Category: Antennas

G5RV woes – W6OGC

G5RV antenna figure prominently in many online forums.

At (eHam 2014) W6OGC describes his G5RV antenna system.

102′ center feed point at 32′ drooping off on each side to 12-15′, 31′ of 450 ohm twin lead, fed with ~130′ or so of RG-8X through a 1:1 current balun at the base of the mast, aligned roughly N-S. On no band is it resonant nor has SWRs less than 3 or so to 1…

Though a G5RV is commonly thought as a ‘no tune’ antenna, just make it to the dimensions in the book, the above shows a possible outcome.

Continue reading G5RV woes – W6OGC

Last update: 4th March, 2014, 9:59 AM

Simple Morse beacon keyer updated 2014/03/01

W4HBKgrab001

Above is a clip from W4HBK’s 40m grabber today, the signal is VK2OMD running 5W QRSS6 over a 14,700km path. We can infer (Duffy 2012b) from the 15dB S/N in that capture in 0.25Hz noise bandwidth, that in an 800Hz CW filter for say -5dB S/N (threshold of copy) we need 15dB more signal, or 160W for reliable copy. (Less power may be adequate for very short QSOs at the peak of fade cycles.)

Continue reading Simple Morse beacon keyer updated 2014/03/01

Last update: 2nd March, 2014, 9:53 PM

Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 7

Summary

This series of seven articles has:

  • explained the meaning and value of G/T as a single metric for receive system performance;
  • defined and explained the G and T terms;
  • explained the relationship between Teq and Noise Figure;
  • explained how to analyse simple cascaded stages and hence more complex networks;
  • described how to estimate transceiver Noise Figure and Teq;
  • demonstrated application of the analysis techniques to a set of practical configuration options to provided quantitative comparison of the S/N performance of the options; and
  • discussed measurement of G/T as a means of validating system performance.

Continue reading Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 7

Last update: 19th June, 2014, 10:00 PM

Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 6

Measurement of G/T

G/T can be measured using celestial noise sources provided the antenna can be pointed to them. The noise source that is most appropriate will depend on expected G/T, frequency, time etc.

Sun

Continue reading Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 6

Last update: 19th June, 2014, 10:00 PM

Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 5

Bringing it all together

This part explains how to build a model of the entire receive system to calculate G/T.

Firstly, make an inventory of all of the system elements that you intend to model.

A model needs to be no more detailed than is necessary to provide adequate accuracy for the purpose at hand.

Continue reading Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 5

Last update: 19th June, 2014, 10:01 PM

Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 4

Finding transceiver Teq

We have explained how to calculate Teq from Noise Figure, but most transceiver specifications do not give Teq or Noise Figure directly, in fact they don’t really contain sufficient information to reliably calculate Teq or Noise Figure.

Credible equipment reviews might provide an estimate of Noise Figure or Teq.

The best approach is to directly measure Noise Figure using a known noise generator and the Y Factor Method.

Continue reading Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 4

Last update: 19th June, 2014, 10:00 PM

Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 3

Relationship between Teq and Noise Figure

In the last part, the meaning of the equivalent noise temperature of an amplifier was given.

Whilst you will find that working in Teq has advantages for this analysis, amplifier specifications may not give Teq, but may give Noise Figure.

Continue reading Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 3

Last update: 19th June, 2014, 10:01 PM

Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 2

G/T is defined as the ratio of antenna gain to total equivalent noise temperature.

For clarity, lets define those terms.

Gain

Gain of an antenna is defined (IEEE 1983) as the ratio of the radiation intensity, in a given direction, to the radiation intensity that would be obtained if the power accepted by the antenna were radiated isotropically. (Isotropically simply means equally in all directions.)

Continue reading Designing high performance VHF/UHF receive systems – Part 2

Last update: 19th June, 2014, 10:01 PM