[time-nuts] GPS antenna splitter recommendation?

[John Ackermann]

There is a Greek ham who sells a nice, very small, 4 way splitter with amp on eBay.  Sorry, no URL handy.  It works well, but is L1 only, if that matters.  It costs a lot more than a Mini-circuits splitter, but a lot less than a "real" GPS one.


John

On Apr 30, 2020, 3:16 AM, at 3:16 AM, Bob kb8tq <kb8tq at n1k.org> wrote:
>Hi
>
>Again, that’s just the candidates pulled out of the first dozen.  
>
>Three port splitters (in general) don’t exist. At least not on the “low
>cost” end
>of things. You either use a 4 or a set of three 2 ports ( to make a 4
>port). 
>
>Each time you split 2 ways, you “loose” 3 db ( equal power into two
>loads). A two way
>will be 3 db and a 4 way 6 db. Yes, there is some fraction of a db that
>is truly lost and 
>not just split between the loads. Figure 0.1 db or check the spec sheet
>on the Mini
>Circuits web site if you really need to be accurate. 
>
>With some shopping ( = going through all 200 or 500 listings), you
>should be able to find
>something reasonable for < $30 delivered. I’d go for something up
>around 8 ports or so.
>GPS stuff tends to multiply …. 
>
>Maybe this one if the guy will take a $20 offer:
>
>https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Circuits-8-Port-IF-Splitter-Combiner-15542-ZB8PD-2/182003853838?epid=1529816498&hash=item2a60466a0e:g:vzcAAOSwqYBWpoFo
><https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Circuits-8-Port-IF-Splitter-Combiner-15542-ZB8PD-2/182003853838?epid=1529816498&hash=item2a60466a0e:g:vzcAAOSwqYBWpoFo>
>
>It will have 3 db more loss than a 4 way (so a total of 9 db). 
>
>At some point your combo of loss in the splitter, loss in the coax from
>the antenna, loss in the cable 
>from the splitter to the GPS is more than the device can handle. Figure
>that you need about 12 db
>“left over” even for a fairly good device. People do make GPS amps if
>you go to far.
>
>Bob
>
>
>> On Apr 29, 2020, at 10:06 PM, Frank O'Donnell <time at inkbox.net>
>wrote:
>> 
>> On 4/29/20 6:01 PM, Bob kb8tq wrote:
>>> Here’s a few:
>> 
>> Bob, thanks very much for the suggestions.
>> 
>> Five of the seven splitters in your list appear to offer a total of
>two output ports. What I'm looking for is one that will accommodate
>(specifically) three or four ports.
>> 
>> Of the remaining two on the list, this one:
>> 
>>>
>https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Circuits-ZN4PD1-63W-S-RF-Power-Splitter-250-6000MHz-Qty-Available-GOOD/133387795141?hash=item1f0e883ac5:g:tdoAAOSwAbxel2o~
><https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-Circuits-ZN4PD1-63W-S-RF-Power-Splitter-250-6000MHz-Qty-Available-GOOD/133387795141?hash=item1f0e883ac5:g:tdoAAOSwAbxel2o~>
>> 
>> has five outputs and costs $50. Probably usable, though I was
>wondering if going with additional output ports could increase possible
>loss? And also, the price isn't a show-stopper but is a little high for
>what I was hoping for.
>> 
>> The other one:
>> 
>>>
>https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mini-Circuits-ZB6PD-2-S-800-2000-MHz-Power-Splitter/114155096838?hash=item1a942c8b06:g:jNIAAOSwedNedT92
><https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Mini-Circuits-ZB6PD-2-S-800-2000-MHz-Power-Splitter/114155096838?hash=item1a942c8b06:g:jNIAAOSwedNedT92>
>> 
>> isn't entirely clear to me. The text says it's a three-port, but I
>count four visible connectors that look like output ports, and two more
>that might be hiding under caps. This one goes for $19.90.
>> 
>> Given all of that, do either of these two seem like the optimal way
>to go if I want to plug in three or four GPSDO's?
>> 
>> Thanks again,
>> 
>> Frank
>> 
>> 
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