[TowerTalk] 4 square (Rex Turvin) (info and history fr DAVIS RF Co.

Thu Jul 23 12:28:31 EDT 2015

Rex,  John is correct, ON4UN's Low Band DX'g is a good source.  Back in the day (80's) when 4 Sqr phased array switch boxes came available, myself, W1FC and W1CF  designed and introduced to the ham market with intentions of also going commercial (Colatchco, Inc).  Dana Atchley (W1CF) got very ill, he was the commercial / government laison (he started M/A Com), Fred Collins, W1FC was the inventor/engineer (He started Microwave Radio Corp, then RadioWaves (Microwave antennas).  I was the admin and logistics guy.  This was a part time biz. We sold it when Dana got ill  to K8UR, Mitch, who some years later sold it to K4SQR (Jim Miller) who had it for years then sold to DX Eng'g), a tribute to Jim's expert handling, hard work , tech ability, and customer service for quite a few years.     
  I digress but interesting history to a highly burgeoning biz that took forever to really sink in (i.e. , hams figured out you can't beat em on low bands unless you are into full size rotatable beams… so I guess hams finally bought the acreage needed.  Instant switching is great vs. a beam particularly when you are trying to determine if weak signal long path is for real vs. hearing Europe, etc
starting to come in at sunset (at least from East Coast perspective). I use a Colathco 4 el for 80.  Lots of fun (when I get on, not much on time though… ah for retirement !) 

Anyway,  you can easily start your array as follows:  4 verticals,  1/4 wave tall , but may need a capacitive hat at top in order to limit height a bit but more importantly you want to see about 32 ohms at base (or whatever the phased circuitry is calling for nowadays).   Spaced 1/4 wave, and your "box"  *phasing unit" will be at the center point of the array….   see the data out there for tuning those 4 cables, 75 ohm nominal coax,  with a fairly high VP in order to make the required length and tuning involved.  We have that coax cable available

**** Sorry, I can't get into more detail than this. Time does not allow and my info may be outdated, or forgotten details !  At least you can start positioning and erecting the verticals.  Full details are out there.  If you are buying a DX Eng'g box  (COMTEK) , likely good instructions with it.

                  edit:  JM bc'd

73,  Steve  ,  K1PEK   DAVIS RF Co.   PS:  Fred and I sat with John ON4UN years ago and gave him all the info for 4 sq's for his book.  

On Jul 23, 2015, at 12:00 PM, towertalk-request at contesting.com wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
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>   1. 4 square (Rex Turvin)
>   2. Re: 4 square (john at kk9a.com)
>   3. Re: 4 square (Jeff AC0C)
>   4. N6BT phone number? (K7LXC at aol.com)
>   5. Re: N6BT phone number? (Chuck Dietz)
> 
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:54:56 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Rex Turvin <turvin2009 at yahoo.com>
> To: Towertalk Reflector <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] 4 square
> Message-ID:
> 	<1368200538.679280.1437605696328.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
> 
> I am getting ready to build my 1st 4 square. Can someone direct to to a good source of information that will help me in the correct placement of the? individual verticals? Also i am wanting to use raised radials.Any help is appreciated.Thank you in advance73 NR6M
> ?ex: KF7NMD
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Rex Turvin
> Vice President CADXA
> www.nr6m.com
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 20:49:49 -0400
> From: <john at kk9a.com>
> To: <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 4 square
> Message-ID: <000001d0c4e1$7d347560$779d6020$@com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
> 
> Typically the antennas are 1/4 WL apart (246/MHz=Ft) in a square.  There is
> a plethora of information in the ON4UN Low Band DXing book and probably also
> in the ARRL Antenna book.  If you are using a commercial controller it will
> likely also have some layout instructions.
> 
> John KK9A
> 
> 
> To:	Towertalk Reflector <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject:	[TowerTalk] 4 square
> From:	Rex Turvin via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Reply-to:	Rex Turvin <turvin2009 at yahoo.com>
> Date:	Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:54:56 +0000 (UTC)
> 
> I am getting ready to build my 1st 4 square. Can someone direct to to a good
> 
> source of information that will help me in the correct placement of the  
> individual verticals? Also i am wanting to use raised radials.Any help is 
> appreciated.Thank you in advance73 NR6M
> ex: KF7NMD
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Rex Turvin
> Vice President CADXA
> www.nr6m.com
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 20:10:36 -0500
> From: "Jeff AC0C" <keepwalking188 at ac0c.com>
> To: <john at kk9a.com>,	<towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 4 square
> Message-ID: <EEB4FC6651424B90B6C77493457A250F at w520>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> 	reply-type=original
> 
> Rex,
> 
> Ask around in your club.  Within the CADXA you have some very knowledgeable 
> guys there.
> 
> 73/jeff/ac0c
> www.ac0c.com
> alpha-charlie-zero-charlie
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: john at kk9a.com
> Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 7:49 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] 4 square
> 
> Typically the antennas are 1/4 WL apart (246/MHz=Ft) in a square.  There is
> a plethora of information in the ON4UN Low Band DXing book and probably also
> in the ARRL Antenna book.  If you are using a commercial controller it will
> likely also have some layout instructions.
> 
> John KK9A
> 
> 
> To: Towertalk Reflector <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Subject: [TowerTalk] 4 square
> From: Rex Turvin via TowerTalk <towertalk at contesting.com>
> Reply-to: Rex Turvin <turvin2009 at yahoo.com>
> Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 22:54:56 +0000 (UTC)
> 
> I am getting ready to build my 1st 4 square. Can someone direct to to a good
> 
> source of information that will help me in the correct placement of the
> individual verticals? Also i am wanting to use raised radials.Any help is
> appreciated.Thank you in advance73 NR6M
> ex: KF7NMD
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> Rex Turvin
> Vice President CADXA
> www.nr6m.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 
> 
> 