HF and 6M at the same time on a 6300, 6400(M) and 6500

Hi All

I wanted to share a little trick I have used in the past.

As you know, the 6300, 6400(M) and the 6500 only have 1 Spectral Capture Unit (SCU), so this only allows you to use 1 antenna at a time.  Unlike the 6600(M) and the 6700 which have 2 SCU's.

This can limit your 6M monitoring to having to use your HF antenna if you wanted to also monitor 6M and then switch to the 6M antenna when you need to.

There is a slick work around that allows you to use your HF antenna and your 6M antenna at the same time.  You would have 1 slice open on your HF frequency and another slice open on your 6M frequency.

If you add a Diplexor like the Comet CF-360B you can isolate the HF signals from each other so that your 6M signals (receive and transmit) go to the 6M antenna and those below 30Mhz go to the HF side.  Then you don't need to do any antenna switching as it is automatic since the diplexor contains high pass (6M) and low pass (HF) filters.

There is one caveat and that is you will not be able to use the internal antenna tuner on your radio since the Diplexor is 'in the way'.    If you need to use a tuner between the Diplexor and the antenna.

The Diplexor's are made by several manufacturers so you have a few options.  

In Comet's case, you want the B model since it has a common lead.   They also make an A model, and you can make that work but the leads are different and you'll have to add some adapters to make it play.   The B model gives you the common lead that connects directly to the radio.



HF/6M - 440MHz Duplexer with common lead

Band Pass Ins Loss Max Power

1.3-30MHz 0.2dB 600W PEP

49-470MHz 0.2dB 600W PEP

Isolation: 45dB minimum

 
CONNECTORS:

Common: PL-259

Low Pass: SO-239

High Pass: SO-239


Here is a rough idea on how to set it up with the HF antenna (model) on the left and the 6M on the right.  



73 for now, Mike