[time-nuts] GPS antenna splitter

[Bob Camp]

Hi

The auction sites are great sources of GPS splitters. I've gotten Mini Circuits splitters for much less than what they go for new. All of the ones I've seen do indeed pass DC. 

One thing to consider - you may want one with an extra port on it. Some GPS cards are a bit sensitive to antenna current. If you gang up seven receivers, one may not see enough drain to turn off the antenna alarm. The simple answer is to terminate one port with a resistor to ground. 

If you do need to inject DC, they make purpose built gizmos. You can also run one of the Symmetricom splitters that has DC blocking on all but one port. They tend to be expensive. 

Bob

On Jun 29, 2013, at 2:35 PM, Graham <planophore at aei.ca> wrote:

> I find my self in need of either splitting a current GPS antenna feed or putting up yet another antenna, I would prefer splitting the current feed.
> 
> There are a few options one of which is a Mini Circuits ZAPD-2DC+ splitter/combiner whose data sheet specifically states DC pass through from one port to the combined port. Fair enough, this should work very well.
> 
> However, there is another model, the ZAPD-2-N (having type N connectors) whose data sheet states neither DC feed through or not, in other words, it is does not say explicitly that it does or doesn't.
> 
> I think the ZAPD-2-N splitter would work to split the antenna but I am sure about being able to feed the antenna through this splitter/combiner and was hoping someone could state yay or nay on that point.
> 
> However, if it would not pass DC to the antenna I suppose I could add a power feed to the splitter to do so and some sort of a load on the GPS side to trick the receiver into thinking there was an antenna attached.
> 
> I was about to order one of the ZAPD-2DC+ from the Mini Circuits web site but upon check out found they would only ship via UPS or some other courier rather than by USPS. This would double the price for this coming into Canada - I will only use UPS for domestic shipping if I have no choice but never for cross border purchases, their handling fees are just too much.
> 
> So, I was just looking for alternatives or perhaps someone knows a source for the ZAPD-2DC+ that would be willing to use USPS for shipping.
> 
> cheers, Graham ve3gtc
> 
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