Titan Dx part 3 - the final part

he Titan is in the air.  My intent was to mount the antenna to a currently installed chimney mount.  Unfortunately, the chimney mount was in a state of disrepair from several years of weather exposure.  The antenna was placed on a 15 foot pole which placed the base of the antenna about 4 feet above the roof line.  A guy kit was secured from gap and a set of 3 guys were installed.  The wind survival of the antenna appears to be pretty good but time will tell.  The antenna is extremely top heavy so I would certainly recommend a guy kit for all but the most shielded of installations.

For my antenna, I did not utilize the 40/10 meter "hoop".  Instead, I fashioned 2 wires of length equal to what would have made up the 10 and 40 meter portions of the hoop.  The SWR on all bands but 30M is respectable.  I still have some experimentation to do to improve the 30M SWR.  I have not tried this antenna beyond SWR testing on 80 meters.  On 80 I have this antenna tuned for the extreme low end of the band  and I get good VSWR on the lower 50KHz of the band.  It was a bit lower than I wanted but I can live with it.

I spoke with the Gap folks this past weekend in Dayton.  They suggested that I increase the amount of overlap between the longest lower tuning rod and the rod that it is connected to.  This is supposedly the portion that resonates both the 20 and 30 meter sections.  I will see what I can do.  It is not a priority as this antenna is intended to be a multiplier antenna in an SO2R contest setup and 30 m is not going to be used.

First impressions of the antenna are positive.  I have made various contacts on 10 through 40 using the antenna both state side and DX.   How does it compare to a Steppir.....  not even in the same league!!!  Compared to my dipole, the antenna hears about as well for the most part.  I will continue to experiment and may report back in future blogs.

OK back to the modeling.  As I pointed out earlier, I spoke with the folks from Gap with respect to modeling as well.  They attempted to simulate the antenna with Eznec as well and were equally in successful.  It was explained that the close spaced rods just make this antenna impossible to simulate even with NEC4.  As it stands, I will end my attempts as it seems futile.  I will enjoy the antenna as it is.

Until next time,
73
Ron
WM9Q

Titan DX part 2

I have been toiling over the models for the Titan for some time now.  I promised some results here but I am not willing to release what I have learned until I am sure of the accuracy.  Currently the models show some real promise but are not yet verified.  I am still unable to simulate the 80 meter operation of this antenna which disappoints me a great deal. 

The primary problem in modeling this antenna is the feed method.  The coaxial cable supplied by Gap runs the length of the antenna but the shield is split at the "gap" to provide the feed.  The 80 meter tuning capacitor is connected between the center conductor and shield at the very top of the antenna. The center conductor then ties to the very top of the antenna.  I have been using the capacitance of the coaxial cable in series with the feed point to complete the feed connection.  At this point, I see a number of VSWR nulls at approximately the correct frequencies (within 1 to 2 MHz) but no null for the 80 meter band.   I am still working on the models to improve the results. 

The 3D antenna patterns at the VSWR nulls are not bad at the higher frequencies.  The gains are roughly 2.6dBi for 10, 12,and 15 meters in the models current state.  The remaining bands display either 0 or negative gains at this point and that is the reason for the questioning the accuracy of the model. 

I will continue to explore and hopefully report results very soon.

Until next time
73,
Ron
WM9Q

Titan DX

So I purchased a used Gap Titan DX off of EBAY.  The previous owner was located about 2 hours south of me so I was able to pick the antenna up from his home and bring it back to my QTH.  The 80 Meter portion was tuned for 3.8MHz but a quick call to GAP Antennas put a new capacitor in the mail that should put me down closer to the 3.55MHz that I would like to center on for CW and RTTY.  Of course I have a 3 element STEPPIR on a 50 foot tower so this will be my second antenna setup.  My XYL is THRILLED!!!! ;-)  After I put up the elevated guy system, she said no more towers in the yard.  THIS IS NOT A TOWER!!! ;-)

The documentation with the antenna is fairly detailed with out a lot of drawings.  It seems fairly easy to put together but then again I am fortunate in the fact that this antenna has been put up before and has some of the more complex sections already put together. I suppose I may be singing a different tune once I actually put the pieces together.  I expect to get my exercise when it comes to tuning the antenna for 40 meters.  If you are not familiar with the Titan DX, the counterpoise loop tunes 40 meters.

I placed an order for  a guy kit from Gap Antenna, a coax ground assembly with bulkhead from DX Engineering and some LMR600UF (my go to station coax) and Polyphaser from Antenna Farm.  I plan on mounting the antenna on a chimney mount that is already in place.  The guy kit was purchased because GAP recommends not putting the antenna on a chimney mount with out one!!

The Titan DX is actually a vertical dipole and as such needs no radials to function.  I modeled the antenna in EZNEC and if the results were accurate,  the antenna is not exactly omni-directional on all bands.  Gain wise, the antenna is probably a pretty good performer on 20 and 40 meters but 10 and 15 meters may not be all that great.  On the air time will tell.  Again these results are based on an attempted tape measure derived duplication of the antenna in EZNEC.  I was unable to get the 80 meter cap incorporated into the model so that may also be skewing the results.  I will be enhancing the model as I learn more about EZNEC so I will probably write up some more quantitative results as I improve the model.

I am currently waiting on the delivery of the coax and a warm day to put this thing up so once again I am at the mercy of Illinois weather.

Thanks for reading my first post for 2013.  Comments are always welcome.

Until next time
73
Ron
WM9Q

160Meter and 10Meter RTTY Contests and Band Cops

Yup I ran them both!

I spent Friday and Saturday night running the 160M contest.  I ran low power with my umbrella vertical.  As compared to last year with about the same amount of effort, I was able to complete about 50% more QSO's in about 13 hours operating time total.  Quite an accomplishment for me at 346 total.  I had added another 8 radials to my radial field so I am up to 18 now and about 2000' of copper on the ground.  The efficiency of the antenna has improved for sure.  I am pretty pleased at the performance. 

Unfortunately, I am not happy with my receiving loop.  Not the antenna itself but the placement of the antenna.  Right now it is in my back yard about 3 feet above the ground.  It allows me to hear well but not well enough.  I am able to hear local stations work DX that I can barely hear above the noise floor.  The Flex 5K hears very well on other bands so I am pretty sure my loop needs some elevation to function better.  I could switch over to the umbrella for receive but the noise is horrendous with that vertical in my suburban location.  Even during the contest, I felt that I was being heard better than I could hear.  So back to the testing grounds with the loop.

Sunday morning was spent on the 10 Meter RTTY contest.  Quite a contest, but with the conditions it felt like I was operating in the contest that no one bothered to participate in!!  The morning started with a YL from ZS land  that I monitored rag chewing with someone from W5 land.  The band was open to South Africa to be sure.  Shortly there after, stations started popping up here and there in the RTTY section of the band.  There was quite a few DX stations on the air and they were fairly easy to work.  Several state side stations as well.  The contest was fun, any time I am pounding on the RTTY keyboard I am having fun!!  Maybe next year the conditions will be better. 

What the heck is with people?  Why do they insist on jumping on the DXpedition transmit frequency just to agitate people?  Sending UP UP UP and LID and ASS to the poor sole that forget to set his split the first time he transmits is not helpful to any one.  PT0S was an atrocious display of behavior both on the internet and on the air by the self appointed Band Cops.  The same old game of on the air jamming and the internet cluster comments were the worst I have ever  seen.  These people should be ashamed of themselves.  The guys from PT0S did a fantastic job with the circumstances they were dealt.  Get over it band cop and please go away.

Until next time
73
Ron
WM9Q

New 3 element Steppir and CW Sweepstakes.

The Steppir is in the air.  After several hours of reading and interpreting what turned out to be some pretty simple instructions, the antenna of all antennas is in the air.  The assembly was not difficult, it was just time consuming.

A month ago, the job would have been simple.  However, we are seeing temperatures right at freezing in the mornings.  It does get warmer in the afternoons averaging about 45 F but with the shorter days, waiting to get an already time consuming job done is not possible.  I did get to do a great deal of assembly indoors - no small feat with 18 foot long fiberglass poles and a 16 foot boom.  Of course all of the tower work had to be done once the temperature was above freezing.

Part of the tower upgrade included adding an 8 ft. section of tower.  I purchased a tower jack from Champion radio and it was the best investment ever.  I already own a gin pole so pulling the tower section in the air was simple.  Aligning the third foot on the tower section was a simple matter of tweaking the misaligned foot with the tower jack and everything fell into place. 

Pulling up the antenna proved to be a bit more than my poor wife could handle.  It was almost more than 3 people could handle.  At 58 pounds, the Steppir is no light weight.  To think, I almost considered buying a 4 element version that tips the scale at 99 pounds!!  Part of the issue was the dynamic rope we used to pull the antenna into place.  If you should try this yourself, consider a no stretch rope or even a cable and winch to get the job done.

So what about performance?  The first station I worked was Togo!!  Third call!!  Full gallon and a half for power and the Steppir!!  I noticed a much reduced noise floor when I first turned on the Flex.  It just seemed to be more stable without the pulsing and crashes that I have grown accustomed to with the Cushcraft A3.  Could be conditions, could be the antenna but I am impressed so far.

I was really hoping to have this weekend for the CW Sweepstakes.  I wanted to have the new antenna in the air in time to try my hand at this great contest.  Unfortunately, I sort of spent all of my Kitchen Pass minutes with the wife building and installing the antenna.  I even had her take the day off with me on Thursday this past week to help me get the antenna installed.  She is a great XYL but I figured it would be pressing my luck hiding in the basement all weekend after I put her through the trials of putting the Steppir up.  God Bless her, she may not always understand me but she puts up with me.

Until next time,
73
Ron
WM9Q

3 Element Steppir update and Random Equipment Ramblings

The Steppir is on its way from the factory.  I should see it some time next week.  I am looking forward to the upgrade.  I have the elevated guy support poles installed, and painted.  The are a bit obtrusive in the front yard and have raised some ire from the XYL.  I will need to beautify them in the near future to keep my hobby safe!!!  I am hoping that the cold weather holds off long enough to get the job completed this fall.  I would hate to have a great antenna sitting in the basement all winter while I struggle with the old one.

Speaking of antennas,  I ran my dipole as a Marconi antenna ( t vertical) on 80 meters during the CQWW RTTY contest.  I was running about 700 watts out of the SB220 when suddenly I heard a loud thunk and was rewarded with a massive internal arc in the SB220.  Smoke poured from the tuner shortly there after and it refused to tune on any band.  I removed the Palstar AT-Auto from serrvice and carefully removed the top to access the damage.  It seems that a current sense transformer had given up on me by burning off its insulation and cracking the torrroidial core.  DOWN FOR THE COUNT!!  A new box annd $65 later the tuner was on its way to Palstar.  Fast forward to yesterday (about a week later), UPS delivers a Palstar box to my front door.  The tuner was repaired!!  The invoice was markedd warranty repair and even the return shipping was covered.  I was impressed.  Buy quality equipment and get quality service!!  What a great experience.

With respect to quality equipment.  I had some pretty bad experiences with some equipment I purchased based on price alone from a particular manufactured with a 3 letter name that starts with M and ends with J.  Basically I purcahsed 9 items to rebuild my shack and wound up repairing 8 out of 9 before use.  I was not impressed.  Don't get me wrong, the equipment I purchased worked as expected once repaired but I never should have had to lift the lid on any of it when purchased new.  Since that experience, I made it a point to look at reviews on eHam before I purchased anything. Unfortunately, I learned to late that most of the reviews you see on the gear on eHam are positive because many of the manufacturers contact the writers of the negative reviews to get them removed....  THIS IS NO HELP!!  What I do now and what I suggest to anyone moving forward, subscribe to the yahoo support group for the equipment you are about to buy.  Read the forum posts, if the problems you are seeing are not to your liking, you will be able to save yourself some grief.  Be mindful of the fact that some of the forum posts come from users that are new to the equipment and sometimes cause themselves problems.  After you have monitored the posts for a while and get a feel for the issues you may encounter, then you can make an informed decision and purchase with confidence.

Until next time
73,
Ron
WM9Q

Dxpeditions, W9DXCC and New Software

So tomorrow is W9DXCC.  This will be my first ever attendance.  I have signed up to go to the DX Basics class.  From the looks of it, should be interesting.  I am always looking for an edge with my contesting and dxing. 

I hear a lot of local call signs in the pile ups and they are getting through to the dx stations way before I do.  Could be equipment could be luck or (most likely) could be skill.  My CW Skimmer usage has certainly helped with the CW pileups and I am usually within 10 calls of talking to the DX when I sit down to work them.  I have been spending more time with the propagation charts of late and I know that I have been able to utilize my time better on the air because of it.  I have been working NH8S over the past few days.  As of right now I have 10 slots worked, mostly on CW.  I really have not spent a lot of time trying.  I have, however, spent a lot of time sitting in front of the radio listening.  I have been told that listening is the key.  So I will continue reading, and listening, and learning.

I just downloaded CMSK63.  I am planning on playing with it very soon.  I will be doing my first write up on it after I am comfortable with it.  I know it is still in beta but the first issue I see with it is use of the default sound card only.  On the Flex 5K I have VAC's that will need to be defined as the default sound card each time I use the program.  More on that at a later date.

I have also been working with SARTRACK.  I have been doing some testing of the AWGPE multi port capability with the author.  Folks, the maps in this program are awesome.  The author has done a fantastic job and is continuing to improve it.

Until next time,

73
Ron
WM9Q