Model
RAS-8x2
Receive Antenna
Switching System: 8 antennas to 2 receivers
Manage Your Receive Antennas With Complete Flexibility!
The Control Keypads Fit Perfectly Alongside Your Keyboard!
The RAS-8x2 has been developed in response to demand from the contest and lowband DXing community for a highly flexible receive antenna switching system. With this unit, you can select among Beverages, K9AY Loops, Pennants, Flags or other RX antennas with complete flexibility. The RAS-8x2 is ideal for SO2R and most M/S and M/2 stations. It's also perfect for dual-receive on a single band.
Features and Specifications:
System components:
• Master antenna switching unit, in a 2-1/2" x 15"
x 8" (H x W x D) aluminum case
• Two (2) pushbutton antenna selector consoles; each one is
1.5" x 2.75" x 5-1/4" (H x W x D), in a rugged extruded
aluminum case
Connection between the antenna selector keypads and the main switching unit is with easy-to-find DB-25 cables (not supplied). It's not a digital interface, just a convenient way to take advantage of inexpensive standard computer cables.
Options (specify
for all orders):
• Antenna connectors
— BNC, UHF or F
• Radio connectors — BNC, UHF or F
• Characteristic
impedance — 50 or 75 ohms. This is to provide the best match in your system;
there will be very little performance variation if unit is used with the other
impedance.
•
Preamp
options — 160/80M passband like model PRE-1,
and 160/80/40M passband like model PRE-2. Both versions
have an AM broadcast highpass filter.
(Contact us if have special filtering needs.)
Switch operation:
• Up to eight antennas can be routed to two separate outputs
— any
antenna to either output with no interaction.
• Simple pushbutton
antenna selection — instant antenna change.
• Independent control of each radio's external antenna input.
•
If you have fewer than 8 receive antennas and your radio has an 'Antenna
Out' jack, simply connect it to an unused input — the selector console
will then control the MAIN/AUX antenna switching, as well.
• Two or more antennas can be selected in parallel for each radio
(if spacing and phasing of feedlines allow them to operate in parallel).
• 13 dB preamplifier/filter — two preamps per unit; one
for each radio output — switched on and off at the remote keypad.
Isolation:
• When the same antenna is selected for both outputs, isolation
between the two output ports is optimized for 40 dB or more on 160 and 80 meters.
Isolation is at least 20 dB over the entire HF range through 10M.
• On/Off isolation is typically 60 dB or better from 160
through 40M.
Additional Specifications
and Notes:
• Insertion loss: 3 dB signal split + 0.25 dB typ.
• Level change when both receivers select the same antenna:
0.25 dB max.
• VSWR at antenna inputs: Approaches 1:1 for unselected antenna
ports; typically 1.3:1 or better for selected antennas, but may vary, depending
on the accuracy of your receiver input impedance.
• DC Power:
+12V @ approx. 500 mA max., (provided by user —
be sure power source is fused
at 1/2 amp.)
• Requires (2) DB-25 cables of the length you need (provided
by user — be sure to get a cable with all 25 conductors. Some
cables with DB-25 connectors are for serial data and do not have all 25 conductors.)
• This unit is is not weatherproof and is intended for
installation indoors or in a protected area.
$399
plus shipping, available directly from us or from Array
Solutions
Specify: Connector types, Preamp/Filter frequency range, 50 or 75 ohm impedance
Check
or money order only (we're too small to worry about credit card processing)
International
customers and credit card orders — please order from Array Solutions
Multi-ops! The RAS-8x2 can be expanded for larger numbers of antennas
or receivers:
To order or get more information, e-mail gary@aytechnologies.com
to discuss your custom needs.
AY Technologies * antennas
by K9AY * www.aytechnologies.com