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Triangle plots

 

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Array Solutions

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W8AV Triangle Array Controller

This controller is based on a design by Goose, W8AV a professional broadcast engineer. Therefore we call it the W8AV Triangle Array Controller.  Basically it will deliver the proper phase and power magnitude to the three verticals arranged in a triangle.  It will provide steering of the array in three directions based on the selection of the control switch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       

                       W8AV Triangular Array controller by Array Solutions

 

The picture above shows the phasing control box and the control switch.  The phasing control box mounts at the physical center of the array and has three RF connectors to drive the three antennas, as well as an input RF connector for the feed line.  There is also two RF connectors for the phase delay line. 

The delay line can be custom made for your application based on the pattern you wish to achieve and on the physical spacing of the arrays.  For instance a .29 wavelength spacing as recommended by ON4UN's "Low Band DX-ing" book demonstrates a phasing of 90 degrees between the two "back" elements and the "forward" element.  This gives a pattern of tremendous front to rear ratio.  But he also demonstrates an optimized delay of 115 degrees which has a slightly better forward gain, and slightly worse front to rear ratio with a better rear upper lobe suppression.  The system can be set up for either method by the user.  Click Here for Plots.

NEW for 2005 - We have added an additional Relay and LC network so you can now switch from SSB to CW instantly with a flip of a toggle switch. No need to adjust your elements.

Testing at our factory: 

The relay phase box is attached to 3 dummy loads, an HP phase and magnitude meter and a Tektronix 2465 300Mhz Scope as below. A transceiver applies the power at the desired frequency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As seen in the above picture the magnitude of the lagging element is set to be twice that of the leading two elements.  The HP phase magnitude instrument confirms the settings on the scope but with much more accuracy.  We are able to adjust the 90 degree phase shift to be precisely with these instruments.

 

Scope Plots:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a close-up picture of the oscilloscope screen showing the power splitter (smaller voltage sine wave) output feeding the leading elements, and the 90 degree phase shifted lagging element with twice the voltage. This is a "text book" display from our triangular array controller's output for setting up the array for 90 degree phase shift and proper magnitude to feed this array.  We set this pattern up at our factory but you may change it at your site.

But by being able to select a different phase delay allows one the ability to change the distance from each of the verticals, and give one more room to customize their array based on available property or tower height if the array will be three dipoles pulled out from a tower.

The controller outputs are single 50 ohm cables to each element.  The controller phasing box is a die cast Aluminum box with a rubber gasket to seal it from the weather.

Specifications:

Amateur Bands available 160,80,40 both CW and SSB setting
Power Rating 5 kW CCS 
Phasing System  Power Splitter, and delay line - no dump load to waste power
F/B 20-30 DB seen in actual use depending on angle of propagation.
Input impedance at resonance 50 ohms nominal - NOW with SSB and CW Relay and L networks so you can change from SSB to CW instantly
Dimensions phase box Approx 7.5 x 7.5 X 3 inches (80m box)
160m box is approx 10 X 6.25 X 4 inches

 

I use one of these for my 80m array at WX0B. Basically it is a three element array that is implemented with three full sized dipoles pulled out from the tower.  The feed points are approx 43 feet from the center of the tower for each vertical dipole. I tuned the dipoles for resonance at 3550.  To move the resonance to the SSB DX window I wrap up about 6 feet of wire from the bottom leg of each dipole.  I see a 1.0 SWR in all three directions of this array at resonance.  The tests we have done easily show that this array demonstrates the predicted modeled results.  What I mean is the results even on strong stateside stations show the F/B. None of this well maybe the QSB is hiding the results etc. The F/B is real and discernable by just flipping the switch on all signals.  On the air tests with DX stations also shows that our signal goes from an S9 to unreadable in the noise.  The gain of this array is excellent. I recommend this system highly for the DXer or Contester that is looking for near 4 square performance.

Pricing Click Here

Manual