Home made patch panel

For many years I used antenna switches and was not happy with any of them.  One day while visiting with my friend JeRB K8WPI we talked about patch panels and its advantages over antenna switches.  With a patch panel you can put any antenna on any rig.  JeRB has a rack mounted patch panel and in his words “It’s cool”  After looking around I found MFJ made two desk top patch panels. MFJ-4704 ($69) and the MFJ-4706 ($79)

Time to build my own!

   

I got a box and the barrel connectors at the Fort Wayne Hamfest for about $35.  The label on the top panel was made using Microsoft Publisher printed on card stock and held in place with two sided tape.