2
Introduction
The DX Engineering
RSC-2
can be used to combine two receiving antennas to form an array or to
split the signal from an antenna to feed two receivers. The
RCS-2
can reduce problems and
performance shortfalls caused by impedance errors in less-than-perfect antenna systems.
Features
• Metal housing for superior shielding and longer life
• High quality components
• Internal spark gaps and large ground planes for improved lightning protection
• Reliable type F connectors
• Broad 300 kHz to 30 MHz operating range with 75 Ω systems
• Economical solution to potential impedance errors
Operation
Like all passive splitters and combiners, maximum isolation between port 1 and 2 occurs when the
common port is terminated or sourced at 75 Ω.
If you disconnect or do not use one of the ports, it
is important that you terminate that port at 75 Ω.
Note:
The
RSC-2
will not pass-through feedline control voltages.
Combining
The
RSC-2
can be used to combine, with negligible loss, two 75 Ω antenna systems into a single 75
Ω feedline. Unlike feedline or hybrid combiners, the
RSC-2
is not frequency dependent and can
operate over a broad frequency range.
The
RSC-2
provides equal voltage, equal current, or equal power to matched or unmatched loads on
ports 1 and 2. By forcing equal currents, a 1/2-wavelength transmission line can be used to feed a
directional array instead of the more typical odd-1/4-wavelength line. With a 2:1 resistive load
unbalance, less than 0.1 dB current error was measured in such an application.
There are also a number of advantages of using the
RSC-2
for combining antenna systems
compared to standard parallel connections:
• The
RSC-2
matches the entire antenna system to 75 Ω. A parallel connection divides the
impedance to 37.5 Ω.
• Unlike 1/4-wavelength matching sections that only work on one band, the
RCS-2
has an
extremely wide bandwidth of 300 kHz to 30 MHz
• With antennas connected in parallel, if either one develops a high impedance open, becomes
shorted, falls down, or has a feedline problem, the entire antenna system may become unusable.
When combining antennas using the
RSC-2
, only the problem antenna is unusable because of the
built-in isolation and balancing. The antenna on the other port can still be used because the
RSC-
2
limits the total signal loss to approximately 6 dB
• The
RSC-2
provides very high isolation between ports 1 and 2. This prevents either antenna from
interfering with the other during normal operation
