On Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 12:57:28 PM UTC-8, jfitch wrote:
On Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 10:27:08 AM UTC-8, JS wrote:
On Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 9:39:13 AM UTC-8, jfitch wrote:
On Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 12:10:06 PM UTC-8, JS wrote:
Didn't want to further derail the thread about Trig TN72.
This thread has been up before?

It is possible and functional to use one GPS antenna for multiple GPS receivers.
If you use GPS antennas that will only accept power of 3V you must put DC blockers on all but one receiver. The one receiver must then be functioning for any of the others to get GPS data.
But if the active GPS antenna is capable of accepting higher voltage, then some or all of the DC blockers are not needed.

For a couple of years I have been using a 3-way divider:

Linx Antenna Factor SH-SMA active GPS antenna.
MECA MCA803-2-1.500V .8-2.2 GHz 3-Way Pwr Divider Combiner, SMA Female Ports.

The antenna accepts 12V power and actually is a couple of dB more efficient with the higher power.
The divider has SMA input and three SMA outputs.
For the FLARM, an SMA to MMCX cable is used.
The other two devices have SMA to SMA.
Jim

The antenna was $21.50 from Mouser. I cut the cable down to what was needed.

And a cut and paste of the invoice from Talley in Santa Fe Springs, CA, with prices.

MCA803-2-1.500V 1 119.0000 EA $119.00
.8-2.2 GHz 3-Way Pwr Divider
Combiner, SMA Female Ports
* Special Order, not currently
in stock @ Meca, Lead time is
* Approximately 2-3 wks ARO +
transit time (D/S from NJ)

CXTK10K-XX 2 23.5800 EA $47.16
SMA Male to SMA Male,LMR100PVC
Cable Assy, Variable Length
Above Length = 1 foot
* All components in stock,
lead time to ship is approx
days ARO + transit from
So Cal

*** IMPORTANT NOTE ***
Custom cable assemblies are
non-cancelable/non-returnable

MISCABLE ASSY 1 26.9700 EA $26.97
CUSTOM CABLE ASSY.
Above assembly is 1-ft LMR100
w SMA-m & MMCX plug attached
* All components in stock,
lead time is approximately

Two questions: how do you get the 12V into the antenna, and does it tolerate 13.9V from a LiFePO4 (data sheet says 12)? From the rudimentary data sheet, there are 4 sma connectors as it's only terminals. Use one for power in? Now you only have 2 out?

I would like to reduce the antenna farm a little. I routinely carry 5 GPS receivers, adding TABS would be a sixth. Of those only three would have discrete external antennas, but still...

The power is delivered from the GPS device on the antenna line. It is summed in the divider, in my case from three devices.
At work we'd call it "phantom power", it might be called that here.
Jim

Any link to an actual electrical spec? Can't find much on Meca's site. Nothing that explains what goes in and what comes out.

Jon et al, use this link for the MECA specs.
https://www.talleycom.com/viewProduc...CA803-2-1.500V

Dan, only the antenna is being changed. Three unmodified GPS receivers are providing power to and being fed from one antenna.
Jim