Topband: Preliminary Results DXE NCC-1

[Charlie]

My location is a small rural hilltop near Charleston WV.  Although it is electrically quiet much of the time, the location is surrounded by HV power lines for 360 degrees, some of which are within 200'.  Several of these power lines run within the woods and receive little maintenance from the utility.  Power line noise can be problematic at times and is typically worse on the higher bands.  To help deal with this noise, I was using an MFJ-1026 Noise Canceling Signal Enhancer.   


 
A recent post by K3LR on the Topband reflector discussed how his multi-multi contest station was using a DXE NCC-1 to phase low band receive antennas for enhanced performance.   The description of the NCC-1 indicated that it was similar in principle to the MFJ-1026  but was a much higher quality unit with more features and adjustment range.  
 
Having recently commissioned a Hi Z Triangle rx array for the low bands on my hillside, it occurred to me that perhaps it would be effective to add another receive antenna and phase it with the Hi Z array using an NCC-1.  The system could also be used for noise canceling as with the MFJ 1026.  My early Christmas present was a DXE NCC-1. 
 
After the NCC-1 arrived, a day or two was taken to consider the optimum hookup here.  It quickly became apparent that I could use the NCC-1 to phase the Hi Z triangle against one of my four 160 inverted L's or any of the other TX antennas by  taking the rx OUTPUT from the Yaesu 5K and feeding it into the DXE box as a receive antenna.   The rx output on the 5K is simply a feedthrough of the main tx antenna while the unit is receiving.   The results for noise reduction and signal enhancement have been great and so far I have not used the NCC-1 with two receive antennas.  
 
Each of my four  xmit L's is located on a different quadrant of the hillside to face  NE/SE/NW/SW.  These use ground slope and blocking features of the terrain to enhance performance in favored directions and have been fair rx antennas.   I was anxious to phase the Hi Z Triangle against the inverted L's hoping to achieve some level of background noise reduction and hopefully some signal enhancement which would aid in weak signal copying. 
 
Out of the box, without being familiar with adjusting the NCC-1, I could balance the antennas and get a signal peak or a noise reduction.  It was kind of intuitive how it worked.  The unit is big and well made.  The main phasing adjustment knob has a good feel and is the size of a  transceiver tuning knob.  Smooth.   The switches have a great feel.  The unit is well made and heavy.   More importantly, I immediately felt it was enhancing my receiving capability on 160 with the antennas as described.  The first night there was a light trace of power line noise that did not move the S meter, but it was annoying and could mask weak signals.  The NCC-1 took the noise out.  I was very encouraged. 
 
The combination of the Hi Z and the 160 inverted L's always deals with any power line noise if both antennas hear the noise, which is usually the case.  The degree of signal enhancement possible with the phasing adjustment depends on the direction of the signal and which inverted L is selected.  A combination that worked well was HS0ZKX  from the SW using the SW L and the Triangle.  Another was FT5ZM from E using the SE L and Triangle.   The NE L and NW L are less effective on signal enhancement because of the spacing between antennas I suspect, but they work for power line noise reduction. 
 
When I have power line noise on the hi bands, even S9 plus noise, the NCC-1 takes it out using the transmit yagi and the Hi Z Triangle as the noise antenna.  This combination is frequently used to work DX that would otherwise be buried in power lin noise.   
 
My long term plan remains to phase the Hi Z Triangle with another receive antenna, probably another vertical array.  The cold snowy weather has delayed any antenna work on my hillside.  
 
I consider the NCC-1 to be one of the best accessories ever purchased here.  In fact, it is already essential to my station operation. 
 
 
73 Charlie N8RR 
 
 
 

 

 
 
For simple noise reduction, I think the MFJ is fine.  For phasing antennas and ease/repeatability of adjustment, the NCC-1 is in a different league.  Everyone would not have a need for this box, but for serious low band DXing if one has multiple antennas and/or some significant powerline problems, it will help.  At $600 it is not cheap.    Wish I would have discovered this thing a few years ago!   
 
Now I have to decide if it will be necessary to add another Hi Z.  Maybe not.   I might even put up a couple of short parallel beverages and phase those.  
 
Guys, I love this stuff!   Working the HS0 on 160 LP has rekindled my enthusiasm, if it ever waned! 
 
73 Charlie N8RR