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- 13 - 

The feedline connectors must remain dry. Do not place any intentional DC shorts or opens on the 
feedline between the 

FVI-1

 and the 

AVA-2

. This includes lightning arrestors, splitters, or any other 

accessory not intended for feedlines that carry power or control voltages.  

 
For single systems, the included 

DXE-PSW-12D1A

 120 Vac 60 

Hz, to 12 Vdc, 1000 mA wall mounted transformer DC power 
supply connects to the +12 Vdc input. The center of the 2.1mm 
power plug is positive. Larger power supplies or station power may 
also be used provided there is an in-line 1 ampere fast-blow fuse. 
The RCA phono-style plug on the

 DXE-FVI-1 

connects to the receiver input of 

your radio.  

 
The 

DXE-FVI-1

 is not included or used in the 

ARAV3-2P

 or 

ARAV3-4P

 Vertical Array Packages 

which obtain their power from a controller unit such as the 

DXE-NCC-1

 or 

DXE-RFS-3P

 
See 

Appendix A

 for Radio Interface Options 

 

Control lines (usually BCD ) can normally use good quality CAT5e cable (4 twisted pairs of 24 
AWG wire) for runs up to 1000 feet.  Typical DX Engineering BCD control lines requirements are 
+12 VDC at 25 milliamps. 
 
Depending on the number of control lines needed (usually 3 or 4) you can double up the twisted 
pairs of CAT5e cable, or use control wire that is at least 22 AWG, allowing runs up to 1500 feet. If 
you use a cable with more conductors, it is a good idea to tie the unused conductors to ground. 
 
For longer runs of control cable, use a line loss calculator to ensure you supply the proper control 
levels needed. 
 
Approximate BCD Control Line Lengths. 
 

Minimum Copper 

Wire Gage (AWG) 

Length 

24 

1,000 feet 

22 

1,500 feet 

20 

2,000 feet 

 
Active antenna circuitry needs a good voltage supply to operate properly. When supplying power to 
an active antenna, you want to have +12 VDC, 60 milliamps at each active (under load).  
 
CAT5e cable is not recommended when making long runs to power an active antenna since the line 
loss in CAT5e cable may not supply the proper operational voltages required for active antennas.   
 
Depending on the required length of your power wire, you will want to use a line loss calculator 
(voltage drop with various wire gages) to ensure your power supply (no13.6 well filtered 
DC) will supply a minimum of +12 VDC, 60 milliamps at each active antenna (under load).  
 

Summary of Contents for DXE-ARAV3-1P

Page 1: ...tical Array Package DXE ARAV3 8P Eight Vertical Array Package Export Models DXE ARAV3 1PE DXE ARAV3 2PE DXE ARAV3 4PE DXE ARAV3 8PE Used under US Patent No 7 423 588 DXE ARAV3 INS Revision 4c DX Engineering 2013 P O Box 1491 Akron OH 44309 1491 USA Phone 800 777 0703 Tech Support and International 330 572 3200 Fax 330 572 3279 E mail DXEngineering DXEngineering com ...

Page 2: ...cription 6 Basic Tools Required 7 Installation 7 Location 7 Assembly 7 Ground Mounting Rod 9 Three Piece 102 Receiving Element WP 102E 11 Providing a Good RF Ground 12 Connections 12 Coaxial Cable Feedline 14 Low Frequency Response Internal Jumpers 14 Using the Active Receive Verticals in a 4 Square or 8 Circle Array 15 Alternate Mounting 16 Using the Active Receive Verticals with the DXE NCC 1 17...

Page 3: ...re using two ARAV3 antennas in conjunction with the DXE NCC 1 Receive Antenna Variable Phasing Controller could allow the user to phase out the noise being received Large transmit antennas are a very good source of re radiated noise Ideally your receive antenna should be a minimum of 1 2 wavelength away from any transmit antenna on the lowest frequency to avoid mutual coupling and the transfer of ...

Page 4: ...t antennas is at least 1 10 wavelength or more Ideally your receive antenna should be a minimum of 1 2 wavelength away from any transmit antenna on the lowest frequency to avoid mutual coupling and the transfer of any noise being re radiated by the transmit antenna The DXE ARAV3 series active vertical antenna system grounds the antenna element when power is turned off for protection of the active ...

Page 5: ...g systems w Internal Antenna Disconnect Relays 4 Element connection wires 4 Sets of Stainless steel clamps and hardware DXE ARAV3 8P The eight active antennas system package DXE ARAV3 8P is intended for use with the optional DXE RCA8 SYS 4P Receive Eight Circle system to build an Eight Circle Receiving Array The RFS 3P which has provision for powering the active antennas 8 Non conductive mounting ...

Page 6: ...nting plate and stainless steel U Bolt Saddle clamps for mounting to your 4 foot ground rod May be connected to a transceiver which lacks a receive antenna input using the optional DXE RTR 1A Receive Antenna Interface for transceivers Technical Description This compact receiving antenna system is designed to operate over a very wide bandwidth from the broadcast band to 30 MHz with superior strong ...

Page 7: ...structures becomes more pronounced At higher frequencies where the active element length becomes a partial wavelength coupling increases further Placing a DXE ARAV3 on the same mast or tower as a Yagi or other transmitting antenna is not recommended for this reason Assembly The assembly described is for the DXE ARAV3 1P Use UMI 81343 Anti Seize on stainless steel hardware threads to prevent gallin...

Page 8: ...in Figure 3 Figure 3 Upper Clamp Lower Clamp NOTE The following describes the use of the DXE SSVC 1P and DXE SSVC 1PG V Clamps that are included with the ARAV3 These are used for mounting the ARAV3 on a typical ground rod from 1 2 OD to 3 4 OD If you plan to mount the ARAV3 to a larger mounting mast you will need two optional DXE SSVC 150P and one optional DXE SSVC 150PG V Clamps which will accomm...

Page 9: ... Drive your four foot copper clad steel ground rod into the ground far enough to provide a sturdy mount for the antenna system Ensure the ARAV3 unit will be above any potential standing water Depending on soil conductivity increasing ground rod depth beyond a few feet for an active receive antenna rarely improves RF grounding because skin effect in the soil prevents current from flowing deep in th...

Page 10: ... 10 Install the ground wire hardware and ground wire on the stainless steel V Clamp with the tab The other end of this wire goes to the AVA 2 ANT connection as shown in Figure 6 Figure 6 ...

Page 11: ...tions together The other connector has smaller holes for joining the middle to the upper section Lower Coupler Upper Coupler Stripe Lower Section Middle Section Upper Section Figure 7 Three Section Stainless Steel Tapered Whip Antenna Once fitted together use the supplied hex Allen wrench and firmly tighten the hex Allen screws Firmly install the 102 inch receiving element whip one piece or three ...

Page 12: ... are okay for this receive antenna only and are not recommended for transmit antennas Screen radius must at least equal the element height and be placed around the antenna as symmetrically as possible but should not exceed a radius of 20 feet The active receive vertical radial system should never be connected to any metal structure to assure low noise operation Do not use elevated radials or gross...

Page 13: ...neering BCD control lines requirements are 12 VDC at 25 milliamps Depending on the number of control lines needed usually 3 or 4 you can double up the twisted pairs of CAT5e cable or use control wire that is at least 22 AWG allowing runs up to 1500 feet If you use a cable with more conductors it is a good idea to tie the unused conductors to ground For longer runs of control cable use a line loss ...

Page 14: ...ld contamination and has a gummy liquid inside that seals cuts or nicks displaces water and can be direct buried The feedline is used to provide power for the ARAV3 s matching unit We recommend the use of DXE SNS6 25 Snap N Seal type F connectors to ensure high quality and weather resistant feedline connections Use the proper tool to crimp these connectors To help decouple the feedline from radiat...

Page 15: ...bove the peak frequency does not change significantly Below the peak frequency sensitivity reduction is reasonably fast Installing a jumper in any C1 position when jumpers are being used in L1 will move the peak response lower in frequency decreasing sensitivity at higher frequencies Using the Active Receive Verticals in a 4 Square or 8 Circle Array Use the DX Engineering Receive Four Square Syste...

Page 16: ...V3 units are used in a four square array optimized for 160 meters and 80 meters with 98 feet side lengths the only jumper typically used is L1MF Configure all four ARAV3 s units in the array with the same jumper settings The general rule is to use only L1 and not C1 For multi band applications use capacitors as a last resort Capacitors peak the response and reduce sensitivity on higher bands Figur...

Page 17: ...1P Active Receive Vertical antenna capabilities Normally the Active Receive Vertical antenna will properly reject high angle sky wave signals which is the goal for a low band DXing receive antenna Low angle long range DX signals are easier to copy using an Active Receive Vertical antenna system Here are a few things that you may check to be sure that the Active Receive Vertical antenna is operatin...

Page 18: ... antenna feedline that is running on or above ground or similar noise as your transmit antenna for some installations the DXE RFCC 1 Receive Feedline Current Choke may help The use of the DXE RFCC 1 Receive Feedline Current Choke will remove common mode signal and noise collected by the shield of the feedline in order to realize normal signal to noise improvements available from an Active Receive ...

Page 19: ... 19 Shortwave Receiver ARAV3 1P system located greater than 1 2 wavelength from any transmitting antenna connected to a transceiver with a receive input ...

Page 20: ... preferably more than 1 2 wavelength away The NCC 1 switches the power off during transmit This configuration allows the operator to selectively null out interference and thereby enhance the desired received signal direction ability Every radio manufacturer and every amateur radio operator s location is different The following is only a suggestion and you should consult your radio manufacturer s m...

Page 21: ... 21 Typical DXE RFS SYS 4P Receive Four Square System Configuration Shown with optional items Power connections not shown for clarity Refer to the DXE RFS SYS 4P manual for details ...

Page 22: ... 22 Typical DXE RCA8 SYS 4P Receive Eight Circle System Configuration Shown with optional items Power connections not shown for clarity Refer to the DXE RCA8 SYS 4P manual for details ...

Page 23: ...ality 360 brass cadmium plated with yellow chromate coating for maximum corrosion resistance UV resistant plastic and O rings provide a reliable environmentally sealed connector An installation tool such as the DXE SNS CT1 is required to install the connectors Normal crimping tools or pliers will not work DXE SNS CT1 Compression Tool for Snap N Seal 75 Ω Coaxial Connectors Ratchet compression tool...

Page 24: ...r replace any item or part thereof which is proved to be other than as warranted no allowance shall be made for any labor charges of Buyer for replacement of parts adjustment or repairs or any other work unless such charges are authorized in advance by DX Engineering If DX Engineering s products are claimed to be defective in material or workmanship DX Engineering shall upon prompt notice thereof ...

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