Essential Guide to RF and Wireless, The

SWITCHES

Block Diagram

Figure 4-1. Block diagram of a single pole, double throw switch.

Switch Function and Performance

Function

Switches do what you think they do: they change the path which the RF signal is on, just like a switch on a train track. Referring to Figure 4-1, an RF signal cruising down "track" N is headed to track A, unless of course the path is switched to track B at the last minute. One interesting thing to note is that some switches work in both directions. Any component that works equally well in both directions is conveniently referred to as bidirectional. If the switch in Figure 4-1 is bidirectional, then two trains (RF ...