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Reviews For: DX Engineering Receiving Four Square Antenna Switch

Category: Antenna Switching, Phasing, Controllers

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Review Summary For : DX Engineering Receiving Four Square Antenna Switch
Reviews: 6MSRP: 189.95+
Description:
The DX Engineering RFS-1 Receive Four-Square controller is a basic switching unit used to control the direction of a four square array. It also provides the correct phasing by using an innovative time delay scheme based on the size of the array rather than operating frequency. Conventional controllers use a phase delay that is frequency dependant. The RFS-1 can accept switching voltages through the feedline or by a separate control cable. As a stand-alone unit, the RFS-1 user must provide the appropriate switching voltages and directional control. DX Engineering offers a receive four-square system package that includes the RFS-1 switch, a CC-8 Control Console, used for directional control and a FVC-1 Feedline Voltage Coupler which couples the control voltage to the feedline. The package part number is DXE-RFS-1P. It does not include the antenna elements. Four of the active antenna elements are available in a package as well, part number DXE-ARAV-4P.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.dxengineering.com/search?keyword=rfs&dds=1
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1565
SEALORD Rating: 2023-03-09
Worth the investment! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I purchased mine back in 2010 (complete system package) with the original CC-8 (internal pwr supply) and RFS-2 Rev3 (small box) controller and corresponding AVA2 verticals. Part of the decision to use this system was better QRM rejection from living in the suburbs and having an antenna system at ground level for easier maintenance. I set it up for 43 meters which fits perfectly in my back yard (my lot is 73'x 232'). Both placement and cable length accuracy is critical to get the most out this setup along with a good ground system. I went as far as even purchasing a cheap 4 way laser level to position the verticals dead nuts for the layout. What can I say about this antenna system as a whole? It is a total game changer! As long as the orientation of the 4 SQ is QRM free, it's like having four beverage antennas on a compass at your disposal and my noise levels average now around S1 due to the low takeoff angle. I'm located in NE FL and an example of some the stations I can hear are V13 from Tawain, LRA36 from Antartica, E25 from Egypt, Radio New Zealand, Voice Of Hope, La Montana Colombia, VIRI and all the 43 meter madness over the weekend. For grounding I use three 4' copper rods per vertical 120 Degs apart and the verticals themselves are mounted using a single 4' 5/8" rod. Now the negative part: the verticals are very susceptible to lighning damage from not-so-nearby strikes and the coax can be a pain from shrinkage pulling back from the connectors due to temperature change sometimes requiring a complete cable replacement. I've also had to repair/replace the verticals more than once and have had to replace some of the caps in the RFS-2 unit along with AVA2's. Even with those issues, DX Eng's help has been fantastic and patient with all my questions. One last thing...I also own their 8 circle controller (only having to add 4 more verticals) and was able to give it a shot...the 4 SQ has much better front to back rejection and operates over a larger portion of spectrum in a smaller footprint.
K4PI Rating: 2019-11-02
Great Low Band Receive Ant Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had the DXE 4 Square for several years and with my limited space here at the home QTH if it perfect. I have it set for only 80 FT on a side. I think a wider spacing would help it on 160. I have it jumpered in the preamps to favor 160 but the spacing is lacking. I did work over 65 countries last year on 160 FT8 though. It really shines on 80 and 60. It hear better than my 4 square Comtek transmit array and that i saying something. Leaving it connected in the summers I have been bitten a couple of times by lightning requiring repair but it just comes back swinging. You might consider disconnecting the antennas at the preamps during the summer. I do use their 20 db preamp in the house where I can have it in line or out easily. For the space it takes it is great. 73 Mike K4PI
W6YDE Rating: 2014-11-01
The best yet Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I purchased my Four Square system at the Dayton Hamvention in 2014. Installed it with 98' per side. There is noticeable height difference between each receive antenna... but it works so well.. that I don't think it make a difference. The closes receive antenna is about 800' from my 160 vertical transmitting antenna. I did install twice the number of ground rods as in the directions, add a RF choke and pre-amp.

My results were very impressive. My noise level is down to S-1 to S-1.5. (I am in a quite rural area with low noise levels to start with at around S-3 to S-5) Receive signals increase by 3 S-units when switched in the direction of the desired signal. QRM and QRN can be eliminated almost completely.

DX Eng products are first class in materials used, assemble, construction and instructions. It worked the first time... right out of the box.

It is worth the cost and labor if you have the space to install it.
W0UCE Rating: 2007-01-02
DXE 4 Square RX System Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Late Friday afternoon, Dec. 29 I completed installation of a DX Engineering 4SQ RX antenna system and it’s performance has certainly impressed me.

First use results:
Friday night 3.577 Khz Eastern Area Net NCS:
I heard everyone one the net using the 4SQ. A number of stations that were weak and in the noise on my Inverted L TX Antenna were perfectly readable using the 4SQ

Saturday – Sunday Stew Perry Top Band Challenge:
Overall conditions poor to fair at best.
I heard and worked stations using the 4SQ that I could barely copy their calls when using any of my three TX antennas or either of my 2 element Beverage On Ground arrays or the K9AY Loop. I worked a number of stations I could not even hear on other RX antennas
Results 430 QSOs – 175 different Grid Squares. The DXE 4SQ achieved my objective of hearing the next layer of signals down from what I could hear with my previous complement of RX antennas!

Configuration:
98’ Per side all 4 antennas within 3-4 feet height difference above ground
Jumper in L1MF position
Located 405 ft. distance from the nearest TX Antenna
What a very pleasant surprise and pleasure to have increased 160/80m RX antenna capabilities.
VA5DX Rating: 2006-11-09
An excellent 160m receiving antenna system Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have been testing my 160m DX Engineering Receive Four Square DXE-RFS-1P for the last few days (November, 2006). The receiving results range from significant to amazing. By switching the array, signal strength will change from barely audible to loud. I am very impressed with the receiving improvement. The front-back and front-side results are great (I am not going to state numbers as there are many factors and it becomes relative). My noise level has dropped significantly. I built the full size version (135 feet per side) using four passive linear loaded elements from some old KLM 40m beams (about 24 ft long) with top loading (4 x 21 ft), from information on W8JIs website and from N3JB. The closet vertical to the lower end of my transmit half-sloper is 375 ft and the sloper is off the side of the receive array. I found the tuning of the verticals to be 'forgiving' and the frequency coverage to be 'broad'. I use a single C&S Engineering 160/80 meter preamp ahead of the 1000MP. My problem now is that I can copy stations that cannot hear me. I received excellent service from DX Engineering.
W3UA Rating: 2005-11-06
Ultimate low band receiving antenna system Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I installed receiving four square using DX Engineering switch and set of active receiving antennas just before the CQ WW PHONE. I coud not imagine how it transformed the reception on 160 and 80. S/N improved significantly comparing to my 80 meter sloper and 160 meter vertical. Front to side (depending on the angle of radiation, of course) reaches 4-5 S-units, and front to rear -- up to 9 S-units (according to the S-meter of my IC-7800). In the past I could work virtually every station I heard on 80 -- now I can hear 10 times more stations, so I need to think how to improve my transmission capabiities. With recommended 98 feet spacing, the antenna system works very well not only on 80 and 160, but even on 30 meters. A couple of times I used it to receive weak signals on 10 meters, when noise from a distant power line masked weak signals on my 10 meter stacked yagies.