Re: [IRCA] Remote Termination on DKAZ and EWE

[coffee_canuck <coffeecanuck@xxxxxxxxx>]

All good! Yay!

Colin Newell - CoffeeCrew.com - VA7WWV - Victoria - BC

> On Mar 20, 2016, at 11:01 AM, Paul Crankshaw <hoddlesden@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> 
> I'm now using Colin's Vactrol with a EWE and it works fine.  Just finished digging a trench across the grass to hide the  bell wire (don't know if same term is used 'over there') to connect the control unit and resistor.
> 
> Paul
> Troon, Scotland
> 
>> On 20/03/2016 17:40, Nick Hall-Patch wrote:
>> Hi James,
>> 
>> Haven't seen a reply on this, so don't know if you had already planned the transformer / lamp cord / potentiometer option.  (a version is at http://www.bamlog.com/vartermloop.htm).   If so, and you want to recover from the 5k pot purchase, and have some fixed resistors in the 1.2 - 1.8 kilohm around, I can send you a diagram that should fill the bill.
>> 
>> As far as the Vactrol and the EWE, I've seen a couple of references saying that won't work, but am not sure I understand why not.   It won't work with Mark Connelly's clever arrangement with Flag antennas where the control voltage is fed via the receiver feedline, and then through the Flag itself, but many people (including Colin Newell) are now using a separate control line (such as lamp cord).  In that case, I would think there should be no problem using a Vactrol with a EWE antenna, as the "resistor" in the Vactrol is completely isolated from the control line.
>> 
>> best wishes,
>> 
>> Nick
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> At 00:35 20-03-16, you wrote:
>>> James,
>>> 
>>> Assuming that I understand your plans correctly you're planning on using
>>> the pot in the shack with lamp cord running from it to the DKAZ. The
>>> problem here is that the two wire cord will become part of the antenna and
>>> screw up the pattern and null. To do what you plan to do, you need a
>>> transformer at the end of the antenna to start with.
>>> 
>>> Colin Newell of IRCA is making a selling Vactrol setups for a very fair
>>> price. http://www.dxer.ca/
>>> 
>>> Perhaps if you ask him, he could make one for you if you want to use your
>>> lamp cord rather than cable to power it.
>>> 
>>> After installing a Vactrol setup here, made for me by a good DX friend I
>>> feel strongly that this is the way to go for remote control of Rt. My fixed
>>> resistor Rt was set to be very good via much trial and error. However, the
>>> Vactrol is every bit as good as the fixed Rt on all freqs and I can usually
>>> tweak in a few more dB of null on a station and not hurt the null of other
>>> stations. It is also useful to adjust Rt in some cases for improving nulls
>>> of stuff at large angles to the exact back end or to improve nulls high end
>>> or low end.
>>> 
>>> You won't be able to use this type of setup with a EWE since it is
>>> connected to ground, but there are ways around that. However, I am not a
>>> circuits guy so I am unsure how to do that.
>>> 
>>> I'd use a Vactrol if you want to remotely vary Rt.   73 KAZ out to test
>>> this setup at night.
>>> 
>>> On Sat, Mar 19, 2016 at 2:36 PM, James Niven <jniven@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> 
>>> > Hi all,
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > A General question...
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > I think it's time to try out setting up remote termination on my DKAZ and
>>> > EWE.
>>> >
>>> > I have some lamp cable which I can run the length of my dkaz 140 foot to
>>> > the
>>> > DX shack.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > I thought I picked up 1k pots from radio shack, but I see I have 5k
>>> > instead,
>>> > will a 5K Linear-Taper Pot work or do I need something smaller?
>>> >
>>> > Also, this pot I have has three solder lugs, which lugs do I use to fix the
>>> > wire end on?
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > James Niven
>>> >
>>> > Austin, Texas
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > ---
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