What is RF switch?

RF switch is used to control the flow of electromagnetic energy. They are designed for the type of the transmission line used, coax, waveguide or microstrip. There r many types of rf switch. mechanical (by hand),electromechanical, uses a celenoid. These are the slower ones normally used in the transformation of energy to a dummy load for maintainance or to standby antennas for non ordinary conditions. faster switches are the PIN using semiconductors but suitable for low power. Gas tubes such as the thyritron are used with higher power and faster switching speed. also ther are ferrite switches with longer life than gas tubes but slower. Finally switching is not necessarly be at the RF. It would be at lower speeds, the RF energy is switched from a path to another in normally much lower than RF speed.