[TowerTalk] Building a "little pistol" contest station and theC-31XR

[Kelly Taylor]

Boy, if a C31XR is a little pistol, I guess we need to redefine what little
pistol means...

73, kelly
ve4xt
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Roos" <Andrew.Roos at poynting.co.za>
To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, October 06, 2006 6:03 AM
Subject: [TowerTalk] Building a "little pistol" contest station and
theC-31XR


> A couple of months ago, I posted asking about antenna suggestions for my
> "little pistol" contest station. Thanks to all those who replied. This
> post summarizes my plans (comments welcome), with a follow-up question
> about the C-31XR.
>
> I am purchasing an 18m free-standing tower 750mm (2 foot 6") on a side,
> which will be professionally installed at my new QTH. The tower is not
> telescopic or tiltover, but can be climbed on the inside, which
> satisfied my XYL that it would be safer than a smaller tower that would
> have to be climbed on the outside. This also means that I can locate it
> closer to my shack - the tilt-over tower would have had to be about 200
> ft from the shack, which is the only place with sufficient room for the
> tower to tilt.
>
> Rather than starting with an "all-band" antenna, I've decided to get the
> best tribander that I can (almost) afford, and add antennas as finances
> permit. I'm getting a Force 12 C-31XR - the ultimate deciding factor was
> its ability to have three separate feedlines.
>
> My "Mark 1" station will be the C-31XR at 70 foot, with wire antennas on
> 40 and 80m, without SO2R capability. This will still be a big
> improvement over my previous stations, which have been wire antennas
> only.
>
> The "Mark 2" station will consist of adding SO2R capability via a second
> radio, SO2R switching, and Array Solutions "six pack" antenna switch and
> W3NQN band filters using the separate feedlines on the C-31XR. The
> intention is to learn to use SO2R, otherwise much as above. I will also
> be able to enter in the multi-two category, by planning the equipment
> layout so it is convenient for two operators (this is nice as my XLY is
> also an amateur, although not yet a contester; and I would also like
> multi-2 to increase the social aspect and introduce new amateurs to
> contesting). Of course, multi-two will only be one radio per operator.
>
> The "Mark 3" station will consist of adding a 2-element 40m beam, such
> as the F-12 Delta 240, above the C-31XR.
>
> The "Mark 4" station includes additional switching, filtering and power
> amps required to operate high power - except that legal limit is ZS is
> 400W, so I'm not not sure that I'll bother.
>
> Now for the question:
>
> To use the C-31XR with three separate feedlines,
>
> (a) Do I simply need three baluns, or is there something else I should
> order.
> (b) Do I need to order the C-31 specifically for three-feed operation,
> or do I just order a "standard" C-31?
> (c) How easy/hard is it to convert between one and 3 feedlines once it's
> on a tower? I imagine this may be hard, so I should probably use three
> feedlines from the outset, even if I don't have the band filters and
> second radio for SO2R.
>
> Many thanks and hopefully see you in CQWW CW,
> 73
>
> Andrew ZS6AAA (ex ZS1AN).
>
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> Andrew Roos
> Poynting Antennas
>
> Telephone (011) 262-5155
> Facsimile  (011) 262-5156
>
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