Kenwood Antenna 2 Input

A second antenna input and changeover relay for Kenwood hybrids

Kenwood hybrids, as well as many modern transceivers, do not have a second antenna connector for receive-only antennas. This makes for an interesting challenge quickly dispatched by adding a relay and reconfiguring a front panel switch.

The Venerable Kenwood TS-520 — Built in the late-70s, the shortwave transceiver can still be heard on the air today. It has to be modified to be used with a Beverage receive antenna.

Analysis of the Problem

Its not just older transceivers which have this problem. Newer ones, like the ICOM IC-7300, are also plagued with this design limitation. Luckily, it is easily resolved by adding a second antenna connector and a relay to toggle the receiver circuit between it and the stock antenna connector, as seen below.