BasicB-003-001-005
What is the purpose of the antenna switch in an HF station?
C
Answer
Basic radio theory
Type
A
To adjust the impedance of the antenna system
B
To adjust the antenna operating frequency
C
To select the desired antenna or dummy load
D
To select the orientation of the antenna
Answer Notes
An antenna switch is a convenient routing device used to connect a single radio to multiple antennas or a dummy load. By using a switch, the operator avoids the hassle of manually unscrewing and swapping coaxial cables every time they change bands or want to test their transmitter.
It is important to distinguish the antenna switch from other station accessories. An antenna switch only changes the physical connection path; it does not adjust the electrical impedance of the system (which is done by an antenna tuner) or physically move the antenna to change its direction (which is done by an antenna rotor).
Previous · B-003-001-004
Which component in an HF station is used to determine if the antenna system impedance is matched to the transmitter?
Next · B-003-001-006
In an HF station, what device might allow the use of an antenna on a band it was not designed for?