Re: Topband: NCC-2 antenna pattern?
On 12/16/2023 7:04 PM, Kenny Silverman wrote: Rick, my application is for an in-band RX antenna, but on a higher band. As detailed in the link I posted, the NCC2 is designed for use on the lower bands, 160, 80, maybe 60 and 40. My measurements show this. I've mostly used the VE3DO array on 160, a bit on 80. My Beverages work up to 20M -- when I first moved to W6, I had them a couple of years before I found a place to turn the little 3-el SteppIR between the dense redwoods, and used one extensively to listen to EU on 20. 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: NCC-2 antenna pattern?
Lots of good info on some of these posts already. Although I like a pair of inline flag antennas terminated with VACTROLs separated by 100 feet inline better than the center feed/terminated design I saw earlier. Great F/B and tweakable remotely to make sure that F.B is maxedd at the frequency of interest or what is best across a band for unattended use. There are other variations like the KAZ or the DKAZ or the Superloop. But whatever works is the right antenna for the job. Will you be needing at the loop preamplification? Were you wanting this receive antenna for 160-meters or a higher band? And will you be receiving live or will you be recording either audio or more likely I/Q unattended? Rick Kunath, K9AO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: NCC-2 remarks
I have one here and would not be able to do much on 160 without it. Patterns depend mostly on what antennas you hook to it. I have tried short verts, was not happy. Now use 2 aperiodic loops which look toward Europe. They are 100 feet or so apart. Works well, and I use this setup as follows. I watch the baseline on my P4 scope and adjust the NCC for the lowest baseline, which is my overall noise level. That often cuts both local and distant crud. This gives me the best chance of hearing in any direction and almost always is a big help. I compare signals between the NCC2 and a regular K8AY loop setup. If I had a better location I'd make a set of loops looking various directions but that is not possible here. The NCC2 is great mostly because it is very stable and can be set for repeatable results. I've messed with it on local BC stations and what one can do with it is often amazing, but mostly on ground wave signals in daytime. Nulls may be deep but arrival of signals via higher angles keeps things in flux. The NCC seems to be almost overload-proof. Yes, if the signal you want is in the same direction as your QRM/QRN you are working against yourself so to speak. That's true of all RX antenna setups. de K8RYU _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: NCC-2 antenna pattern?
Rick, my application is for an in-band RX antenna, but on a higher band. I just thought the guys here might know more about the NCC-2, MFJ or QRM eliminator than most others. One thought was to create a 2 ele phased vertical array for the RX antenna with a known pattern and put the null towards the TX array, along with physical separation to allow in-band receiving. But I was thinking an adjustable phasing system may produce a better null. But I wouldn’t want the adjustable unit to create a clover leaf pattern for example. One null might take out the interference but another null towards the desired receiving direction might be created and is not desired. I hope I’m explaining this well. Regards , Kenny K2KW > On Dec 16, 2023, at 9:47 PM, Rick Kunath wrote: > > What's your application Kenny and what would you be feeding the antenna > output of the phaser into? > > Rick Kunath, K9AO > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: NCC-2 antenna pattern?
On 12/16/2023 5:46 PM, Kenny Silverman wrote: Does the NCC-2 create a predictable antenna pattern? I’m just wondering how to null the noise but not create some weird pattern which may also produce a null in the desired direction. Here's how it can be made to work with suitable antennas. http://k9yc.com/VE3DO.pdf As my measurements of my NCC1, it's well engineered product. After first getting it running with a pair of VE3DO loops spaced 5/8 wave on 160 aimed at EU (and reversible to VK/ZL), I verified with on-air testing that the patterns I modeled in NEC were accurate. For noise rejection, I'd suggest one or more pairs of verticals carefully matched to each other. I'm guessing that 5/8 wave spacing might be a good starting point. And I'd pay attention to W3LPL's excellent talks on how various types of RX antennas and arrays work (or don't) with surrounding objects, including vegetation. 73, Jim K9YC _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: NCC-2 antenna pattern?
What's your application Kenny and what would you be feeding the antenna output of the phaser into? Rick Kunath, K9AO _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: NCC-2 antenna pattern?
I am not sure "predictable" is one of the attributes I would use when using one of these devices. Really - the real benefit of them is to annihilate a local noise source. I remember getting a really deep null (50 db) on a station that was about 1 mile away with a similar device. I did spend some time trying to peak a specific DX station by playing around with the knobs - but never really felt like anything was "predictable". Just my experience. Was using mostly the JPS ANC-4 back in the day or the MFJ-1026 more recently. Perhaps the NCC-2 is a bit more refined and the settings have enough calibration to produce reproducible and desirable patterns. Obviously using two antennas spaced like 1/8 or 1/4 wavelength apart will help. Tree N6TR On Sat, Dec 16, 2023 at 5:46 PM Kenny Silverman wrote: > Does the NCC-2 create a predictable antenna pattern? I’m just wondering > how to null the noise but not create some weird pattern which may also > produce a null in the desired direction. > > Regards , Kenny K2KW > _ > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband > Reflector > _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Topband: NCC-2 antenna pattern?
Does the NCC-2 create a predictable antenna pattern? I’m just wondering how to null the noise but not create some weird pattern which may also produce a null in the desired direction. Regards , Kenny K2KW _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
