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- 6 - 

Installation 

 
The 

RCA8C-1

 Receive Eight Circle Array Controller can be mounted to a customer supplied 

galvanized steel pipe driven into the ground at the center of the array. A galvanized pipe ranging 
from 1 to 2 inch OD may be used. The length of the controller unit's mounting pipe is dependent on 
your location. The standard 1-1/2" galvanized water pipe (with its approximate 1.9" OD) is just fine 
for this application and can usually be found at your local home building supply store.  
 
The 

RCA8C-1

 relay unit has been pre-drilled to accommodate up to a 2 inch OD pipe using the 

included 

DXE-SSVC-2P

 Stainless Steel V-Bolt Saddle Clamp for 1" to 2" OD pipe. An optional 

DXE-CAVS-1P

 V-Bolt Saddle clamp can be used for pipe from 3/4" to 1-3/4" inches OD. The 

controller can also be mounted on a sturdy wooden post if provision for grounding the 

RCA8C-1 

unit has been made. Note: 

JTL-12555 Jet-Lube SS-30

 Anti-Seize should be used on all clamps, 

bolts and stainless steel threaded hardware to prevent galling and to ensure proper tightening. 
 
The Receive Eight Circle Array Controller unit should be mounted as shown in 

Figure 3

 with cover 

upward and the control and coaxial cable connections downward to prevent water from entering the 
box. The stainless steel base of the Receive Eight Circle Array Controller unit has weep holes to 
allow condensation that may build up inside the unit to leave. 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

      

 

Figure 3 - RCA8C-1 unit mounted to 2" OD pipe using the included DXE-SSVC-2P V-Clamp 

 
Control and Power Connections

 

 
1.   Locate the removable green connector on the rear of the modified 

CC-8A 

labeled "

G A B C D

”. 

The green connector is a two part connector as shown and the top part can be removed by 
pulling it straight off. This will allow easier wire replacement or servicing as needed. When 
pushing the removable connector back in place, ensure you press straight inward to fully seat 
the connection. 

2.   Insert the five wire cable on the green connector as shown in 

Figure 4.

 

3.  The same five wires are connected to the 

RCA8C-1

 removable green connector (

G A B C D

) as 

shown in 

Figure 5

. (“D” is required only for voltage on the element feedlines and should not be 

connected for passive vertical arrays.) 

4.   The modified 

CC-8A

 Control Console requires a n12 Vdc fused input (+12 to +14 

Vdc, 2 Amps and well filtered) through the 2.1 mm connector on the rear of the unit.  

Summary of Contents for DXE-R8C-SYS-V3

Page 1: ...em Package DXE R8C SYS V3 U S Patent No 7 423 588 DXE R8C SV3 INS Revision 0 DX Engineering 2022 1200 Southeast Ave Tallmadge OH 44278 USA Phone 800 777 0703 Tech Support and International 330 572 320...

Page 2: ...11 Vertical Element Feedlines 12 Typical DXE R8C SYS V3 Receive Eight Circle Configuration 13 Delay Line 14 Optimizing the Array 14 Theory of Operation of the Receive Eight Circle Array 15 System Des...

Page 3: ...ands typically 160 80 and 40 meters it is functional from 500 kHz to 30 MHz Excellent directivity in a smaller space than phased Beverages for better signal to noise ratio than transmit arrays and oth...

Page 4: ...75 coaxial cable connectors DXE EX6XL 25 Package of 25 F Connectors for quad shield 75 RG6 coaxial cable Additional Parts Required Not Supplied with the DXE R8C SYS V3 One additional DXE RG6UFQ 1000...

Page 5: ...ight Circle Array Controller eight DXE RSEAV 1 Receive Short Element Active Vertical Antennas and one Delay Cable with F Connectors installed These units interconnect and work together using factory d...

Page 6: ...ler unit should be mounted as shown in Figure 3 with cover upward and the control and coaxial cable connections downward to prevent water from entering the box The stainless steel base of the Receive...

Page 7: ...connections are labeled G A B C D The terminals use the same connection letters and are connected G to G A to A B to B C to C and D to D On the RCA8C 1 the green connector is a two part connector as s...

Page 8: ...ontrol 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 ac...

Page 9: ...proximity to transmitting antennas 1 10 wavelength of the lowest transmitting frequency This is possible provided the active units are powered off at least 5 ms before transmitting An optional sequenc...

Page 10: ...a change in signal or noise level you need to improve the ground A second rod spaced a few feet away from the first one may correct the problem or 10 to 12 ground radials each 15 ft long should provi...

Page 11: ...nt Feedline and Delay Line It is important to use 75 feedline to the operating position from the DXE RCA8C 1 unit Do not use amplifiers combiners filters or splitters that are not optimized for 75 sys...

Page 12: ...ge them Excessive tightening torque can loosen the chassis mounting nut allowing the connector body to rotate and fracture the mounting tabs on either installation or removal of the connector F connec...

Page 13: ...gure 7 Coaxial Cables are shown in various colors for clarity Shown with optional DXE RPA 2 Receive Pre Amplifier DXE RFCC 1 Receive Feedline Current Choke and optional DXE CW9S Control Cable Power co...

Page 14: ...a and set the receiver to the narrowest selectivity you expect to use Receiver noise power is directly proportional to receiver bandwidth going from 2 5 kHz selectivity to 250 Hz selectivity reduces n...

Page 15: ...an stable pattern with high directivity over wide bandwidth W8JI initially developed and used this array in the 1980 s This array started appearing in the 1990 s at larger more advanced low band DX st...

Page 16: ...dband active elements this array has unbeatable performance across a single band The Eight Circle Array upper frequency limit for a clean unidirectional pattern is slightly above where the array is 35...

Page 17: ...rimary benefit Antenna gain is a secondary advantage As frequency increases the fixed array size becomes electrically larger in terms of wavelength The increased electrical spacing produces higher sen...

Page 18: ...nductors regardless of element design for a given style of element The effect on pattern depends almost entirely on how much surrounding objects absorb and re radiate signals if the undesired structur...

Page 19: ...power lines as possible Proximity to Transmitting Antennas Eight DXE RSEAV 1 Receive Antenna Active Vertical active elements and your transmitting antenna need only minimal physical separation to main...

Page 20: ...d with a radius of 327 wavelength This pattern achieves the best Receiving Directivity Factor RDF which is a figure that compares the forward lobe gain to the average gain of the antenna array in all...

Page 21: ...lowable side lobe levels as represented closely to the pattern 35 wavelength radius shown in Figure 9 For example an array built to cover 160 80 and 40 meters has a highest frequency of 7 3 MHz and a...

Page 22: ...atterns in Figure 10 were generated using EZNEC and show the effects on the patterns when varying the radius of the array These patterns are not to be viewed as pointing in a default or particular dir...

Page 23: ...not know the VF of the coaxial cable you are using you must directly measure the electrical length of the coaxial cable you have with an analyzer or obtain cable with a known VF Table 3 shows delay l...

Page 24: ...imensions rather than operating frequency which allows for the use of a single delay line for optimum directivity over a very wide frequency range This results in phase being correct for a rearward nu...

Page 25: ...Array is sized by multiplying the free space wavelength at 1 832 MHz of 537 feet wavelength times the optimum pattern circle radius of 0 327 wavelength which yields an optimal circle radius of 175 6...

Page 26: ...2 26 66 13 172 8 345 6 319 3 0 604 3 500 70 29 35 14 91 8 183 7 169 7 0 604 3 650 67 40 33 70 88 1 176 1 162 7 0 604 3 800 80M only or 160 80M 64 74 32 37 84 58 169 2 156 3 0 604 7 200 40M only 34 17...

Page 27: ...pulled inward C Shorted Open conductors due to water Check feedlines and control cable D Zapped by lightning pulse or RF overload Make sure units are at least 1 2 wavelength on the lowest frequency a...

Page 28: ...Active antennas and any transmit antennas If that distance is less and high power is used then the Time Variable Sequence Unit TVSU 1B must be used to interrupt power to the AVA units 2 Damaged Receiv...

Page 29: ...tem relay unit with the control cable connected and again at the end of the control cable that is disconnected from the Receive Eight Circle System relay unit If measured voltages are not between 10 t...

Page 30: ...ing the RF If one or more Active Receive Verticals produce a low or no signal then the AVA unit at the base of that antenna may not be receiving power Retest for DC power at the antenna end of that fe...

Page 31: ...31 NOTES...

Page 32: ...allation damaged from severe weather including floods or abnormal environmental conditions such as prolonged exposure to corrosives or power surges or by the performance of repairs or alterations outs...

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