Index Thread Archive Oct-2000 Archive Send
 Main index   Previous in threadNext in thread   Previous in archiveNext in archive   Index by Subject for Oct-2000Index by Author for Oct-2000Index by Date for Oct-2000   Index by Subject for ArchiveIndex by Author for ArchiveIndex by Date for Archive   Reply to messageNew message 

Subject: 80m four square completed
Author: Les Peters <les.peters@ne.arris-i.com>
Date: 16-Oct-2000 15:57:37


With the unseasonably warm fall temps this past weekend I was finally !!! able to finish my 80m four square array.  The array uses four FORCE12 #EF-180BV verticals with a Comtek Systems phasing box.  Each vertival uses four 1/4 wavelength radials elevated about 8 feet above ground.  The array is installed in a wooded area and some of the nearby
trees are in the 60 foot range.

Having read the FORCE12 EF-180BV advanced installation notes, I tuned pairs of radials for 3.660 MHz and then each antenna for the same.  Based on the installation notes I expected the array to shift up to around 3.790 MHz but it barely shifted at all.  I retuned each antenna to around 3.790  MHz and the array then resonated at 3.812 - 3.822 MHz
(depending on direction) with about a 5% power dump.  Saturday afternoon (one hour before sunset) I began testing and worked  G0NVD.  He was S9 off the front of the array dropping to S5 (barely above the noise level) off the back.  I'm told this equates to about 20 dB F/B.  Comparisions with KC1XX who uses a pair of quads up 200+ feet were that he was about 10 dB louder then I was with comparable output power.  Sounds like everything is working well.

Sunday I decided to fine tune the array so that it resonated below 3.800 MHz rather than above it.  The fine tuning process was difficult and at times I wondered if I was doing more harm then good.  In the end the array resonates between 3.793 and 3.797 MHz and shifted up 24 - 30 KHz.  The final test data is below.
 

DIRECTION        Fr (single ant)        Fr (array)        DUMP PWR.       Fr SHIFT

       NE                  3.764  MHz           3.794  MHz        3.0 %                  30 KHz
       SE                   3.769  MHz           3.793  MHz        5.0 %                  24 KHz
       SW                  3.770  MHz           3.794  MHz        2.5 %                  24 KHz
       NW                 3.764  MHz           3.797   MHz       4.5 %                  26 KHz
 

Special thanks go to Jim Fisher VE1JF, Jim K4SQR, and Tom N6BT for their technical support and encouragement.  I recommend anyone putting up a four square up to consider
using a Comtek box.

Les Peters, N1SV

--------------------------------------------
Force12Talk mailing list provided as a service by Force 12 Antennas, Inc.
Force 12 Web site: http://www.qth.com/force12

Submissions: send to Force12Talk@qth.com
To unsubscribe: send a blank e-mail to Force12Talk-leave@qth.com
Force12Talk Message Archive: http://www.qth.com/force12/list/force12talk
For problems with the list, contact n4zr@qth.com

This Thread
  Date   Author  
16-Oct-2000 David Aslin
* 16-Oct-2000 Les Peters
16-Oct-2000 Les Peters
This Author (Oct-2000)
  Subject   Date  
75 / 80m Four square installation using EF-180BV 09-Oct-2000
75 / 80m Four square installation using EF-180BV verts & Comtek box 03-Oct-2000
* 80m four square completed 16-Oct-2000
80m four square completed 16-Oct-2000
C31XR and 402CD Spacing 11-Oct-2000
Results CQWW-SSB N1SV (4-square update) 30-Oct-2000