Topband: 2-element receiving arrays

[Frank W3LPL]

Tiler, 

Congratulations on your new five circle YCCC array! 

Be sure you very effectively waterproof all of your coaxial cable connectors 
that carry DC power. Even the slightest amount of moisture in the connectors 
will cause micro-arcing of the DC voltage, raising your noise floor by many dB. 

73 
Frank 
W3LPL 


From: "K3MM" <k3mm at verizon.net> 
To: "Frank W3LPL" <donovanf at starpower.net>, "topband" <Topband at contesting.com>, "PVRC" <pvrc at mailman.qth.net> 
Cc: "Pete N4ZR N4ZR" <pete.n4zr at gmail.com> 
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 8:08:42 PM 
Subject: Re: Topband: 2-element receiving arrays 

I just completed building a YCCC nine Circle array using V E6WZ PC boards with the latest mods, including on board chokes. I actually have it deployed currently as a five circle As I’ll be taking it down soon for mowing season, but it works quite well. The patterns on all three bands, 160 through 40 are as advertised. Very good patterns but not the best sensitivity . I built mine as about 23 foot verticals. I’d say compares favorably to my 500 foot beverage, antennna although it requires a lot of pre-amplification. Due to the active electronics it can be overloaded by close transmit antennnas so perhaps not as useful for a multiband operation in a small area. 
I’m providing power over the coax cable and using green heron everywhere, wireless remote control, which works quite well and is controlled by the PC software using a mouse or hotkeys. 

It was a fun project. It turned out quite well, but not in expensive. I scrounged about half the aluminum tubing and angle I’m using for the bases and probably spent $1500 or so. including the remote control hardware. next fall, I’ll deploy the full nine circle array, but the five circle is probably almost as useful and avoids some complexity and cost. i’ll also probably relocate it to get more separation from some of the transmit antennnas. 

Ty K3MM 

[ https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aol-news-email-weather-video/id646100661 | Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS ] 



On Thursday, March 30, 2023, 1:38 PM, Frank W3LPL <donovanf at starpower.net> wrote: 


Hi Pete, 

For a monoband receiving array, you might consider using low impedance 
resonant verticals rather than high impedance verticals. 

The primary advantages of high impedance verticals are 
- very short verticals (but taller verticals produce stronger signals) 
- multi-band operation 
- no radials 

The primary disadvantages are 
- reliability issues with outdoor electronics 
- lightning susceptibility of outdoor electronics 
- higher cost 
- much lower signal levels 
- extreme care required to suppress common mode signals (buried feedlines are highly recommended) 
- negative effects of nearby trees and buildings. 

The primary advantages of low impedance verticals are 
- much stronger signal levels 
- much less criticality of common mode signal suppression, 
- much lower cost 
- much higher reliability 
- immunity to lightning damage 
- much less affected by nearby trees and buildings 

The primary disadvantages are 
- taller verticals (typically about 24 feet) 
- radials (they can be very short if many radials are used) 
- mono band operation (switchable matching networks can be used for multi-band operation). 

I highly recommend the DX Engineering Receiving Antenna Phasing System. 
Its expensive but well worth the investment especially for a small array. 

[ https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-ncc-2 | https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxe-ncc-2 ] 

If you have 120 feet for a three element array, the YCCC array is a great choice 
It can use high impedance or low impedance verticals 
Unfortunately its no longer available from DX Engineering 
The nine element YCCC array uses only three active elements at any time, 
so its really a three element array switchable in many directions. 

[ https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/dxe-yccc-switch.pdf?_gl=1*1cv0fc9*_ga*MjEyMDA1Nzc3MS4xNjUyMzAyMjc0*_ga_NZB590FMHY*MTY4MDE5NTk1OC40My4xLjE2ODAxOTYwNTYuNTAuMC4w | https://static.dxengineering.com/global/images/instructions/dxe-yccc-switch.pdf?_gl=1*1cv0fc9*_ga*MjEyMDA1Nzc3MS4xNjUyMzAyMjc0*_ga_NZB590FMHY*MTY4MDE5NTk1OC40My4xLjE2ODAxOTYwNTYuNTAuMC4w ] 

[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl-crM5Kb6A | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl-crM5Kb6A ] 

[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVW1CmrzP7c | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVW1CmrzP7c ] 

A two element array occupies only 60 feet or even a little less. 

73 
Frank 
W3LPL 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pete N4ZR N4ZR" < [ mailto:pete.n4zr at gmail.com | pete.n4zr at gmail.com ] > 
To: "topband" < [ mailto:Topband at contesting.com | Topband at contesting.com ] > 
Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2023 12:54:30 PM 
Subject: Topband: 2-element receiving arrays 

Thinking ahead to next winter on 160, I'm interested in replacing my 
K9AY Loop with a 2-vertical phased array. I'd like to homebrew the 
antennas and just buy or build the remote control unit for the shack. 
I'm looking for sources of components (antenna-located preamps and an 
in-shack controller), and would prefer not to completely homebrew them, 
but the prices at the usual suspects are awfully high. Any ideas? 

I have pretty reasonably-priced access to 25 and 31-foot fiberglass 
poles (used for wind-socks by model airplane enthusiasts). I'm thinking 
that one relatively low-cost approach might be to attach, say, #14 wire 
to the poles, with preamps at the base, but wonder if there is a 
downside to using such small-diameter antenna elements rather than 1 or 
1.5 inch tubing? Alternatively, are clones of the DX Engineering 8' 
short verticals with preamps a good alternative? 

-- 
73, Pete N4ZR 
_________________ 
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