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

Radio ContestStations

By Contest Station Builders WorldwideBy Contest Station Builders Worldwide

Collected and Edited by Pete Smith, Collected and Edited by Pete Smith, N4ZRN4ZR

The approach

Identify the challenges in the design and Identify the challenges in the design and construction of complex contest stations construction of complex contest stations (other than antennas).(other than antennas).

Collect and present solutions from Collect and present solutions from station builders worldwide.station builders worldwide.

Thanks, VE1JF

Caveats

Successful contest stations come in all Successful contest stations come in all varieties, from fully-engineered to varieties, from fully-engineered to “growed like topsy.”“growed like topsy.”

There is no single “right way”There is no single “right way” Presentation based on input from Presentation based on input from

station builders – not comprehensivestation builders – not comprehensive

Neatness is optional

Challenge – Basic design decisions ““Architecture” choicesArchitecture” choices

Degree of automation.Degree of automation. Location of physical antenna Location of physical antenna

switching/phasing.switching/phasing. Layout of operating position and Layout of operating position and

cable runs cable runs

Solutions

Full automatic/remote RF switchingFull automatic/remote RF switching Hybrid approachHybrid approach Manual 2X6 Manual 2X6 6X2 switching 6X2 switching Other manual approachesOther manual approaches

Mechanical switch w/interlockMechanical switch w/interlock Patch panelPatch panel Cables on the floorCables on the floor

Footnote – What is 2X6 6X2 switching?

Courtesy Top Ten Devices

Full automation/remote RF switching

SO2R switching and antenna selection SO2R switching and antenna selection done remotely, but controlled from the done remotely, but controlled from the operating position. Maximum computer operating position. Maximum computer integration. Cable for data, not RF.integration. Cable for data, not RF.

Backup manual systems or spares are Backup manual systems or spares are essential.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 Most stations have been evolving for years.years.

Can’t always do everything at once.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 How to get feedlines and control cables into the shack areainto 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 essentialSome measures essential Protect vs disconnectProtect 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 low-inductance grounding

N1LO

Challenge – cable support, protection and management

Keep them out from underfootKeep them out from underfoot Protect against accidental damageProtect against accidental damage Retain flexibility for easy change, Retain flexibility for easy change,

maintenancemaintenance

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 hangersContractors’ snap-open wire hangers ““Panduit” extruded plastic cable trays Panduit” extruded plastic cable trays

and associated fixtures – separate and associated fixtures – separate cables by functioncables by function

Bicycle hangers, vinyl dipped huge Bicycle hangers, vinyl dipped huge screw hooks, etc.screw hooks, etc.

Challenge – Access to cabling

Free-standing operating table with Free-standing operating table with access from rearaccess from rear

Cable closetCable closet Console on wheelsConsole 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, Labelmakers – Dymo, P-Touch, Casio, etc. with clear heat-shrink or tapeetc. with clear heat-shrink or tape

Colored tape – use resistor color codeColored tape – use resistor color code MS Word/Magic TapeMS Word/Magic Tape Paint pen w/ silver inkPaint pen w/ silver ink

Cable bundling techniques

Color-coded Velcro tiesColor-coded Velcro ties Tie-wraps – reusable or disposableTie-wraps – reusable or disposable THHN wire twistedTHHN wire twisted Spiral wrap tubing (Alpha or Panduit)Spiral wrap tubing (Alpha or Panduit) Split-loom tubing (SPC or Panduit)Split-loom tubing (SPC or Panduit)

Other cabling hints

Use pigtails with terminal strips to ease Use pigtails with terminal strips to ease the task of changing radio-specific the task of changing radio-specific connectorsconnectors

HC8N

And more…

Use unique connectors to reduce risk of Use unique connectors to reduce risk of mistakes when recablingmistakes when recabling

Use multiple conductor cables where Use multiple conductor cables where possiblepossible

Careful attention to grounding can Careful attention to grounding can reduce inter-station interferencereduce inter-station interference

Documentation Station notebook is essentialStation notebook is essential Document everything in one placeDocument everything in one place

SchematicsSchematics Cable lengthsCable lengths Measured resistances, SWRs, etc.Measured resistances, SWRs, etc. Critical computer infoCritical computer info Everything you might need at 4 AMEverything you might need at 4 AM

Special solutions for special problems Phasing multiple antennas on separate Phasing multiple antennas on separate

towers on 10m – OK2RZtowers on 10m – OK2RZ Managing multiple receiving antennas Managing multiple receiving antennas

on 160 – W8JIon 160 – W8JI

OK2RZ

8 antennas/45 elements on 5 towers, 8 antennas/45 elements on 5 towers, including 3-high stack – 10m onlyincluding 3-high stack – 10m only

Ability to drive either 2 or 4 Ability to drive either 2 or 4 simultaneouslysimultaneously

Phasing line length determined Phasing line length determined experimentallyexperimentally

OK2RZ 10m antennas

OK2RZ antenna phasing

W8JI

Primarily a 160m stationPrimarily a 160m station Three operating positionsThree operating positions Many receiving antennas/arraysMany receiving antennas/arrays Challenge – how to make antennas Challenge – how to make antennas

available to all operating positions available to all operating positions simultaneouslysimultaneously

Receiving multicoupler

SO2R Audio/CW Controller Options Commercial unitsCommercial units

Top Ten DevicesTop Ten Devices Array SolutionsArray Solutions

Homebrew approachesHomebrew approaches

Array Solutions SO2R

www.arraysolutions.com

TopTen DX Doubler

http://www.qth.com/topten/

Homebrewers

K6LL

More examples

N6TR – One of the firstN6TR – One of the firsthttp://www.http://www.kknkkn.net/~k5tr/.net/~k5tr/trlogtrlog/switch./switch.pdfpdf S56A – relayless SO2R controllers S56A – relayless SO2R controllers http://artinian.bit.si/radio.htmhttp://artinian.bit.si/radio.htm KG5U – manual – audio and antennasKG5U – manual – audio and antennashttp://www.http://www.halhal-pc.org/~kg5u/2radctlr.html-pc.org/~kg5u/2radctlr.html W2UP – audio onlyW2UP – audio onlyhttp://w2up.home.http://w2up.home.mindspringmindspring

.com/SO2R-audio-controller.doc.com/SO2R-audio-controller.doc K5FD – full auto w/ antenna switchingK5FD – full auto w/ antenna switchingwww.www.qslqsl.net/k5fd.net/k5fd

Thanks to the following contributors:  EI8IC, GM4AFF, HA1AG, K0FF, K0HB, K0XG,EI8IC, GM4AFF, HA1AG, K0FF, K0HB, K0XG,K1DG, K1GQ, K1IR, K1KI, K3BU, K3NA, K3ND, K1DG, K1GQ, K1IR, K1KI, K3BU, K3NA, K3ND, K3OO, K3WW, K4JA, K4OJ, K4ZA, K5FD,K3OO, K3WW, K4JA, K4OJ, K4ZA, K5FD,K5TR, K5ZD, K6LA, K6LL, K7NV, K7ZO, K5TR, K5ZD, K6LA, K6LL, K7NV, K7ZO, K8CC, K8DX, K9GS, K9GY, KC4UZ, KG5U,K8CC, K8DX, K9GS, K9GY, KC4UZ, KG5U,KI7WX, KI7Y, KL7RA, KQ2M, KS9W, N1KWF,KI7WX, KI7Y, KL7RA, KQ2M, KS9W, N1KWF,N1LO, N3BB, N3RR, N5NJ, N5OT, N5ZC,N1LO, N3BB, N3RR, N5NJ, N5OT, N5ZC,N8YYS, OK2RZ, S56A, VE1JF, VE3PN,N8YYS, OK2RZ, S56A, VE1JF, VE3PN,VE7QO, VK5GN, W1YL, W2UP, W2VJN,VE7QO, VK5GN, W1YL, W2UP, W2VJN,W3PP, W4AN, W7TI, W7ZR, W7ZRC, W8JI,W3PP, W4AN, W7TI, W7ZR, W7ZRC, W8JI,W9RE ,WE9V ,WX0B W9RE ,WE9V ,WX0B