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Reviews For: Array Solutions Vertical Phasing Devices

Category: Antenna Switching, Phasing, Controllers

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Review Summary For : Array Solutions Vertical Phasing Devices
	Reviews: 3	MSRP: 300 and up
	Description: Phasing devices for two ( cardiod and broadside), three (trianglular arrays), and four ( four-square) arrays
	Product is in production
More Info: http://www.arraysolutions.com
# last 180 days	Avg. Rating last 180 days	Total reviews	Avg. overall rating
0	0	3	5

AB3CX	Rating:	2016-10-09
Here's my observation			Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just finished up a four square for 80M, using four HyTower verticals, spaced 67.5 feet, all resonant at more or less 3650 kc. One was resonant a bit lower and one slightly higher, but I decided to go ahead and test the system without further tuning. I'm using the 80M Array Solutions controller and switchbox purchased August 2016. I found that the system with no further adjustment gives a 1:1 SWR from 3.5 to 4.0 in all four directions, and a 1.4 SWR in the omni-directional mode, fed with a 750 foot feed line. 15 volts to a five conductor 18 gauge control line works just fine. On the air comparisons show a 2 S units difference between NE and SW for example, or NW and SE and on the air transmitting comparisons gave similar results. It is clearly highly directional.

OH6MW	Rating:	2009-12-16
Very good			Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Array Solutions' W9AD 2 element multi-band vertical phasing system I had one Butternut HF9V for low bands and found info about WX0B Array Solutions' multi-band vertical phasing system. I contacted Jay WX0B and Bob W5OV and ordered one setup from them. Purchased one HF9V more from Europe and a lot of cables from Finland. Whole project was very interesting. I have now about 30 radials in both verticals, which is about minimum amount, have to cut some more later. I tried to be as precise as possible with all the measurements. I didn't do any modelling with Eznec but all the documents available in Array Solutions' website, in ON4UN's Low band dxing, N0AH's article in NCJ Mar/Apr 2006 and some other articles give you a very good picture how to do it and what can be achieved. There is so many moving parts, so many changing details (terrain, ground conductivity, multi-band verticals, phasing lines, different spacings between two verticals etc) in this setup that you could spend five years with modelling if you like to and then make your PhD Thesis about this. But another way is: learn basic principles and just make it. I did. And system works fb. Thanks Array Solutions, tnx Bob, tnx Jay. I calculated those six phasing lines for the coaxial phase shifter. My goal was to make system usable for 80-40-30 and maybe for 160 in the future. I chose those phasing lines in a way which gives at least two or usually three different phasing alternatives in all bands (160-80-40-30). This means for example on 80m that I have possibilities to use 3/8 WL (135 degrees), 1/4 WL (90 degrees) and (68 degrees) long phasing lines. All those give me different patterns. Just check Low band dxing, chapter 11 "Phased Arrays", Figure 11-2 on page 11-3. MS Excel spreadsheet is a good tool for calculations if you like to be analytical. For 160 meters I use only another vertical's radials as a ground for INV-L. These switching boxes give you possibilities to choose only vertical A, only vertical B, A+B for a broadside pattern, A+B with 180 degrees phase shifter for an endfire pattern, A+B with delay line for an endfire towards vertical B and A+B with delay line AND with 180 degrees phase shifter for an endfire towards vertical A. Sounds complicated, but it is easy in practice. So basically an omni-directional pattern plus four different patterns per band. Plus some fine tuning with different lengths of phasing lines. How it works ? It works very fine. The difference is not so dramatic as for example between a low mounted yagi and a vertical on 20 meters, many times with a yagi you can hear and with a vertical you can’t. Difference between one vertical and double verticals is naturally smaller. This system is not like a yagi on 40 meters, in some cases it could be worse than a dipole at 100ft high on 40m (I don't have yagis on low bands and no high trees around). But this is much better than one vertical on 80-40-30m. Not much gain compared to one vertical, in theory 2-4 dbs, in practise you will see more than this often in your s-meter and get bigger difference reports from other stations, like 1 s-unit or "10 dbs". But sometimes no additional gain or difference is very small. But patterns are there and they are just like in the papers. You get front to side and front to back attenuation between 10-30 dbs. Some deep nulls could be even deeper. Effects change in different situations (propagation, angle of radiation, band, qsb, distance to other station etc) but you turn the pattern with your switches and you will hear the difference. My vertical setup is not 100% ready, I have some things which I like to test more, I don't have enough space in my small suburban site to make everything placed like I'd like to and there is even some wires too close to these verticals and so on. But after all, this system, Array Solutions' W9AD multi-band vertical phasing system works just like it should work and has surpassed all my expectations. Very good, recommended. 73 Ari OH6MW

N0AH	Rating:	2006-04-22
WX0B Multiband phasing system A+			Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Jay's (WX0B) W9AD Multiband Vertical Controller System has worked wonders for me. (See NCJ 2006 Mar/Apr edition) What I truely enjoy about the system is how well it works in directivity and stong nulls. I have had two previous four squares on a small ranch with plenty of room, so I have somthing to compare to. The F/S and F/B are comparable but due to suburban ambient RF noise, I can't give you an exact comparision between locations. It just works in pulling weak stations out of strong noise at my QTH compared to multiband verticals I tested it against or the MA80/40V antenna standing alone. You'll be very pleased with it's perfomance in your back yard. I use two Cuschcraft MA80/40V's. Very stealth like the componants used in this system. It gives one the pleasure of using an array where most could never fit. And having 40 and 80 meters in one system is awesome from this typical suburban site near a very busy county line road and highway along commercial area. You can see the Ferrari/Land Rover dealership light from their glowing neon signs in my living room at night. I think Jay and I spoke at least 5 times a week. He is a great ham to deal with and took his time to educate me on this system. My experience with this system was really the best of all worlds. LP DX is now available to me on the lowbands and I know I have a manufacturer that is well known for insuring his customers receive the upmost in support. If I did one thing differently, I would have gone with a system for 30/40M. Less noise but 80M is too much fun to give up. You'll have to have a strong rig when working to pull out weak DX out for the QSO. But without the array, good luck. At least at my QTH. I am very satisfied with this phasing device. A lot of technology in a custom built system for your dual band request. I'd give it a 10- We need to up the rating system- 73 Paul N0AH

Category:

Antenna Switching, Phasing, Controllers

Product:

Array Solutions Vertical Phasing Devices

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