[time-nuts] GPS antenna splitter recommendation?

[John C. Westmoreland, P.E.]

Hello All,

FWIW, I've been using Model Number 2401IFD from Channel Master (power
divider) for quite some time - works good for me.
I bought the one I have from Halted here in the Bay Area when they were
still open - didn't spend more than $10 on it if memory serves
me.

Regards,
John W.
AJ6BC


On Thu, Apr 30, 2020 at 1:51 PM Bob kb8tq <kb8tq at n1k.org> wrote:

> 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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