I did what you were thinking. I love the 8 ele array. I really works
even with a 100 ft diameter circle. I wish I could go bigger but I just
don't have the space. Something happened to my array controller so I
pulled out one of the old 4 sq boxes and used 4 elements with 70 ft
spacing. It worked great in the 160 test. I was using that spacing
coincidentally so I already had the phasing lines built for that spacing.
You would just need the 8 element array box and maybe the proper CC8 and
you are in business.
I missed not having an E/W choice. Pretty important domestically from
Colorado. I dont' think I missed working anyone because of it but it
does make a difference.
I was actually thinking about putting up an AY loop array inside the
Circle array but have not got around to asking if this would be a bad
idea. My gut feeling says is. This would put loop ends 25ft away which
I think is too close and would interact.
If you have the room for the largest 4 sq array I don't see any reason
you would need the other one for 80. With the active elements I would
assume that interaction would be considerably less with nested 4 squares
Diversity is the way to go. A number of people commented how doing
diversity eliminated almost all the fading.
I might just toss up a loop to EU and play with it some and maybe a bog.
I wish the DXE ava units were no so expensive or I might try to find a
way to install the other 4 squares in a way that would be horse proof in
the pastures. I am not sure how much interest in the used market there
is for just the 4sq main phasing unit.
W0MU
On 12/6/2016 2:54 PM, Paul F. Merrill wrote:
I sent this to DXE first, but I'd be interested in hearing opinions and
experiences. Thanks.
I have two DXE RX 4 squares. I bought the second one used thinking that I
may gather the parts so as to make a 8 antenna system using the controller
that came out after I bought my 4SQ.
Do you guys have an opinion on these three things:
1) My main focus will be 80 and 160, and will take what I can get on 40.
The 4 directions will cover pretty well from my QTH in Central W6...not
sure if I need 8 directions. Would I be better off with a SQ optimized for
160 and one for 80 than on compromise 8L system?
2) Can I nest these two squares to save space, cable runs, etc.? 80 inside
the 160.
3) Are there any available systems to share (Multi2 contesting) and take
advantage of diversity RCV and/or share the various RCV antennas? I plan
to put them far enough away from the XMIT antennas that I won't need the
sequencer, since I wouldn't want the 80m op to lose his RX antenna when the
160m op transmits.
Rigs now are K3's, but I foresee 6700's in my future.
I am fortunate to have some acreage, so I plan to have a couple of
beverages and maybe an AS Shared Apex Loop, but I have a lot of money in
these new/used DXE systems and want to make the best of them.
Thanks, Paul / W7IV
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