I started off testing with what I have on hand. I have an OMRON G5AK-237P-27 relay.
View attachment G5A.pdf
My setup is 6 feet of coax from satellite receiver and digital antenna receiver going to the switch and from the switch I have a 75 feet coax going to the TV.
On the electronics side I've only soldered 2 F connectors and the relay on a PCB all within 3/4 inch traces apart with the relay latched to connect those two F connectors.
With this setup the signal from the digital antenna is crystal clear and I see no difference between using my relay or manual A/B switch. Switching to the satellite however I get some garbage lines on the TV, I would say the picture is degraded by 2% due to those lines. Bringing the TV at 6 feet from the switch (6 feet cable) it is all clear with satellite and digital antenna.
What does an RF relay have that regular relays don't have? can I add filters to my regular relay to improve the signal at the longer distance?
I need a latching relay with low coil voltage because I want battery operated switch (these relays are quite expensive)
Now make it automatic: Detect significant current for each system draw and pulse appropriate relay. Now that makes it useful.
This would be ideal but the satellite receiver and Digital antenna receiver are on at all time so how can I detect which one I am using? when in Satellite mode I set my TV to channel 3 and I use the satellite remote to cycle through channels and on the Digital side I just cycle the TV remote to the other available channels listed as x-x.
After writing this I am thinking why not just use a Y splitter? I am tempted to try it but would like to get any comments on this. Not sure if it can damage the Satellite receiver or Antenna receiver.
PS: what I call Antenna receiver:
My antenna is in the attic with a coax running to a small box which supplies current to the antenna's rotor and the signal at the same time. From this box is 2 TV outputs, one of them is going to my switch.
Mike