Mechanical satellite switch

7

7mdish

Regular Member
My Satellite Setup
CM 2.4m motorised offset dish, Viking Ku-band 2-ports motorised feed, 2 SMW LNBs, RC2000A, Dreambox DM920.
My Location
Milan, Italy
I'm looking for a mechanical, possibly professional grade, non-electronic, non-diseqc switch for my satellite setup.
Such old-style antenna switch similar to those used in the radio amateur stations.
Unfortunately that type of switch can't be used for satellite TV because they completely short all unused lines, and this is a big problem. Instead, connector type is not an issue. F connector would be the best, but N connector would be good too (N to F adapters would easily fit), I don't like BNC connectors instead.
Any suggestion please? Thanks.
 
How many Ports do you need?
 
Cable switches here, heavy throw F-connector and non remote (if you wish remote I can provide a long stick). Never had one fail in almost thirty years. Tested on a 75/50 Ohm SWR at baseband to 1400MHz and results are almost identical.

Why would you need one in this day and age ?
 
I use some RF relays rated to 5 GHz, and switched with 12 volts DC.
 
Thank you for your useful replies.
I need a 2-ports switch to connect two antennas to one receiver yet, but knowint about a possible 4-ports one would be nice.
Yes such relay could be a good solution and I successfully used it in the past, but now I would like to avoid any external 12 volt power supply.
The reason I'm looking for this type of switches is that all commands from the receiver (13/18 volt, 22KHz, diseqc....) are used to control the dishes. The times when many satellite receivers had a 12 volt out was gone. So in my setup would be very convenient having a simple but strong and reliable manual switch.
 
Channel Hopper said:
Cable switches here, heavy throw F-connector and non remote (if you wish remote I can provide a long stick). Never had one fail in almost thirty years. Tested on a 75/50 Ohm SWR at baseband to 1400MHz and results are almost identical.

Why would you need one in this day and age ?
Click to expand...
Which switches do you refer?
Are they reliable until 2150MHz?
 
7mdish said:
Which switches do you refer?
Are they reliable until 2150MHz?
Click to expand...
Reliable ?

Of course.

But I would have to check the loss at IF frequency beyond the current 2050 Ku band limits (are you experimenting with the Turkish stuff perchance ?)
 
Channel Hopper said:
What would be their current /wattage rating ?
Click to expand...
If you mean how much to activate it, then it's 12 volts DC at 100 mA, and they are rated to 100 watts with a VSWR of 1.5 to 1, it's hard to find the ones with "F" connectors, so I get the ones with "BNC" connectors and use adapters.

They are a bit expensive tho, so you may have to shop around, I got a bunch about ten years or so ago.
 
Channel Hopper said:
(are you experimenting with the Turkish stuff perchance ?)
Click to expand...
Sorry for my poor english, what do you mean as "Turkish stuff perchance?"
When I said reliable, I intended if they have no or limited RF loss at 2150MHz, because I must use them in the IF satellite TV frequency portion.
If you think they are ok, could you please advice me the exact product and where to purchase? Thanks.
 
Terryl said:
If you mean how much to activate it, then it's 12 volts DC at 100 mA, and they are rated to 100 watts with a VSWR of 1.5 to 1, it's hard to find the ones with "F" connectors, so I get the ones with "BNC" connectors and use adapters.

They are a bit expensive tho, so you may have to shop around, I got a bunch about ten years or so ago.
Click to expand...
It was the throughput, not the relay switchover.

Those here are all F connector and so rated at 75 Ohms, but being mechanical are near identical at 50 Ohms
 
7mdish said:
Sorry for my poor english, what do you mean as "Turkish stuff perchance?"
When I said reliable, I intended if they have no or limited RF loss at 2150MHz, because I must use them in the IF satellite TV frequency portion.
If you think they are ok, could you please advice me the exact product and where to purchase? Thanks.
Click to expand...
As above, which frequency are you looking at that is - much - beyond 2050MHz on the two IF bands, unless you are experimenting with a universal ? ?
 
Channel Hopper said:
As above, which frequency are you looking at that is - much - beyond 2050MHz on the two IF bands, unless you are experimenting with a universal ? ?
Click to expand...
I need them only for the IF satellite TV band, so between 950 and 2150MHz, not else.
 
7mdish said:
The reason I'm looking for this type of switches is that all commands from the receiver (13/18 volt, 22KHz, diseqc....) are used to control the dishes.
Click to expand...

You've really used up more than 2*16 = 32 diseqc possibilities, so that you cannot use the spare diseqc switching bit for an extra 32 LNBs?
I'd like to see a (schematic) description of your setup, so that we can think about possible solutions for you. :)
A possibility for fixed dishes would be, to use an extra switch on diseqc x.2 (motor) commands.


Such a mechanical switch by the way is usually called: manual A/B switch F-connector. Google gives some hits (at Amaz*n).

Greetz,
A33
 
a33 said:
You've really used up more than 2*16 = 32 diseqc possibilities, so that you cannot use the spare diseqc switching bit for an extra 32 LNBs?
I'd like to see a (schematic) description of your setup, so that we can think about possible solutions for you. :)
A possibility for fixed dishes would be, to use an extra switch on diseqc x.2 (motor) commands.


Such a mechanical switch by the way is usually called: manual A/B switch F-connector. Google gives some hits (at Amaz*n).

Greetz,
A33
Click to expand...
Which I have covered previously in a 'dismantle thread' on the forum. Plenty in stock and have been selling well for dual C-band and C/Ku switches for a number of years. I've not heard of any issues with frequency issues even though they are not rated much beyond 1000MHz

I'm still unsure about the

When I said reliable, I intended if they have no or limited RF loss at 2150MHz...

since there will of course be a loss at higher frequencies (part and parcel of the equiations) and there are no acceptable figures in the post beyond 'limited'.
 
a33 said:
You've really used up more than 2*16 = 32 diseqc possibilities, so that you cannot use the spare diseqc switching bit for an extra 32 LNBs?
I'd like to see a (schematic) description of your setup, so that we can think about possible solutions for you. :)
A possibility for fixed dishes would be, to use an extra switch on diseqc x.2 (motor) commands.


Such a mechanical switch by the way is usually called: manual A/B switch F-connector. Google gives some hits (at Amaz*n).

Greetz,
A33
Click to expand...
Yes you are right. But it is not so simple to configure such solution for many receivers. Also, every professional receivers like Ericsson have no diseqc.
I try your google suggestion. Thanks.
 
Unfortunately google search sorted nothing. Bad luck.
Waiting for your advices. Thanks.
 
Channel Hopper said:
Cable switches here, heavy throw F-connector and non remote (if you wish remote I can provide a long stick). Never had one fail in almost thirty years. Tested on a 75/50 Ohm SWR at baseband to 1400MHz and results are almost identical.

Why would you need one in this day and age ?
Click to expand...

Being an Old School type of guy I'm using these simple A-B mechanical switches here at the moment on two of my motorised systems and have no operational losses worth talking about . At the moment I'm using them as Antenna in switched to different receivers or spectrum analyser on the two F ports

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IMG_2765.JPG
 
John said:
Being an Old School type of guy I'm using these simple A-B mechanical switches here at the moment on two of my motorised systems and have no operational losses worth talking about . At the moment I'm using them as Antenna in switched to different receivers or spectrum analyser on the two F ports

..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

View attachment 157385
Click to expand...
I'd love to one day see your entire shack of equipment!
 
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