[time-nuts] GPS antenna splitter recommendation?

[Bob kb8tq]

Hi

The original splitters mentioned most certainly do *NOT* short the DC to ground. 
I have used those splitters for decades to power GPS gear. We have used them 
in production for runs of thousands of parts ….

Before anybody goes off and spends $1,000 on a splitter, think very hard about 
what bands you will need it for over the next few years …. also what levels and 
what antenna voltages. This stuff does change and that’s a lot of money to sink
in something that may be a boat anchor in a couple years.

Bob

> On Apr 30, 2020, at 4:36 PM, Arthur Dent <golgarfrincham at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Most of the regular splitters first mentioned are basically transformers
> with one side if each winding connected to the case ground so they don’t
> work because they short out the 5 VDC on the receiver’s antenna coax. You
> have to be aware of the D.C. voltage to power the antenna plus have fake
> antenna load resistors on the other ports to prevent error messages.
> 
> The cheapest non-powered splitter is probably the F connector Steren 4-way
> 2.4Ghz splitter made for TV use at $6-$9 each (like eBay # 254474121010).
> Their model 201-234 passes 1 port and couples the other  3 ports with
> capacitors. I found I could just pry the back cover off the splitter and
> solder a 200-330 ohm resistor across each isolated outputs to prevent the
> receivers on those ports from giving an open antenna alarm. Those receivers
> would still work without the resistors but I couldn’t stand the error
> message so I installed the load resistors.
> 
> Mini-Circuits has made dedicated GPS splitters that have built-in amps to
> compensate for losses and the ones I have work quite well. The 5 port one
> has a Lucent part number and was made for Telco use with 2 power ports and
> 3 isolated ports to which I added 280 ohm resistors. You will find these on
> eBay occasionally for far less than the HP versions.  One of my GPS
> antennas goes to a WR Incorporated 8-way externally powered splitter with
> load resistors built in.
> 
> So there are a number of options for GPS splitters but they may not be that
> common. However, just today I bought another of the 5 port Mini-Circuits
> ones on eBay so they do turn up.
> 
> https://oi906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/rjb1998/GPS%20splitters%202_zpspobtp7cf.jpg
> 
> https://oi906.photobucket.com/albums/ac262/rjb1998/GPS%20splitters_zpsbitr26xx.jpg
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