TX antenna - 2EL antenna array 4 direction

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[<<- Web page|https://remoteqth.com/] {TOC} This is TX-RX antenna mainly for lower bands. It is based on classic 4SQ with 90deg phase hybrid. !Quick Start Guide *[Connector description|https://remoteqth.com/wiki/index.php?page=TX+antenna+-+2EL+antenna+array+4+direction#Connector_description] *[Direction control|https://remoteqth.com/wiki/index.php?page=TX+antenna+-+2EL+antenna+array+4+direction#Direction_switching_control] *[SWR LED bar settings|https://remoteqth.com/wiki/index.php?page=TX+antenna+-+2EL+antenna+array+4+direction#SWR_LED_bar_settings] How to set range of LED bar *[Jumpers setting|https://remoteqth.com/wiki/index.php?page=TX+antenna+-+2EL+antenna+array+4+direction#Jumpers_setting] LED bar mode, SWR PTT protection, supply voltage, direction LED... *[ANTENNA elements|https://remoteqth.com/wiki/index.php?page=antenna+elements] Ways to build antenna elements *[FEED lines length|https://remoteqth.com/wiki/index.php?page=TX+antenna+-+2EL+antenna+array+4+direction#FEED_lines_length] Calculation and examples of coax feed line length *[TUNNING ANT elements|https://remoteqth.com/wiki/index.php?page=TX+antenna+-+2EL+antenna+array+4+direction#TUNNING_ANT_elements] There is a few ways how to tune antenna !Connector description * There is standart RJ45 (ETHERNET) connector with shielding [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/k9ay-bpf/rj45.png|noborder] * There is standart D-SUB 15 female connector with shielding [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/4sq-8dir/dsub15.png|noborder] * Table [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/2el/2el-connector.png|noborder] *Connectors on Hybrid PCB: ** detector = dummy load power (pin 6 on controller) ** 1 = DIR1 , 2 = DIR2 [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/2el/rf-con-web.png] !Direction switching control: | DIRECTION | DIR1 | DIR2 | | Controller | PIN 7 | PIN 8 | | W | +12 V | - | | N-S | - | - | | E | +12 V | +12 V | !SWR LED bar settings * '''{.redka#id color: #f23f37; font-size: 200%}&#9888;{/} NOTE: Input SWR of the hybrid is not SWR of the antenna in W-E directions!!!''' * '''{.redka#id color: #f23f37; font-size: 200%}&#9888;{/} NOTE: For N-S direction, there is no power to Dummy load. Input SWR follows SWR of antennas!''' !! SWR Range trimmer - Range of PWR in dummy load [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/2el/fp-swr.png|border] !!Setting step by step ** Connect TRX (PA) to the 2EL hybrid - to Input port ** Connect Dummy load to the Dummy Load port ( you can insert PWR meter too ) ** DO NOT connect any antenna element - leave it open ** Switch direction on controller to WEST or EAST ** Than when you TX (RTTY mode) all power goes to the dummy load port ** Open controller box ** There is SET SWR trimmer (blue one) ** With this trimmer you can set full range of LED bar for prefered MAX power in dummy load '''{.redka#id color: #f23f37; font-size: 200%}&#9888;{/} NOTE: Do not forget thar SWR 2:1 on antenna elements is 1/10 of INPUT power to dummy load!! So for 1kW and SWR 2:1 is 100W in DL. There is no problem to have only a few Watts in DL when the antenna elements are right tuned!''' ** So set TRX power to your max PWR you want have in dummy load and set SET SWR trimmer to full LED bar range ** When LAST red LED is on, than PTT loop is disconnected * see jumpers setting '''{.redka#id color: #f23f37; font-size: 200%}&#9888;{/} NOTE: When you set full scale for some PWR, for example 200W. Than you can go down with PWR from your TRX and you can see what PWR = LED COUNT. What is half of scale, first LED etc.''' !Jumpers setting * When power in dummy load exceeds value you you set before, than protection circuit breaks PTT loop and Buzzer sound is ON. * Jumpers: ** JP1 = ALARM - switch ON/OFF buzzer and PTT LOOP break ** JP2 = LED BAR mode (dot/line) [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/2el/fp-alarm.png|border] ** JP3 = supply voltage for RF box relays - controller voltage or External ** JP5 = external CW/SSB segment relay - external antenna tunning: [example|https://remoteqth.com/wiki/index.php?page=antenna+elements#CW_or_SSB_segment_tunning] [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/2el/fp-ext.png|border] CHANGE LED INDICATION FOR THREE DIRECTIONS. ** JP4 = W N-S E ** JP6 = NW SW-NE SE ** JP7 = SW NW-SE NE ** JP8 = N W-E S [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/2el/fp-dir.png|border] !FEED lines length - All ports on RF hybrid box are 50 Ohm. Antenna elements are connected to the box with 50 Ohm coax cables. - The best way is to use Lambda/4 feed line lengths to take advantage of the current forcing properties of this length of line. LENGTH IN METERs !!! [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/2el/coax.png|noborder] !TUNNING ANT elements '''{.redka#id color: #f23f37; font-size: 200%}&#9888;{/} NOTE: Input SWR of the hybrid is not SWR of the antenna for directions W ane E!!!''' '''{.redka#id color: #f23f37; font-size: 200%}&#9888;{/} NOTE: Do not forget thar SWR 2:1 on antenna elements is 1/10 of INPUT power to dummy load (DL) for W and E directions!! So for 1kW and SWR 2:1 it is 100W in DL. There is no problem to have only a few Watts in DL when the antenna elements are right tuned!''' !!There is a few ways how to do the right antenna elements tunning. * With SWR LED bar indication *** for directions W or E *** ** Do *[SWR LED bar settings|https://remoteqth.com/wiki/index.php?page=TX+antenna+-+2EL+antenna+array+4+direction#SWR_LED_bar_settings] at first ** TX with your TRX on RTTY (FSK) and tune TRX over the band ** You can see, where is the minimum power in dummy load = best SWR ** You can increase PWR (use PA) and find the minimum ** So if you set full scale of LED bar graf to 200W, and you TX with 2 KW into the antenna, you can see SWR 2:1 range * With SWR meter on your TRX / SWR meter / VNA *** for direction N-S *** ** TX with your TRX on RTTY (FSK) and tune TRX over the band ** You can see, where is the minimum SWR on your TRX / SWR meter / VNA ** YTune around the band and find the minimum * With 2-port VNA or Spectrum Analyser with TG *** For directions W or E *** ** Very nice way how to SEE antenna parameters is with VNA or SA ** Connect TX and RX port with short cable and do calibration ** Than connect TX port of VNA (TG on SA) to the IN port of hybrid ** RX port of VNA (IN of SA) connect to Dummy LOAD port on hybrid ** Connect all antenna elements ** Connect controller ** Now you cas see S21 parameters of antenna ** This will change with direction switching ** You can see the minimum of S21 what is the best SWR of antenna ** Frequency where there is that minimum, there is best SWR of antenna ** For example S21 = -20dB means 1/100 of Input power to dummy load ** On right tunned elements you can have more than -30dB ! what is 1W from 1kW !!! - Return loss (RL) in dB to SWR: ONLINE calculator [RL to SWR|https://cgi.www.telestrian.co.uk/cgi-bin/www.telestrian.co.uk/vswr.pl] [https://remoteqth.com/img/ZAW-WIKI/4sq-8dir/swr1kw.png] !!ToDo * Cable wiring circuits