Re: [IRCA] Vactrol luvin' !!

[Neil Kazaross <neilkaz58@xxxxxxxxx>]

My opinion from seeing Mark's data and also using the remote pot method at
the Yachats OR DXped is that a Vactrol or even fixed resistor will provide
more consistently deep nulls at a fixed point that the remote pot will. ie
there's less variation to get the best null and less is lost from optimal
when left at a fixed point.

73 KAZ

On Sat, May 21, 2016 at 11:03 PM, Nick Hall-Patch <nhp@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

> I guess the quick answer would be....is the improved and consistent DKaz
> still up Mark?    If so, can you do a quick replacement of the Vactrol with
> your remote pot?    That should wash out the antenna quality as a
> contributor to the depth of the nulls shouldn't it?    (or would the remote
> pot control lines be longer than the 100' that you figured was the maximum
> that you could use)
>
> best wishes,
>
> Nick
>
>
> At 02:09 22-05-16, you wrote:
> ....
>
>
> Fast-forward to May 2016 and a D-Kaz that was installed with critical
>> attention to its symmetry and a uniform level above ground.  And it had a
>> Vactrol.  With this install I found 30 to 40+ db nulls on a lot more
>> stations and a lot more signals were minimized without constant re-tweaking
>> of the Vactrol.
>>
>> So my question is:  Was the null-depth improvement and consistency caused
>> by the better physical installation?  Or is because with the Vactrol
>> there's no longer any direct extension of the null-end circuit via copper
>> to a remote pot?
>>
>>
>> Cheers!
>>
>> Mark Durenberger
>> There's SO much I still don't know!
>>
>> -----Original Message----- From: Nick Hall-Patch
>> Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2016 7:36 PM
>> To: Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America
>> Subject: Re: [IRCA] Vactrol luvin' !!
>>
>> Glad you're enjoying the Vactrols Neil.  They've been in use here for
>> well over a decade with the Flags, and using Mark Connelly's clever
>> design to feed the control voltage through the matching
>> transformer....documented in a DXer's Technical Guide (IRCA Bookstore
>> has them), and posted by Mark on the web.
>>
>> Once I moved over to FLG-100's four years ago, the Vactrols had to
>> stay, so separate control lines were put out.  Not quite as elegant
>> as Mark's design, but absolutely necessary to retain the Vactrols as
>> you have been finding out.  Elegance can take a break.
>>
>> When I've used DKaz antennas, the range of control resistance seems
>> quite a bit tighter than with the Flags,so yes, I do like the 10 turn
>> pots also, though I believe Dallas Lankford used a couple of
>> resistors and a single turn pot to zero in on the desired range of
>> resistance.
>>
>>
>> best wishes,
>>
>> Nick
>>
>>
>> At 00:13 22-05-16, you wrote:
>>
>>> Where have these things been all my life and why didn't I use them in
>>> lieu
>>> of termination resistors (Rt) previously is what I must ask!  With some
>>> good weather today and a drying antenna field I did some work on two
>>> DKAZ's
>>> today and reinstalled the Vactrol setup.
>>> I have only one setup from a friend who makes his own for his DKAZ
>>> DXpeds.
>>> I will stress that having a multi turn pot or a smaller pot in series for
>>> fine tuning is very useful. No one setting is going to be optimal for
>>> every
>>> frequency or deviation from 180 degrees from beampeak but I have found a
>>> setting that seems better than anything I ever could obtain using and
>>> manually fine tuning fixed resistor combos.
>>>
>>> Here's some examples from daytime DX today. Locals on 1330 and 1430 are
>>> both at about 102 deg and 13 miles away. My DKAZ aims due west 270 deg so
>>> 90 deg should the spot of best back null per theory. 1330 WKTA's ethnic
>>> is
>>> so clobbered that I cannot hear a trace of it under WNTA.  Without
>>> touching
>>> the Vactrol pot 1430 WEEF's ethnic is also inaudible under WCMY which
>>> isn't
>>> strong and has two more stations under it. I've never had nulls this good
>>> or stable on those two before even with phasing!
>>>
>>> With the same pot setting, WHFB 1060 at 94 deg is also crushed and WRHL
>>> is
>>> basically alone. WLW and WJR aren't strong here days, but they are gone
>>> with the same pot setting and WKZO 590 is basically lost under Omaha's
>>> KXSP. Yes you can get Nebraska in the daytime in NE IL thanx to good
>>> ground
>>> conductivity. Note also that Chcago's  WRTO 1200 at 140 deg while not
>>> gone
>>> is deeply nulled with that setting. Fun also to have Clinton IA's GYer
>>> KROS
>>> 1340 dominant.
>>>
>>> I'll break out the ohm meter and measure what Rt the Vactrol is providing
>>> tomorrow and likely move the setup to my other west DKAZ as I've been
>>> having trouble getting deep back nulls since repairing it after severe
>>> storm damage.
>>>
>>> I'd recommend that anyone considering a terminated loop type of antenna
>>> strongly consider using a Vactrol as it is much faster and easier than
>>> walking back and forth manually adjusting resistances. My Vactrol is
>>> connected to the control unit with two separate wires about 250 ft long
>>> and
>>> clearly nulls aren't spoiled. A nice pure resistance is created by the
>>> Vactrol and applied to the termination end.
>>>
>>> 73 KAZ Barrington IL (35 miles NW of Chicago)
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>>
>>
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>>
>> Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the
>> original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the
>> IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers
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>> Be sure to register now for the Joint DX Convention
>> Kansas City, September 9 to 11.  Hotel space is filling up.
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>>
>> Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the
>> original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the
>> IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers
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>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Be sure to register now for the Joint DX Convention
> Kansas City, September 9 to 11.  Hotel space is filling up.
> Registration info:
> http://www.nrcdxas.org
>
>
> Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the
> original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the
> IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers
>
> For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org
>
> To Post a message: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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