Overview

DX Engineering 2-Port Splitter-Combiners

DX Engineering 2-Port Splitter-Combiners are receive signal-level RF devices that operate from 300 kHz to 30 MHz, available in 50 ohm and 75 ohm versions. They're typically used to split one RF signal to properly feed two receivers, or the receive antenna inputs of one transceiver and one separate receiver. They also properly combine two receiving antennas in phase, such as Beverage antennas, to form a phased receive array.

Important features of the DX Engineering 2-Port Splitter-Combiner:

* Available for 50 ohm and 75 ohm systems
* Broad, 300 kHz through 30 MHz operating range
* High-quality components
* Isolated ports
* Metal housing for superior shielding and longer life
* Reliable side-mount connectors: BNC female for 50 ohm, F female connectors for 75 ohm model
* Economical solution to potential impedance errors that cause losses

With the updated "SC" versions of the original 2-Port Splitter-Combiner, DX Engineering has maintained the port isolation design that prevents signal performance degradation caused by impedance errors in less-than-perfect receive systems. The normal signal level reduction when used as a splitter is just over 3 dB per port. As with any system, losses are dependent upon source and load impedances being matched. DX Engineering Splitter-Combiners provide equal power, voltage, and current to matched loads on ports 1 and 2. The primary advantage is that individual receiver input variations, or a band filter attached to only one port, will not seriously affect the signal level in the other receiver. In addition, any spurious signals generated in one receiver are greatly attenuated by the 2-Port Splitter-Combiner before reaching the second receiver. When splitting in-phase signals, the loss is somewhat less. Any unused port of the 2-Port Splitter-Combiner should be terminated and specified losses are based on source and load impedances being matched.

The DX Engineering 2-Port Splitter-Combiner is a passive device; therefore it requires no power to operate. Use the 75-ohm version for combining two 75 ohm antenna feedlines into a single 75 ohm feedline with negligible loss; or use the 50-ohm version for 50-ohm antennas and feedlines. Examples for applications are for two antennas forming an in-phase (broadside) receiving array, a cross-fire Echelon Beverage array, or any type of array with fixed phasing.

There are a number of advantages to using these units for combining antenna systems over a standard parallel connection:

* Splitter-Combiners match the entire antenna system to the feedline impedance; conversely, paralleling feedlines by using a T-connector divides the impedance in half, causing mismatched losses
* With antennas connected directly in parallel, if either one develops a high impedance open, becomes shorted, falls down, or has a feedline problem, the entire antenna system may become unusable. By using the 2-Port Splitter-Combiner, only the problem antenna is unusable; the antenna on the other port can still be used
* Unlike quarter wave matching sections that only work on one band, these Splitter-Combiners have extremely wide bandwidth
* Due to the built-in isolation and balancing, these units limit the signal loss to approximately 3 dB per port
* 2-Port Splitter-Combiners provide very high isolation between ports 1 and 2; this prevents either antenna from interfering with the other during normal operation

Note: These devices cannot be used for FM broadcast, VHF, UHF, CATV or Satellite TV. They operate only MF through HF.

Whenever the DX Engineering "Documentation" tab is available, please look at the associated files for additional product information.

Documentation