Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

On 3/1/2020 2:22 PM, VE6WZ_Steve wrote:
> Just like some guys enjoy woodworking and making furniture that they may not really need, I like to build radio things just for the fun of the project even though I may not really “need” it.  For three years I have been using the original 9 circle RX array kit that I bought from DX-engineering, and it has performed well, but I wanted to build my own and add my own design tweaks.
> 
> Using KiCad, I have designed and built a 9 circle RX array combiner with a 2N5109 pre-amplifier integrated onto the same board.
> 

> 73, de steve ve6wz
> _________________
>

Now I know why you work stuff I can't even hear :-)

The 2N5109 is just about extinct.  Did you secure a
source for it before you laid out your PC board?  If
you did, please share it with the rest of us.  Most
people are now using substitutes for the 2N5109 with
varying degrees of success.  Are you possibly doing
that?  Of course those substitutes are not in a
hermetic metal can, so the PC board has to be laid
out for differently for them.

You might want to look at these references for
so-called "E-field" arrays of whip antennas:

A military design:

https://www.dst.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/documents/DST-Group-TR-3522.pdf

Various improvements to the above:

http://home.earthlink.net/~christrask/Complementary%20Push-Pull%20Amplifiers.pdf

You also find a lot of other good stuff on Chris's site.

They go beyond the DXE design.

Good luck with your project.

BTW, how do you like KICAD?  I'm currently using a grandfathered
EAGLE 7.7 perpetual license, but "some day" I might switch to KICAD.

73
Rick N6RK