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

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

• By Contest Station Builders Worldwide
• Collected and Edited by Pete Smith, N4ZR

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The approach

• Identify the challenges in the design and
  construction of complex contest stations (other
  than antennas).
• Collect and present solutions from station
  builders worldwide.

Thanks, VE1JF
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Caveats

• Successful contest stations come in all
  varieties, from fully-engineered to growed like
  topsy.
• There is no single right way
• Presentation based on input from station builders
  not comprehensive

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Neatness is optional
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Challenge Basic design decisions

• Architecture choices
• Degree of automation.
• Location of physical antenna switching/phasing.
• Layout of operating position and cable runs

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Solutions

• Full automatic/remote RF switching
• Hybrid approach
• Manual 2X6 ? 6X2 switching
• Other manual approaches
• Mechanical switch w/interlock
• Patch panel
• Cables on the floor

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Footnote What is 2X6 ? 6X2 switching?
Courtesy Top Ten Devices
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Full automation/remote RF switching

• SO2R switching and antenna selection done
  remotely, but controlled from the operating
  position. Maximum computer integration. Cable
  for data, not RF.
• Backup manual systems or spares are essential.

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For Example . K4JA
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Equally simple from the back
K4JA
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But lots of hardware required to support the
up-front simplicity
K4JA
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Especially at a multi-multi
KC1XX
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Remote antenna selection
KC1XX
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Hybrid approach

• Most stations have been evolving for years.
• Cant always do everything at once.

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For example . W9RE
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Homebrew 6X2 relay box
W9RE
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Manual antenna selection
W9RE
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Manual 2X6 ? 6X2 switching KQ2M
KQ2M
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A Scottish solution
GM4AFF
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Ultimate simplicity?
W5KFT
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And simpler yet
K1KI
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Challenge Cable entry

• How to get feedlines and control cables into the
  shack area

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Solution - Through-wall panel
K4OJ
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On a larger scale .
KC1XX
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The dryer-vent approach
K5ZD
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Or through the siding
K4JA
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With the connections made inside
K4JA
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Challenge Lightning protection

• Some measures essential
• Protect vs disconnect

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Solution - disconnect everything
K5ZD
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Control cables, too
K4OJ
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Solution protectors on coax, control lines.
Inside,
VE1JF
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or at the tower base
N3RR
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Inside the box
N3RR
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Grounding at the entry panel
N1LO
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A closer look
N1LO
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Cable support and low-inductance grounding
N1LO
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Challenge cable support, protection and
management

• Keep them out from underfoot
• Protect against accidental damage
• Retain flexibility for easy change, maintenance

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Suspend from ceiling joists
K9NS/K9HMB
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Bundle by band, type (RF, control, etc.)
K9NS/K9HMB
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Use a cable tray
WX0B
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Other options (no pictures)

• Contractors snap-open wire hangers
• Panduit extruded plastic cable trays and
  associated fixtures separate cables by function
• Bicycle hangers, vinyl dipped huge screw hooks,
  etc.

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Challenge Access to cabling

• Free-standing operating table with access from
  rear
• Cable closet
• Console on wheels

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Access from rear
GM4AFF
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Cable closet
K4JA
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Another more spacious approach
K9NS/K9HMB
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Console on wheels
VK5GN
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Cable marking techniques

• Labelmakers Dymo, P-Touch, Casio, etc. with
  clear heat-shrink or tape
• Colored tape use resistor color code
• MS Word/Magic Tape
• Paint pen w/ silver ink

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Cable bundling techniques

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

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Other cabling hints

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

HC8N
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And more

• Use unique connectors to reduce risk of mistakes
  when recabling
• Use multiple conductor cables where possible
• Careful attention to grounding can reduce
  inter-station interference

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Documentation

• Station notebook is essential
• Document everything in one place
• Schematics
• Cable lengths
• Measured resistances, SWRs, etc.
• Critical computer info
• Everything you might need at 4 AM

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Special solutions for special problems

• Phasing multiple antennas on separate towers on
  10m OK2RZ
• Managing multiple receiving antennas on 160 W8JI

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OK2RZ

• 8 antennas/45 elements on 5 towers, including
  3-high stack 10m only
• Ability to drive either 2 or 4 simultaneously
• Phasing line length determined experimentally

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OK2RZ 10m antennas
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OK2RZ antenna phasing
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W8JI

• Primarily a 160m station
• Three operating positions
• Many receiving antennas/arrays
• Challenge how to make antennas available to all
  operating positions simultaneously

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Receiving multicoupler
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SO2R Audio/CW Controller Options

• Commercial units
• Top Ten Devices
• Array Solutions
• Homebrew approaches

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Array Solutions SO2R
www.arraysolutions.com
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TopTen DX Doubler
http//www.qth.com/topten/
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Homebrewers
K6LL
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More examples

• N6TR One of the first
• http//www.kkn.net/k5tr/trlog/switch.pdf
• S56A relayless SO2R controllers
• http//artinian.bit.si/radio.htm
• KG5U manual audio and antennas
• http//www.hal-pc.org/kg5u/2radctlr.html
• W2UP audio only
• http//w2up.home.mindspring.com/SO2R-audio-control
  ler.doc
• K5FD full auto w/ antenna switching
• www.qsl.net/k5fd

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Thanks to the following contributors

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