Transcript Why Do They Call It Wireless? Behind the Radios in Multi

Why Do They Call It Wireless?
Behind the Radios in MultiRadio Contest
Stations
By Contest Station Builders Worldwide
Collected and Edited by Pete Smith,
N4ZR
The approach
Identify the challenges in the design and
construction of complex contest stations
(other than antennas).
 Collect and present solutions from
station builders worldwide.

Thanks, VE1JF
Caveats
Successful contest stations come in all
varieties, from fully-engineered to
“growed like topsy.”
 There is no single “right way”
 Presentation based on input from
station builders – not comprehensive

Neatness is optional
Challenge – Basic design
decisions

“Architecture” choices
 Degree of automation.
 Location of physical antenna
switching/phasing.
 Layout of operating position and
cable runs
Solutions
Full automatic/remote RF switching
 Hybrid approach
 Manual 2X6  6X2 switching
 Other manual approaches
 Mechanical switch w/interlock
 Patch panel
 Cables on the floor

Footnote – What is 2X6 
6X2 switching?
Courtesy Top Ten Devices
Full automation/remote RF
switching
SO2R switching and antenna selection
done remotely, but controlled from the
operating position. Maximum computer
integration. Cable for data, not RF.
 Backup manual systems or spares are
essential.

For Example …. K4JA
Equally simple from the back
K4JA
But lots of hardware required
to support the up-front
simplicity
K4JA
Especially at a multi-multi
KC1XX
Remote antenna selection
KC1XX
Hybrid approach
Most stations have been evolving for
years.
 Can’t always do everything at once.

For example …. W9RE
Homebrew 6X2 relay box
W9RE
Manual antenna selection
W9RE
Manual 2X6  6X2 switching
… KQ2M
KQ2M
A Scottish solution
GM4AFF
Ultimate simplicity?
W5KFT
And simpler yet
K1KI
Challenge – Cable entry

How to get feedlines and control cables
into the shack area
Solution - Through-wall panel
K4OJ
On a larger scale ….
KC1XX
The dryer-vent approach
K5ZD
Or through the siding
K4JA
With the connections made
inside…
K4JA
Challenge – Lightning
protection
Some measures essential
 Protect vs disconnect

Solution - disconnect
everything
K5ZD
Control cables, too
K4OJ
Solution – protectors on coax,
control lines. Inside,
VE1JF
… or at the tower base
N3RR
Inside the box
N3RR
Grounding at the entry panel
N1LO
A closer look
N1LO
Cable support and lowinductance grounding
N1LO
Challenge – cable support,
protection and management
Keep them out from underfoot
 Protect against accidental damage
 Retain flexibility for easy change,
maintenance

Suspend from ceiling joists
K9NS/K9HMB
Bundle by band, type (RF,
control, etc.)
K9NS/K9HMB
Use a cable tray
WX0B
Other options (no pictures)
Contractors’ snap-open wire hangers
 “Panduit” extruded plastic cable trays
and associated fixtures – separate
cables by function
 Bicycle hangers, vinyl dipped huge
screw hooks, etc.

Challenge – Access to cabling
Free-standing operating table with
access from rear
 Cable closet
 Console on wheels

Access from rear
GM4AFF
Cable closet
K4JA
Another more spacious
approach
K9NS/K9HMB
Console on wheels
VK5GN
Cable marking techniques
Labelmakers – Dymo, P-Touch, Casio,
etc. with clear heat-shrink or tape
 Colored tape – use resistor color code
 MS Word/Magic Tape
 Paint pen w/ silver ink

Cable bundling techniques
Color-coded Velcro ties
 Tie-wraps – reusable or disposable
 THHN wire twisted
 Spiral wrap tubing (Alpha or Panduit)
 Split-loom tubing (SPC or Panduit)

Other cabling hints

Use pigtails with terminal strips to ease
the task of changing radio-specific
connectors
HC8N
And more…
Use unique connectors to reduce risk of
mistakes when recabling
 Use multiple conductor cables where
possible
 Careful attention to grounding can
reduce inter-station interference

Documentation
Station notebook is essential
 Document everything in one place
 Schematics
 Cable lengths
 Measured resistances, SWRs, etc.
 Critical computer info
 Everything you might need at 4 AM

Special solutions for special
problems
Phasing multiple antennas on separate
towers on 10m – OK2RZ
 Managing multiple receiving antennas
on 160 – W8JI

OK2RZ
8 antennas/45 elements on 5 towers,
including 3-high stack – 10m only
 Ability to drive either 2 or 4
simultaneously
 Phasing line length determined
experimentally

OK2RZ 10m antennas
OK2RZ antenna phasing
W8JI
Primarily a 160m station
 Three operating positions
 Many receiving antennas/arrays
 Challenge – how to make antennas
available to all operating positions
simultaneously

Receiving multicoupler
SO2R Audio/CW Controller
Options
Commercial units
 Top Ten Devices
 Array Solutions
 Homebrew approaches

Array Solutions SO2R
www.arraysolutions.com
TopTen DX Doubler
http://www.qth.com/topten/
Homebrewers
K6LL
More examples
N6TR – One of the first
http://www.kkn.net/~k5tr/trlog/switch.pdf
 S56A – relayless SO2R controllers
http://artinian.bit.si/radio.htm
 KG5U – manual – audio and antennas
http://www.hal-pc.org/~kg5u/2radctlr.html
 W2UP – audio only
http://w2up.home.mindspring.com/SO2R-audiocontroller.doc
 K5FD – full auto w/ antenna switching
www.qsl.net/k5fd

Thanks to the following contributors:
EI8IC, GM4AFF, HA1AG, K0FF, K0HB, K0XG,
K1DG, K1GQ, K1IR, K1KI, K3BU, K3NA, K3ND,
K3OO, K3WW, K4JA, K4OJ, K4ZA, K5FD,
K5TR, K5ZD, K6LA, K6LL, K7NV, K7ZO,
K8CC, K8DX, K9GS, K9GY, KC4UZ, KG5U,
KI7WX, KI7Y, KL7RA, KQ2M, KS9W, N1KWF,
N1LO, N3BB, N3RR, N5NJ, N5OT, N5ZC,
N8YYS, OK2RZ, S56A, VE1JF, VE3PN,
VE7QO, VK5GN, W1YL, W2UP, W2VJN,
W3PP, W4AN, W7TI, W7ZR, W7ZRC, W8JI,
W9RE ,WE9V ,WX0B