I strongly second Franks comment about weather proofing.
Equally important on any outside electronics is to very carefully clean ALL the
residual flux off the PC boards, and especially on the F-connector solder pads.
ALSO, apply some acrylic conformal coating on all outdoor PCBs.
With 12v on the coax line with a bias-T setup, even small amounts of dirt stuck
to old flux and then combined with moisture can cause serious noise issues with
micro conduction between the centre conductor and ground pads.
I have since redesigned all my rx amplifiers to use a separate 12v dedicated
supply voltage to keep the DC off the coax.
73, Steve Ve6wz
Sent from my iPad
> On Mar 30, 2023, at 2:18 PM, Frank W3LPL <donovanf@starpower.net> wrote:
>
> Tiler,
>
> Congratulations on your new five circle YCCC array!
>
> Be sure you very effectively waterproof all of your coaxial cable connectors
> that carry DC power. Even the slightest amount of moisture in the connectors
> will cause micro-arcing of the DC voltage, raising your noise floor by many
> dB.
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
>
> From: "K3MM" <k3mm@verizon.net>
> To: "Frank W3LPL" <donovanf@starpower.net>, "topband"
> <Topband@contesting.com>, "PVRC" <pvrc@mailman.qth.net>
> Cc: "Pete N4ZR N4ZR" <pete.n4zr@gmail.com>
> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 8:08:42 PM
> Subject: Re: Topband: 2-element receiving arrays
>
> I just completed building a YCCC nine Circle array using V E6WZ PC boards
> with the latest mods, including on board chokes. I actually have it deployed
> currently as a five circle As I’ll be taking it down soon for mowing season,
> but it works quite well. The patterns on all three bands, 160 through 40 are
> as advertised. Very good patterns but not the best sensitivity . I built mine
> as about 23 foot verticals. I’d say compares favorably to my 500 foot
> beverage, antennna although it requires a lot of pre-amplification. Due to
> the active electronics it can be overloaded by close transmit antennnas so
> perhaps not as useful for a multiband operation in a small area.
> I’m providing power over the coax cable and using green heron everywhere,
> wireless remote control, which works quite well and is controlled by the PC
> software using a mouse or hotkeys.
>
> It was a fun project. It turned out quite well, but not in expensive. I
> scrounged about half the aluminum tubing and angle I’m using for the bases
> and probably spent $1500 or so. including the remote control hardware. next
> fall, I’ll deploy the full nine circle array, but the five circle is probably
> almost as useful and avoids some complexity and cost. i’ll also probably
> relocate it to get more separation from some of the transmit antennnas.
>
> Ty K3MM
>
> [ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aol-news-email-weather-video/id646100661 |
> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS ]
>
>
>
> On Thursday, March 30, 2023, 1:38 PM, Frank W3LPL <donovanf@starpower.net>
> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Pete,
>
> For a monoband receiving array, you might consider using low impedance
> resonant verticals rather than high impedance verticals.
>
> The primary advantages of high impedance verticals are
> - very short verticals (but taller verticals produce stronger signals)
> - multi-band operation
> - no radials
>
> The primary disadvantages are
> - reliability issues with outdoor electronics
> - lightning susceptibility of outdoor electronics
> - higher cost
> - much lower signal levels
> - extreme care required to suppress common mode signals (buried feedlines are
> highly recommended)
> - negative effects of nearby trees and buildings.
>
> The primary advantages of low impedance verticals are
> - much stronger signal levels
> - much less criticality of common mode signal suppression,
> - much lower cost
> - much higher reliability
> - immunity to lightning damage
> - much less affected by nearby trees and buildings
>
> The primary disadvantages are
> - taller verticals (typically about 24 feet)
> - radials (they can be very short if many radials are used)
> - mono band operation (switchable matching networks can be used for
> multi-band operation).
>
> I highly recommend the DX Engineering Receiving Antenna Phasing System.
> Its expensive but well worth the investment especially for a small array.
>
> [ https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-ncc-2 |
> https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-ncc-2 ]
>
> If you have 120 feet for a three element array, the YCCC array is a great
> choice
> It can use high impedance or low impedance verticals
> Unfortunately its no longer available from DX Engineering
> The nine element YCCC array uses only three active elements at any time,
> so its really a three element array switchable in many directions.
>
> [
> https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/dxe-yccc-switch.pdf?_gl=1*1cv0fc9*_ga*MjEyMDA1Nzc3MS4xNjUyMzAyMjc0*_ga_NZB590FMHY*MTY4MDE5NTk1OC40My4xLjE2ODAxOTYwNTYuNTAuMC4w
> |
> https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/dxe-yccc-switch.pdf?_gl=1*1cv0fc9*_ga*MjEyMDA1Nzc3MS4xNjUyMzAyMjc0*_ga_NZB590FMHY*MTY4MDE5NTk1OC40My4xLjE2ODAxOTYwNTYuNTAuMC4w
> ]
>
> [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl-crM5Kb6A |
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl-crM5Kb6A ]
>
> [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVW1CmrzP7c |
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVW1CmrzP7c ]
>
> A two element array occupies only 60 feet or even a little less.
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Pete N4ZR N4ZR" < [ mailto:pete.n4zr@gmail.com | pete.n4zr@gmail.com ]
> >
> To: "topband" < [ mailto:Topband@contesting.com | Topband@contesting.com ] >
> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 12:54:30 PM
> Subject: Topband: 2-element receiving arrays
>
> Thinking ahead to next winter on 160, I'm interested in replacing my
> K9AY Loop with a 2-vertical phased array. I'd like to homebrew the
> antennas and just buy or build the remote control unit for the shack.
> I'm looking for sources of components (antenna-located preamps and an
> in-shack controller), and would prefer not to completely homebrew them,
> but the prices at the usual suspects are awfully high. Any ideas?
>
> I have pretty reasonably-priced access to 25 and 31-foot fiberglass
> poles (used for wind-socks by model airplane enthusiasts). I'm thinking
> that one relatively low-cost approach might be to attach, say, #14 wire
> to the poles, with preamps at the base, but wonder if there is a
> downside to using such small-diameter antenna elements rather than 1 or
> 1.5 inch tubing? Alternatively, are clones of the DX Engineering 8'
> short verticals with preamps a good alternative?
>
> --
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> _________________
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>
> BQ_BEGIN
>
>
>
> BQ_END
>
>
> _________________
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