Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

[tony.kaz at verizon.net]

The 2N5109 is still being made today in the US. But it is a JAN part and it "ain't" cheap
73,
N2TK, Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: Topband <topband-bounces+tony.kaz=verizon.net at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Mike Waters
Sent: Sunday, March 1, 2020 8:57 PM
To: Frank Donovan <donovanf at starpower.net>
Cc: topband <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board

I see they're all from China. Perhaps from Wuhan? ; -)

73, Mike
W0BTU

On Sun, Mar 1, 2020, 6:30 PM <donovanf at starpower.net> wrote:

> There's no shortage of 2N5109s on eBay for about one dollar each
>
>
> www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=2n5109&_sacat=0&_sop=15
>
>
> 73
> Frank
> W3LPL
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "VE6WZ_Steve" <ve6wz at shaw.ca>
> To: "Richard (Rick) Karlquist" <richard at karlquist.com>
> Cc: "Topband" <topband at contesting.com>
> Sent: Sunday, March 1, 2020 11:56:39 PM
> Subject: Re: Topband: 9 circle RX array combiner board
>
> 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/docume
> nts/DST-Group-TR-3522.pdf
> >
> > Various improvements to the above:
> >
> >
> http://home.earthlink.net/~christrask/Complementary%20Push-Pull%20Ampl
> ifiers.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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