Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

[Lee STRAHAN]

  Hi Guys,
   I got advance information of the 2N5109 and its cousin the 2N3866 transistors demise.  I used the 2N3866 in my older design Hi-Z 75 ohm preamp so this transistor should suffice in most preamps that used the the 2N5109 . I bought a good supply of the 2N3866 devices and can offer them up to the ham community for $3.00 each in small quantities. I intend to support hams that are in need of these devices in small quantities only which should prolong the lives of the ubiquitous single transistor feedback preamp such as the HI-Z and the W7IUV.
   I am not selling these transistors through Hi-Z Antennas but through private sales. E-Mail through k7tjr at msn.com or address below. There is no profit to me involved. There will be postage costs involved also.

      Also do not buy the Motorola labeled 2N3866 or 2N5109 devices from China as they are nothing more than audio transistors at best. I tried them.

Lee    K7TJR
8125 SW Larch Dr.
Culver, OR   97734



-----Original Message-----
From: Topband <topband-bounces+k7tjr=msn.com at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Richard (Rick) Karlquist
Sent: Sunday, March 1, 2020 3:31 PM
To: VE6WZ_Steve <ve6wz at shaw.ca>; Topband <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board



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
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