ant 1.

I bought my Hp attenuator at a surplus store for $5.
I bought 2 fox industries 50P-077 +12V BCD attenuators
that have a measured error of less then .01dB for $1each!
Coupled with some Pasternak PE7101 coaxial relays I hope
to be able to some "meaningfull" antenna experiments this
summer and next winter.

There is a vacant lot caty corner behind us and I have permission
from the lot owner, and both my rear and next door neigbors to run
an temp antenna to and across that lot. I will be able to get about
300' of wire up in a straight line. I intend to see just how length
effect
signal strength.

Next fall a frined is going to let me spend a few weekends on his
fields to check even longer wires.

Terry

Telamon wrote:

In article ,
dxAce wrote:

"Charles W. Hinkle" wrote:

I have used Mini Circut Labs ZFSC-2-1 and a 2 port passive Stridsberg. I
obtained the MCL's at hamfests for $10 and the Stridsberg new Presently I
am using a MCL PSC-3-1 to feed 3 receivers. I also got this at a hamfest.
My receivers make up the nearly 5 db loss.

How do they make up the loss? Just curious.

Maybe his radios have pre-amps like the Drakes.

When you use a passive splitter the loss is 3dB power and 6dB voltage. I
think most radio S meters are responding to the voltage number due to
the nature of the AGC circuits. Someone can correct me on this. Should
be easy enough to take a splitter in and out of line.

Correct me if I'm wrong... but would it not be better to run some
pre-amplification ahead of the splitter rather than try to make up something that
has already disappeared? Much the same in say VHF work where it is better to run a
receive pre-amp right at the antenna versus running it at the receiver end of the
coax?

I'd never consider using a passive splitter here, and I rarely if ever engage the
pre-amps on the receivers... no need.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 18:06:44 -0400, dxAce
wrote:



Telamon wrote:

In article ,
dxAce wrote:

"Charles W. Hinkle" wrote:

I have used Mini Circut Labs ZFSC-2-1 and a 2 port passive Stridsberg. I
obtained the MCL's at hamfests for $10 and the Stridsberg new Presently I
am using a MCL PSC-3-1 to feed 3 receivers. I also got this at a hamfest.
My receivers make up the nearly 5 db loss.

How do they make up the loss? Just curious.

Maybe his radios have pre-amps like the Drakes.

When you use a passive splitter the loss is 3dB power and 6dB voltage. I
think most radio S meters are responding to the voltage number due to
the nature of the AGC circuits. Someone can correct me on this. Should
be easy enough to take a splitter in and out of line.

Correct me if I'm wrong... but would it not be better to run some
pre-amplification ahead of the splitter rather than try to make up something that
has already disappeared? Much the same in say VHF work where it is better to run a
receive pre-amp right at the antenna versus running it at the receiver end of the
coax?

I'd never consider using a passive splitter here, and I rarely if ever engage the
pre-amps on the receivers... no need.

dxAce
Michigan
USA


Most outboard amplifiers cause more problems than they solve. Listen
with your ears, not your S-Meter.

David wrote:

On Sun, 17 Apr 2005 18:06:44 -0400, dxAce
wrote:



Telamon wrote:

In article ,
dxAce wrote:

"Charles W. Hinkle" wrote:

I have used Mini Circut Labs ZFSC-2-1 and a 2 port passive Stridsberg. I
obtained the MCL's at hamfests for $10 and the Stridsberg new Presently I
am using a MCL PSC-3-1 to feed 3 receivers. I also got this at a hamfest.
My receivers make up the nearly 5 db loss.

How do they make up the loss? Just curious.

Maybe his radios have pre-amps like the Drakes.

When you use a passive splitter the loss is 3dB power and 6dB voltage. I
think most radio S meters are responding to the voltage number due to
the nature of the AGC circuits. Someone can correct me on this. Should
be easy enough to take a splitter in and out of line.

Correct me if I'm wrong... but would it not be better to run some
pre-amplification ahead of the splitter rather than try to make up something that
has already disappeared? Much the same in say VHF work where it is better to run a
receive pre-amp right at the antenna versus running it at the receiver end of the
coax?

I'd never consider using a passive splitter here, and I rarely if ever engage the
pre-amps on the receivers... no need.

dxAce
Michigan
USA


Most outboard amplifiers cause more problems than they solve. Listen
with your ears, not your S-Meter.

I don't use any outboard amplification here 'tard boy, other than that which the
Stridsberg uses to overcome the loss to support up to 4 receivers.

I'm fairly certain I've done my fair share of listening, you just keep on trying to
catch up.

Please, get a clue, and try to get a grip.

Continue to tote.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

dxAce wrote:
Correct me if I'm wrong... but would it not be better to run some
pre-amplification ahead of the splitter rather than try to make up
something that has already disappeared? Much the same in say VHF work
where it is better to run a receive pre-amp right at the antenna versus
running it at the receiver end of the coax?

I'd never consider using a passive splitter here, and I rarely if ever
engage the
pre-amps on the receivers... no need.

dxAce
Michigan
USA
------------------------------
The results might surprise you.
When I received my zfsc-2-1 I expected the addional ~3.5dB loss to be
an
issue. But after much testing I found that it didn't make that much
difference.
For the most part any signal I could receive without the addtional loss
was
still present with the loss. I used a HP step atenuator to check this
before going to the trouble of mounting the zfsc.

I really expected to need a good low noise, high intercept, preamp
before
the splitter. If you have a "good enough" antenna the additional loss
is of slight concern.

Since I have all of my antennas, receivers, RF filters on a patch
panel,
it allows me to easily move the splitter out of line. I use BNC
connectors
because I was given a "boat load" of them and find them easier and
faster to move then PL/SO-259 connectors.

A friend wanted a similar setup and I gave him enough bulkhead mount
"F" femalefemale to allow him to bring all of his antenas and both
receivers to a panel. He found an "old" TV spliter that works very well
to below the MW/BCB band. I bought a bag of over 500 for $1 at the
local Goodwill store.

Another advantage of a RF patch panel is I can connect my Pro2004 IF
out to my R2000 so I can listen to SSB VHF/UFF comms.

I do have to be very carefull to insure that I don't connect my ham
gear to
my receiver inputs. At them moment I have them feeding different RF
patch
panels and simply don't ever connect my ham gear to a receive antenna.
I am considering switching all of my receive RF connectors to "F", at
least
at the patch panel. I have thought of using TNC but they are expensive
and are easier to crossthread then "F".

Terry