Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

[VE6WZ_Steve]

Hi Rick,

Yes, the 2N5109s are almost un-obtainium now, but a few months ago Mouser stocked them and maybe DigiKey, but now they are out-of-stock.  Even the 2N3866 substitute is hard to find.
Over the years (2 decades) I have built at least 10 of these amps, and still have a supply of a dozen or so 2N5109 devices, and since these devices are almost indestructible, I’ll likely never run out!  You are correct that this is a problem with this design.

Thanks for the E-field amp link….nice…perhaps another project to build!

I like KiCad a lot. super easy to learn.  I had never use a PC board program, but I was able to learn KiCad from scratch in one evening!

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