Hi Robert

As I see it, you are considering a very complex "radio listening system".
Aparently you are considering two or more receivers and two or more
antennas. That will involve lots and lots of compromises.
Is it reasonable for you to insert DC blocks in the antenna connections to
each receiver? If so, connect all the antennas and receivers any way you
want. If you get adequate performance, there will be nothing additional
required. As you experience performance inadequate performance, then, you
can investigate automatic (computer controlled) switching or "combiners".

Jerry KD6JDJ


"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hi,

Just an elderly sw listener from the old days.
Not very sharp with antenna theory, frankly.

Anyway, would be most grateful for any thoughts on the following, please:

Have 2 scanners working off of a single Scantenna antenna.
I now switch the Scanners via a good quality pushbutton switch which
supposedly is suited for the vhf/uhf range.
Seems to work fine.

Also have a hardware hf receiver, with its own antenna.

Thinking of getting a new "toy," perhaps a WinRadio SDR receiver.

Here's where the fun starts:

It only has a single antenna input, even though it has vhf/uhf
capabilities.

They want you, apparently, to buy one of their Combiners for $ 200.
Ugh.

Take a look at: http://www.winradio.com/home/acd-1800.htm

Question 1:
Anything "better," or cheaper ?

I guess I will be forced to set up some kind of switch matrix, even if I
do use their Combiner.

Question 2:
But, the following problem arises, no matter how I do it.

The HF input, as well as the UHF/VHF input will at all times be "seeing"
the turned off hardware HF receiver (when using the SDR PC receiver) as
well as the turned off hardware scanner input (when using the SDR PC
receiver)

In other words, each input to the combiner would be fed by a "T" where the
run to the hardware HF Receiver is tapped off to the Combiner. And the
run to the hardware Scanner is also tapped off via a "T" to the vhf/uhf
input of the Combiner.

From looking at the link above for the Combiner, and its specs, do you
think there will be any "meaningful" loss at the SDR PC receiver if I use
it, and it sees these not-in-use inputs also ?

And the other way around, I guess. If I am not using the PC SDR, will my
regular Scanner or hardware HF receiver suffer any from having the
Combiner in place ?

Tried to explain this as clearly as I could, but if confusing, will try
harder if you ask for any clarifications.

Any other way(s) of doing all of this, that would be too complicated or
expensive, perhaps ?

Thanks,
Bob