DX Engineering DXE-AAPS3-1P Manuel utilisateur

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Active Antenna Phasing

System

For Amateur, SWL, Broadcast AM DX

DXE-AAPS3-1P

DXE-AAPS3-1P-INS-Revision 0a

P.O. Box 1491 ∙ Akron, OH 44309-1491

Phone: (800) 777-0703 ∙ Tech Support and International: (330) 572-3200

Fax: (330) 572-3279 ∙ E-mail: [email protected]

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Table of Contents

Introduction

System Package and Features

DXE-ARAV3-2P - Active Receive Vertical Antennas

DXE-NCC-1 - Receive Antenna Variable Phasing Unit

Additional Items Needed, But Not Supplied

Technical Description Active Vertical Antennas

Antenna Feedlines

Combining two Vertical Antennas to improve S/N Ratio

Noise

Nulling Interference and Noise

Understanding Noise

Basic Tools Required

Active Vertical Antenna Installation

Location

Assembly

Ground Mounting Rod

Providing a Good RF Ground

Connections

Coaxial Cable Feedline

ARAV2 Low Frequency Response - Internal Jumpers

Alternate Mounting

NCC-1

NCC-1 Front Panel Controls and Switches

NCC-1 Rear Panel Connections

NCC-1 Internal Jumpers

NCC-1 Installation

Connections

Radio Interface Diagrams

Operating the Receive Phasing System

Manual Updates

Optional Items

Technical Support

Warranty

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Introduction

Phase nulling with two antennas and a phasing unit allows an operator to hear a desired signal by

reducing or completely removing a much stronger interfering signal arriving from a different

direction, without affecting the desired signal. Ideal for Amateur Radio, Shortwave Listening or

Broadcast AM DX reception, the DXE-AAPS3-1P Active Antenna Phasing System (AAPS) offers

excellent directional receiving performance from 500 kHz to 15 MHz using two high quality

DXE-ARAV3vertical receive antennas working in conjunction with the outstanding DXE-NCC-1

Receive Antenna Variable Phasing Unit.

DX Engineering’s unique design is vastly superior to traditional active antennas in both strong

signal handling and feedline decoupling, providing significantly better weak signal reception due to

lower spurious signal interference and reduced noise. Coupled with the DXE-NCC-1 Receive

Antenna Variable Phasing Unit, this package makes up a complete electronically rotatable receive

antenna system.

THIS IS A RECEIVE-ONLY SYSTEM

You should never attempt to transmit through the system.

The use of bypass relays and sequential timing is required to avoid damage to the

active receive antenna system.

Placing the active receive system on the same mast or tower as the transmit

antenna is not recommended.

This compact receiving antenna system operates over a very wide bandwidth with superior strong

signal performance. The output Third Order Intercept (TOI) is approximately +30 dBm. This is

significantly better than most aftermarket preamplifiers and receivers - making it one of the cleanest

active antennas on the market, reducing or eliminating spurious signals.

Feedline decoupling, absent in some other popular designs, is also exceptionally good. Decoupling

the shield greatly reduces feedline conducted noise and unwanted signal interference

Any receive system can be affected by local noise sources. Local noise can be random or directional

in nature. First, every effort must be made to locate sources of noise that could be eliminated at the

source. Dimmer switches, electric timers, photocell-operated security lights, and many other items

can be sources of unwanted noise. Plasma-screen television receivers are becoming more popular

and are a known generator of unwanted noise interference. When the noise source is directional in

nature, using the two DXE-ARAV3receive antennas in conjunction with the DXE-NCC-1 allows

the user to phase out the noise being received.

Ideally your receive antennas should be a minimum of 1/2-wavelength away from any transmit

antenna (on the lowest frequency) to avoid mutual coupling and the transfer of any noise being

passively re-radiated by the transmit antenna. The DXE-ARAV3 series active vertical antenna

system also grounds the receive antenna element when power is turned off for protection of the

active devices.

The DXE-ARAV3 active receive antennas, used in the DXE-AAPS3 package, may be used in

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installations when spacing from transmit antennas is at least 1/10-wavelength or more.

When using radio systems and RF amplifiers an optional time sequencer such as the DXE-TVSU-

1A Time Variable Sequencer Unit should be used to ensure the correct timing while switching

from receive to transmit, and back to receive to protect the active receive antennas.

DXE-AAPS3-1P Active Antenna Phasing System

Package and Features

The two active receive antennas system package DXE-ARAV3-2P is combined with DXE-NCC-1

Noise/Phase Controller to make a steerable dual vertical array.

DXE-ARAV3-2P - Active Receive Vertical Antennas (Two antennas)

(2) Non-conductive mounting plates

(2) Solid brass element mounting blocks

(2) High quality, 102 in. tapered stainless steel whip antenna elements

(2) AVA-2 Active matching systems w/ Internal Antenna Disconnect Relays

(2) Element connection wires

(2) Sets of Stainless steel clamps and hardware for element assembly

DXE-NCC-1 - Receive Antenna Variable Phasing Unit

Reduce overload or interference by nulling a strong signal or noise before it gets to your receiver

Better and more stable nulling than any other noise canceller or phasing unit on the market

Peak weak signals hidden under a strong signal on the same frequency

Null out local AM broadcast stations

Null out noise from power line arcing, lamp dimmers, motors and consumer electronics arriving

from a single direction

Best alternative to DX Engineering's Receive Four-Square antenna

Combine two antennas to create a directional pattern

The NCC-1 enables you to adjust the antenna array pattern as if you were moving the antennas

Special Features

Exceptional Dynamic Range, nearly 1000 times better than nearest competitor

Phasing is voltage controlled allowing precise resetting of phase

Phasing rotates more than 360 degrees with smooth control

Built-in two channel voltage controlled attenuator system

Low noise, high dynamic range amplifiers

Vastly superior dual channel complementary phasing system

Very low noise floor

Separate controls for reversing channel and phase

Works on all modes, 300 kHz to 30 MHz

Provides power for external active antennas

Input for mute on transmit

A sequencer such as the DXE-TVSU-1A should be used to ensure the correct transmit to receive switching

when operating with a high power amplifier.

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Additional Items Needed, But Not Supplied

Mounting pipe and/or copper or copper clad ground rod, 1/2" to 3/4" OD, 4 ft. long (included clamps

work with ground rods from 1/2 in. to 3/4 in.)

DXE-F6-CTL - 75 ΩF-6 Style, Direct Bury Coaxial Cable: Full Spool or Custom Cable

Assemblies. Flooded coaxial cable is recommended. CATV F-6 is a high quality 75 Ωflooded

coaxial cable. Flooded coaxial cables automatically seal small accidental cuts or lacerations of the

cable jacket. Flooded cables also prevent shield contamination and can be direct-buried. Contact DX

Engineering to have custom lengths of CATV F-6 cable manufactured with DXE-SNS6 - Snap-N-

Seal 75 ΩCoaxial Connectors installed.

DXE-CPT-659 - Coax Cable Stripper for CATV F-6, RG-6 and RG-59 coaxial cable. DX

Engineering’s economical stripping tool prepares CATV F-6 style coax for connectors in one

operation and includes an extra cutting cartridge.

DXE-SNS6-25 - Watertight Coaxial Connector, Snap-N-Seal for CATV F-6 Cable, 25 pieces

The feedline shield is used as the ground return for the active antenna power, so the feedline

connections must be high quality and weather resistant. For this reason, it is recommended using

Snap-N-Seal type F connectors DXE-SNS6-25.

DXE-SNS-CT1 - Compression Tool for Snap-N-Seal 75 ΩCoaxial Connectors. The DXE-

SNS6-25 connectors cannot be installed with normal crimping tools or pliers. An installation tool

such as the DXE-SNS-CT1 is essential for proper connector installation.

UMI-82180 - DX Engineering Approved RTV Sealant. Permatex Black RTV Sealant, Non-

Acetic. Avoid using any corrosive sealant which has a vinegar-like smell.

UMI-81343 - Anti-Seize should be used on stainless steel hardware (small amount on threads) to

prevent galling and to ensure proper torque.

Technical Description

Active Vertical Antennas - DXE-ARAV3-2P

This deluxe receiving antenna system is designed to operate over a very wide bandwidth from the

AM broadcast band to 30 MHz with superior strong signal performance. The Third Order Intercept

(TOI) is approximately +30 dBm, reducing or eliminating spurious signals. Exceptional feedline

decoupling, absent in some other popular designs, greatly reduces feedline conducted noise and

unwanted signal interference.

Each of the DXE-ARAV3 active receive antennas require a well filtered +10 to +15 Vdc @ 50 mA

nominal current. The DXE-NCC-1 Receive Antenna Variable Phasing Unit will supply power for

the two active receive antennas through the coaxial cable. The DXE-NCC-1 Receive Antenna

Variable Phasing Unit will interrupt the power to the active receive antennas for proper grounding

of their receiving whip elements during the transmit operation of the transceiver, or when the

system is turned off. Alternatively, well filtered station power may be used with a 1 amp in-line

fuse.

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Antenna Feedlines

It is not necessary to use any special length of feedline with receive antennas used in this system.

The front panel controls will compensate for feedline lengths. You should still use a good feedline

and make good connections. DX Engineering recommends DXE-F6 75 Ω CATV style cable with

weather-tight connectors such as DXE-SNS6 Snap-N-Seal, both available from DX Engineering.

Combining two Vertical Antennas to improve Signal-to-Noise Ratio

If your location is limited by interference coming from many directions, you can use the NCC-1 to

enhance signals. It functions as an electronically rotatable directional receive antenna. The

following guidelines apply when enhancing signals:

The most reliable and consistent

phasing performance occurs

with receive antenna spacing

less than 1/4-wavelength when

receive antennas are in line with

the desired direction, and less

than 1/2 to 1-wavelength apart

when receive antennas are

spaced at right angles to desired

directions.

Best sensitivity occurs when

receive antennas are more than

1/10-wavelength apart when the

receive antennas are in line with

the desired direction, and more

than 1/2-wave apart when

broadside to the desired

direction.

When enhancing desired signals,

it is preferable to locate both A

and BINPUT receive antennas

as far from local noise sources

as possible.

Adjusting the NCC-1 will vary the

phasing of the two receive antennas

and shift the pattern to your desired

direction.

The ARAV3Active Vertical Antennas are a perfect match for the NCC-1.

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Noise

Nulling Interference and Noise

The NCC-1 is not a noise blanker. The NCC-1 is designed to reduce noise or interference before it

gets to the receiver by nulling the direction from which the noise is arriving. The NCC-1 can be

effective on all types of noise, including interference (QRM) from unwanted signals. The NCC-1

allows the user to continuously adjust both phase and amplitude when combining two antenna

inputs. The signal output to the receiver is the addition or subtraction of signals from two separate

receive antennas. Unwanted directional noise can be removed or unwanted signals can be cancelled.

Desired signals can be peaked or enhanced.

If noise is coming from several sources in different directions, satisfactory results may not be

achieved. Unlike conventional noise blankers, the phasing method of signal enhancement or

rejection does has several advantages.

Interference much stronger than a desired signal can be completely removed without affecting

the signal if it is arriving from a different direction than the desired signal.

The NCC-1 can be effective with all types of interference and all modes.

Signals can be peaked instead of nulled with a flip of a switch.

Note: Failure to follow guidelines outlined in sections below will often result

in reduced nulls or reduced enhancement of distant signals

Understanding Noise

Noise limits our ability to hear a weak signal on the lower bands. Noise is often an accumulation of

many unwanted signals. Noise from antennas is generally a mixture of local ground wave and

ionosphere propagated noise sources, although many locations suffer with dominant local noise

sources.

Noise is generated by randomly polarized sources. Noise polarization is filtered depending on the

method of propagation:

Noise arriving via the ionosphere is randomly polarized. Noise arrives at whatever

polarization the ionosphere favors at the moment. Noise has the same ratio of electric to

magnetic fields as a "good" signal.

Sources within a few wavelengths of the antenna arrive randomly polarized. The noise does

not have a dominant polarization and it can either be electric or magnetic field dominant.

Local noise can also be random or directional in nature. Every effort must be made to locate

sources of noise that could be eliminated at the source. Dimmer switches, electric timers,

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security lights, and many other items can be sources of unwanted noise. Plasma televisions

are becoming more popular and are a known generator of unwanted noise interference.

Ground wave noises arriving from a significant distance are vertically polarized. The path

along the earth "filters out" and removes any horizontally polarized signals. Horizontal

electric field components are "short circuited" by the conductive earth as they propagate and

are eliminated.

With the exception of ground wave-propagated noise, receiving antenna polarization effects are not

predictable. It is possible vertically polarized antennas may be quieter than horizontally polarized

antennas. The opposite is also true.

It may be difficult to remove noise with any device when:

Noise and desired signals come from the same direction and elevation angle

Both antennas don’t hear the same noise

The noise source is moving around, or noise sources are coming from several directions at

the same time

Basic Tools Required

5/16", 7/16", 1/2" wrenches or nut drivers, and a 5/8" wrench

# 2 Phillips Head Screw Driver

Active Vertical Antenna Installation

Location

The best place to install your active antennas is where you have the recommended space. Refer to

pages 20-22 for installation information. The two DXE-ARAV3receive antennas should be located

a minimum of 1/2-wavelength (at the lowest frequency used) away from any transmit antenna. If

possible, select a location far away from any dwelling where many potential noise sources are

found.

If the receive antennas are located 1/10-wavelength to 1/2-wavelength from a transmitting antenna,

the receive antennas must be powered off at least 5 ms before transmitting on the transmit antenna.

A sequencer such as the DXE-TVSU-1A should be used to ensure the correct transmit-to-receive

switching.

With this close spacing, coupling from nearby transmit antennas or metal structures becomes more

pronounced. At higher frequencies, where the active element length becomes a partial wavelength,

coupling increases further. Placing a DXE-ARAV3 on the same mast or tower as a Yagi or other

transmitting antenna is not recommended for this reason.

Pay attention to details. The time you spend making a good installation will pay you back many

times with good results.

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Assembly

The assembly described is for the DXE-ARAV3-1P. Use UMI-81343 - Anti-Seize on stainless

steel hardware threads to prevent galling and to ensure proper torque.

Orient the black Mounting Plate with the two brass element mounting block holes closer to the top

left, as shown in Figure 1. Use the 7/16" x 1-1/2" bolts, flat washers, split washers, and nuts to

mount the brass element block to the mounting plate. Make sure the threaded hole in the element

block for the antenna element is facing upward. Use a flat washer under each bolt head and a flat

and split washer combination under each nut. Do not over-tighten.

Figure 1

Mount the AVA-2 matching unit with the ANT + terminal toward the top up. Use the 5/8" bolts, a

flat washer under each bolt and a flat and split washer under each nut. Refer to Figure 2.

Figure 2

Loosely install the two stainless steel V-Clamps on the black mounting plate as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Upper Clamp Lower Clamp

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NOTE: The following describes the use of the DXE-SSVC-1P and DXE-SSVC-1PG V-Clamps

that are included with the DXE-ARAV3. These are used for mounting the DXE-ARAV3

on a typical ground rod from 1/2" OD to 3/4" OD.

If you plan to mount the DXE-ARAV3to a larger mounting mast, you will need two

optional DXE-SSVC-150P and one optional DXE-SSVC-150PG V-Clamps which will

accommodate a mounting pipe that is 1" OD to 1-1/2" OD. Refer to Figure 8 for

examples.

Refer to Figure 4 and install one of the two wires (both are the same length) from the brass block to

the AVA-2 antenna ANT + connection, use the wing nut and hand tighten only. The wire is held in

place on the brass element block with one 5/16" x 1/2" bolt and one star washer. The closed lug

goes on the brass element and the open lug goes on the AVA-2.

Figure 4

The other wire goes from the ANT - (use the wing nut and hand tighten only) on the AVA-2 to the

ground tab on the stainless steel V-Clamp installed on your ground rod as explained in the next

section. The open closed goes on the ground tab and the open lug goes on the AVA-2 as shown in

Figures 5 and 6.

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