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Jjk9
Member
Username: Jjk9
Post Number: 54
Registered: 1-2008
| | Posted on Friday, February 06, 2009 - 7:30 pm: | 
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Hoping someone can clarify a question or two for me. I recently passed the tech exam, and have an Icom 746PRO hooked to an Imax for 10m; working out quite well. I am considering the Diamond V2000A antenna (2,6 and 70cm)... I understand I will need a Triplexer to go along with it;now here is where I'm getting confused... just how and where does the triplexer get connected? The radio has jacks for 3 antennas on the rear (1 is for 144mhz) but I'm not sure if it's one line coming out of the antenna or three into one... Sorry if the question sounds elementary, but I bought 7 books through the ARRL and cannot find an answer on this one. If I'm heading in the wrong direction, fire away with any suggestions to this newbie tech... |
Patzerozero
Senior Member
Username: Patzerozero
Post Number: 4489
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 11:35 am: |
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odd that icom doesn't label the 3 antenna connectors....from the rear, the 'outside' connector is #1, i dedicate for 6m, the mid or inside (upper) connector is #2, where i use the internal tuner for 40-10, and the lower connector is for 2m. (the 746pro does not have 70cm.)
on the 2m connector, i go connector>>coax jumper>>4 position switch and have 3 antennas hooked up, stacked loops for omni SSB/horizontal polarization, a 2m SSB/horizontal yagi & 2m FM vertical, with 1 open position...just in case.
then, connector #1>>coax jumper>>mfj906 6m tuner>>4 position switch and currently use stacked 6m loops for omni SSB/horizontal and a 6m yagi/horizontal for SSB.
#2 connector>>coax jumper>>mfj1701c (which will take up to 5 more radios) and my maco v5/8, 20m end fed, 40m endfed, with the remaining spaces waiting for....more money to fill 'em up.
so, since no 70cm on the 746pro, skip the v2000a, but as a tech, go with SOMETHING horizontal for 6m SSB(forget FM, virtually non-existant in most area), an mfj 3 el beam & ku4ab-type loop/stack combo is GREAT. PLUS, 6m is neither too big nor too small so an excellent band to experiment with antennas on. plans for loops, wires, quads, yagis for 6m are available by the THOUSANDS, just google 'em. GET SOMETHING horizontal for 6m, within the next 4 months, the 6m e skip season will explode & make AM 13 springtime skip seem like NOTHING.
2m, since it has a dedicated 2m ONLY SO-239 connector, adding a coax switch will allow you all kinds of 2m options, vertical for repeaters, vertical yagi for FM simplex & of course loops or wire & yagi for 2m SSB. e skip is not very prevalent, but starface made a contact a couple summers back from FL to one of my locals up here on LI. EXCITING!
and since #2 uses the tuner, a g5rv-type wire can get you 10-80 once you upgrade, and it WILL allow your imax to tune 10-12-20 with NO PROBLEMS! if you LOWER THE OUTPUT of the radio 1st, it will probably tune 12-15-17 as well! mine will tune all those bands to my maco v5/8 & i HAVE made contacts on ALL those bands. just upgrade your license 1st!
other options for connector 1 & 2 would be to use TUNED antennas through a coax switch (or switch & external tuner) on #1, then 'close' antennas on #2 for use with the internal tuner. my v5/8 will work on #1 without the internal tuner, but @ 1.6:1 swr or a bit above on 10m, why stress the radio....use it on #2 with tuner, shows 1.1:1 & 100% output, external wattmeter shows almost ZERO reflect with 90 watts out.
if you end up using the v2000a, remember it is NOT adjustable on 2m, and built as a 6m FM antenna for 52-54 mhz. i don't know if it will adjust to the SSB portion, which for all intents & purposes is 50.125-50.400. if you WERE to use it though, you'd only use 2 of the 3 leads on the triplexer, the 2m lead would go to the lower (2m) connector on the 746, and the 6m lead would go to connector #1-the 'outside' connector. the single end of the triplexer would get the coax from the antenna connected to it. you MAY find some FM activity on 52.52 during BIG e skip events, i don't really think that antenna is a good choice. check out ku4ab's site, he has a vertical/horizontal loop combo antenna for 2m, along with loops for 6m, though they may end up costing a bit more then the diamond, but be much more useful. |
Jjk9
Member
Username: Jjk9
Post Number: 55
Registered: 1-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, February 08, 2009 - 11:36 am: |
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Thanks Pat... That gives me some direction to go.... |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 4973
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 09, 2009 - 6:07 am: |
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I run a v2000 on 6, 2 and 440 but pat is RIGHT ....
I use nets on all 3 bands on FM and there is not a lot of FM on 6 and SSB is horizontal and out of the bandpass of most V2000 antennas.
I like squailos on 6 for simple antennas you might check with KU4AB.com and see what they are making.
Bruce
On 6 since 66
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