Topband: YCCC 9 Vertical Array Preamplifiers

Wed Mar 4 04:39:03 EST 2020

  Hello Henk and others,
     I can surely see your point about how interesting that would be to share all the circuit details. However you would have to understand that what you propose is exactly what I did many years ago. I published on the web my entire design and processes I used to make the original 8 element all active array. It indeed was a very interesting topic for discussion. It brought many requests for more information. Then came the requests can you make one for me? I have never forgotten those words but I have forgotten who asked them.
 I did not start out with the idea I would make and sell anything to anybody I just wanted to share with the world what I had done. As word got around I no longer had a choice in the matter if I would make some or not. I made some Hi-Z amp kits.  First it was those Hi-Z amps are nice can you make a smaller array for us so we can use those amps. Well, that was the simple part after I had engineered over 4 years making the all active very complex 8 element array, making smaller arrays was very easy. The questions were non stop. A few had attempted home built arrays and the questions still came and then  I realized I cannot support what other people had done with my designs. There is so much more than meets the eye in a complex array like these. For an example, very few people realize that even a simple 10 turn transformer can have up to several degrees of phase shift at 160 meters just due to the wire length alone. Double that at 80 meters and even more at 40 meters etc.. I could not support 10 different people whom had wired transformers 10 different ways. That is just one minute thing about these designs. I realized that if I was going to support these arrays I would have to control the designs in order to keep my sanity. So I removed all the circuit details from the original web page and have kept the details mostly under wraps. I still share some service information as needed and even these sometimes are very difficult to troubleshoot over long distances. The very reason that the Hi-Z arrays outperform most receiving antennas is because of the attention to detail in the circuit design and attempting to build these in a home lab is very difficult at best.
   So Henk, the bottom line is I tried what you suggest and it was not possible. Under these circumstances I feel I am providing the very best I can for the top-band community.

Lee   K7TJR
Hi-Z Antennas

-----Original Message-----
From: Topband <topband-bounces+k7tjr=msn.com at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Henk Remijn PA5KT via Topband
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 12:14 AM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: YCCC 9 Vertical Array Preamplifiers

I think it is more interesting for the Topband community that you publish your design and let the people build their own.

73 Henk PA5KT

Op 4-3-2020 om 01:31 schreef Lee STRAHAN:
>      There seems to be some confusion about.
>   Let me explain the significance of Joel's comment about the high impedance amplifiers. I have developed new versions of the Hi-Z amplifiers I use in the Hi-Z array products. Joel W5ZN was given a set of these Hi-Z amps as a Beta test in the field for my new design. The whole purpose of one version (-6dB version) was to replace any of the really old amplifiers sold with the early arrays and to retrofit directly into the YCCC arrays. The new design has several advantages including Low Noise, more gain/phase accuracy, lower cost, and higher IMD specs compared to our older amps.
>     8 of these amps were also given to Eric NO3M for a beta test in his 630 meter 8 circle receiving array to replace the YCCC designed amps. I am happy to say they participated in his recent record 630 meter contact to VK4.
>     There is also another version called the Plus V2 version that has 6 dB more gain and will replace the current version in most new arrays and production as time goes on.
>   The amps have been submitted to DX Engineering and will show up in their offerings soon.
>     Sorry for the shameless plug but some information was needed.
> Lee   K7TJR  OR
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Topband <topband-bounces+k7tjr=msn.com at contesting.com> On Behalf 
> Of w5zn at w5zn.org
> Sent: Sunday, March 1, 2020 9:52 PM
> To: topband <topband at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: Topband: YCCC 9 Vertical Array Preamplifiers
>
> Allow me to clarify my post. I was referring to the high impedance amplifiers at the vertical elements, not the 2N5109 preamp used sometimes post combiner.
>
> 73 Joel W5ZN
>
>
> On 2020-03-01 20:27, w5zn at w5zn.org wrote:
>> As an alternative to the 2N5109 preamps, last year I acquired a set 
>> of HiZ preamps to use on my YCCC 9 Circle array elements. They work 
>> exceptionally well and exhibit a lower noise figure that I 
>> experienced with the original YCCC amps.
>>
>> I mentioned this solely for information with no other purpose as I 
>> realize some like to use a simpler amplifier design that they can 
>> build and/or repair. If you have an interest other than what has been 
>> mentioned you can contact Lee at HiZ.
>>
>> 73 Joel W5ZN
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