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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