1. Manuals
  2. Brands
  3. DX Engineering Manuals
  4. Control Unit
  5. DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P
  6. Manual

DX Engineering DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P Manual

Receive eight circle array electronics package
Hide thumbs
Table of Contents

Advertisement

Quick Links

Download this manual
Receive Eight Circle Array
Electronics Package
DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P
U.S. Patent No. 7,423,588
DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P-INS Revision 2a
© DX Engineering 2012
P.O. Box 1491 ∙ Akron, OH 44309-1491
Phone: (800) 777-0703 ∙ Tech Support and International: (330) 572-3200
Fax: (330) 572-3279 ∙ E-mail: DXEngineering@DXEngineering.com

Advertisement

Table of Contents
loading
Need help?

Need help?

Do you have a question about the DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P and is the answer not in the manual?

Questions and answers

Subscribe to Our Youtube Channel

Related Manuals for DX Engineering DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P

Summary of Contents for DX Engineering DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P

  • Page 1 Receive Eight Circle Array Electronics Package DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P U.S. Patent No. 7,423,588 DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P-INS Revision 2a © DX Engineering 2012 P.O. Box 1491 ∙ Akron, OH 44309-1491 Phone: (800) 777-0703 ∙ Tech Support and International: (330) 572-3200 Fax: (330) 572-3279 ∙ E-mail: DXEngineering@DXEngineering.com...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Introduction Are you ready to build your Receive Eight Circle Array? DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P Package Additional Parts Required, Not Supplied with the DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P Eight Circle Layout System Overview Installation Control and Power Connections Receive Eight Circle Active Vertical Elements...

  • Page 3: Introduction

    Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the DX Engineering Receive Eight Circle Array System designed by W8JI, which offers the best directional receiving performance in proportion to the space required. Advanced design, with a stable, clean, narrow and low-angle pattern in eight selectable directions, makes the DX Engineering Eight Circle Array the ultimate receiving antenna.

  • Page 4: Dxe-Rca8B-Sys-3P Package

    2" OD  DXE-AVA-2 Active Matching Units  DXE-RPA-1 Receive Pre-Amplifier  Custom made 75Ω Coaxial Cable Delay Line for the DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P with F- Connectors installed. Additional Parts Required, Not Supplied with the DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P  DXE-F6-1000 75Ω Coaxial Cable for antenna feedlines and array feedline ...

  • Page 5: System Overview

    Figure 1 - Typical Diagram of the DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P Receive Eight Circle Array System System Overview The heart of the DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P system is comprised of the modified DXE-CC-8A Eight Position Control Console, the DXE-RCA8B-1 Receive Eight Circle Array Controller, eight DXE- AVA-2 Active Matching Units for your vertical elements and one Delay Cable with F-Connectors installed.

  • Page 6: Installation

    Installation The RCA8B-1 Receive Eight Circle Array Controller can be mounted to a customer supplied galvanized steel pipe driven into the ground at the center of the array. A galvanized pipe ranging from 1 inch OD to 2 inches OD may be used. The length of the controller unit's mounting pipe is dependant on your location.
  • Page 7 4. The modified CC-8A Control Console requires a nominal +12 Vdc fused input (+12 to +14 Vdc, 2 Amps and well filtered) through the 2.1 mm connector on the rear of the unit. A 2.1 mm power cord is supplied with unit. The wire with the white stripes is the +12 Vdc. Outer Connection is GROUND Center Pin is +12 VDC.
  • Page 8 Table 1 - Modified CC-8A Output Truth Table Control lines (usually BCD ) can normally use good quality CAT5e cable (4 twisted pairs of 24 AWG wire) for runs up to 1000 feet. Typical DX Engineering BCD control lines requirements are +12 VDC at 25 milliamps.

  • Page 9: Receive Eight Circle Active Vertical Elements

    2,000 feet Receive Eight Circle Active Vertical Elements The DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P Eight Circle Array is supplied with DXE-AVA-2 Active Matching Units, intended to be used with eight customer supplied identical vertical elements that are 8 to 10 feet tall, which may be used for single band or multi-band operation of the array. The resulting active vertical elements normally do not need ground radials, depending upon the conductivity of the soil.

  • Page 10: Array Spacing

    rray Spacing Performance of the Receive Eight Circle Array can noticeably decrease if structures radiating even small amounts of noise or signals are within 1-wavelength of the array. There is no detrimental effect when a higher frequency array of small receiving elements is placed inside the circle of a lower frequency array of short elements.

  • Page 11: Vertical Element Feedlines

    DX Engineering array, and specifically designed for the DXE-F6-1000 flooded cable is the Snap-N-Seal® F connectors, model DXE-SNS6-25 which contains 25 connectors; enough for the entire array plus spares. Snap-N-Seal® connectors cannot be installed with normal crimping tools or pliers.

  • Page 12: Typical Dxe-Rca8B-Sys-3P Receive Eight Circle Configuration

    Typical DXE-RCA8B-SYS-3P Receive Eight Circle Configuration Figure 8 Coaxial Cables are shown in various colors for clarity. Shown with optional DXE-RFCC-1 Receive Feedline Current Choke and optional DXE-CW9S Control Cable. Power connection to the modified DXE-CC-8A Control Console is not shown.

  • Page 13: Delay Line

    If you intend to size your array for frequency coverage other than 80 and 160 meter operation, see the section on “Delay Line”. The DX Engineering DXE-RCA8B-1 uses a time delay system, not a traditional phasing system. The delay line length is dictated by array dimensions rather than operating frequency, which allows for the use of a single delay line for optimum directivity over a very wide frequency range.

  • Page 14: Optimizing The Array

    straight line (away from the coaxial feedline) to the initial 4 ft to 6 ft ground rod. If you observe a change in signal or noise level, you need to improve the ground. A second rod spaced a few feet away from the first one may correct the problem or 10 to 12 ground radials, each 15 ft long, should provide a sufficient ground system for most poor and rocky soil conditions.

  • Page 15: System Design Features And Benefits

    System Design Features and Benefits The DX Engineering Receive Eight Circle Array System designed by W8JI offers the best directional receiving performance in proportion to the space required. Advanced design makes the DX Engineering’s Eight Circle Array, with stable, clean, narrow and low-angle pattern in eight selectable directions, the ultimate receiving antenna.

  • Page 16: Frequency Coverage -Vs.- Element Type

    However, this Active Element end-fire/broadside array alternative to building a phased Beverage array requires a lot less space and a lot less maintenance! Contact DX Engineering for more details on the use of the DXE-RCA8B for a four element system.

  • Page 17: Site Selection

    signal-to-noise ratio is almost entirely a function of antenna pattern. System loss or system gain is no longer a factor, and excessive gain can actually hurt reception of weak signals. Efficiency is not a major consideration in dedicated receiving systems. This allows application of techniques that increase directivity in receive-only systems, techniques generally unworkable or unacceptable in transmitting antennas.

  • Page 18: Effects On Patterns

    There is no detrimental effect when a higher frequency array of small receiving elements is placed inside the circle of a lower frequency array of short elements. Note: The DXE-RCA8B Eight Circle Receiving Array System should be separated from transmitting or other antennas and structures (particularly metal) by at least 1/2-wavelength.

  • Page 19: Proximity To Transmitting Antennas

    (such as power lines) as possible. Proximity to Transmitting Antennas The DX Engineering Active Matching Units with customer supplied vertical elements, or the DXE- ARAV3-8P Receive Antenna Active Vertical with Relay active elements, and your transmitting antenna need only minimal physical separation to maintain safe power levels when the DXE- TVSU-1A Time Variable Sequencer Unit is used.

  • Page 20: Examples Of Array Performance

    160 meters. Each is optimally sized for a .327- wavelength radius, according to the dimensions in Table 5. The DX Engineering Eight Circle Array offers better directivity than the Receive Four Square. However, it requires more real estate to accomplish better directivity, which in turn requires eight selectable directions to cover all directions properly.

  • Page 21: Multi-Band Arrays With Active Elements

    Multi-Band Arrays with Active Elements Only the DX Engineering Active Receive Verticals or vertical elements with Active Matching Units, with constant 75Ω impedance and unsurpassed dynamic range across the frequency range, will allow a user to properly cover more than one band with the Eight Circle Array.
  • Page 22 The azimuth patterns in Figure 10 were generated using EZNEC+ and show the effects on the patterns when varying the radius of the array. These patterns are not to be viewed as pointing in a default or particular direction. Figure 10 - 22 -...

  • Page 23: Delay Line

    We strongly recommended the use of DX Engineering DXE-F6-1000 High Quality, Low Loss, 75Ω F6 type Direct Bury Coax "Flooded" Coax. The DX Engineering DXE-F6-1000 75Ω coaxial cable has a nominal VF of 0.85. Keep in mind that solid Teflon® or polyethylene (PE) dielectric coaxial cable has a VF of approximately 0.66.

  • Page 24: Topographical Considerations

    An Eight Circle Array intended for frequency coverage over a 3:1 ratio, such as 160/80/40M, cannot use the standard 95% calculation as detailed above. To determine the Delay line length for an array which will be used over more than two bands, use the highest frequency to be covered by the array in this calculation: (983.6 / Frequency in MHz) x (.375) = Eight Circle Array Radius in Feet.

  • Page 25: Sizing The Array

    Sizing the Array If there are no space constraints, follow the dimensional recommendations in Table 5 for excellent performance. Only a monoband array may be installed with passive verticals or Active Vertical elements, but a multi-band Eight Circle Array must be installed with Active Vertical elements. As demonstrated in the previous sections, an Eight Circle Array that is optimized for a certain band will not yield useful results on the next higher frequency band.

  • Page 26: Optional Items

    Endfire Broadside Radius of Circle Spacing Spacing Diameter, Radius of Distance One Half Endfire Circle[feet] = 1/2 Between Distance Diameters Spacing & Broadside Freq distance between Antennas Between of Circles Broadside Spacing as antennas divided by = 246/F Antennas [feet] Spacing a % of WL sin 22.5 degrees...
  • Page 27 DXE-UT-KITF - F-Connector Coaxial Cable Prep Tool Kit This cost-saving kit provides a handsome, convenient carrying case complete with the DX Engineering F-6 coaxial cable prep tools and accessories. It features a rugged, lockable enclosure fitted with a precut foam insert with a home for each tool.

  • Page 28: Technical Support And Warranty

    Warranty All products manufactured by DX Engineering are warranted to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from date of shipment. DX Engineering’s sole obligation under these warranties shall be to issue credit, repair or replace any item or part thereof which is proved to be other than as warranted;...

Table of Contents