Antenna Performance Tests - Revision history

OZ1HFT: +Category:Mercury

2011-04-11T18:05:28Z

+Category:Mercury

VE3MM at 01:25, 10 April 2010

2010-04-10T01:25:47Z

VE3MM at 17:31, 9 April 2010

2010-04-09T17:31:48Z

VE3MM at 16:22, 9 April 2010

2010-04-09T16:22:09Z

VE3MM at 16:19, 9 April 2010

2010-04-09T16:19:42Z

VE3MM at 16:16, 9 April 2010

2010-04-09T16:16:24Z

VE3MM at 16:13, 9 April 2010

2010-04-09T16:13:00Z

VE3MM at 16:02, 9 April 2010

2010-04-09T16:02:44Z

VE3MM at 16:00, 9 April 2010

2010-04-09T16:00:56Z

VE3MM at 16:00, 9 April 2010

2010-04-09T16:00:00Z

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 The active antenna at my station is using a 60 inch whip and the unit is mounted on a wooden fence post approximately 1.25 m above ground.  I have a ground plate (1.2m long piece of electrical bus) buried in the earth about 0.6 m below ground.
+[[Category:Mercury]]
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← Older revision		Revision as of 01:25, 10 April 2010
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−	In my present configuration, the ADC in Mercury will overload with the preamp on when connected to the active antenna . To use the preamplifier for the upper HF bands, it will be necessary to add a ~~low~~ pass filter to reduce the AM broadcast contribution to the receiver. You can see the 0-60 Mhz band scan from Mercury when using [http://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=MacHPSDR MacHPSDR] in the next picture.	+	In my present configuration, the ADC in Mercury will overload with the preamp on when connected to the active antenna . To use the preamplifier for the upper HF bands, it will be necessary to add a hi pass filter to reduce the AM broadcast contribution to the receiver. You can see the 0-60 Mhz band scan from Mercury when using [http://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=MacHPSDR MacHPSDR] in the next picture.
	[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z, showing the wide band 0-60 Mhz display]]		[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z, showing the wide band 0-60 Mhz display]]

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 == Active Antenna and Mercury ==
-One of the great features of Mercury is its wide band capability.  Most amateurs have antennas that are tuned to one amateur band.  Often, these antennas do not perform well when used to listen on other frequencies. One type of antenna that is suited to wide band performance is an active antenna.
+One of the great features of Mercury is its wide band capability.  [[Image:activeantennapicture.jpg|thumb|300px| Active antenna on fence post]] Most amateurs have antennas that are tuned to one amateur band.  Often, these antennas do not perform well when used to listen on other frequencies. One type of antenna that is suited to wide band performance is an active antenna.
 I purchased a Z1501D Active Antenna and Z1203A Active Antenna Coupler from [http://www.cliftonlaboratories.com/ Clifton Laboratories].  These are both kits that are straightforward to put together and in my opinion are first class.
 The active antenna at my station is using a 60 inch whip and the unit is mounted on a wooden fence post approximately 1.25 m above ground.  I have a ground plate (1.2m long piece of electrical bus) buried in the earth about 0.6 m below ground.
 === Tests ===
 The following is a screen shot of a wide band scan (0-20 Mhz.) of the output of the antenna coupler when connected to a Tektronics 495P Spectrum Analyzer.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:22, 9 April 2010
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−	In my present configuration, the ADC in Mercury will overload with the preamp on when connected to the active antenna . To use the preamplifier for the upper HF bands, it will be necessary to add a low pass filter to reduce the AM broadcast contribution to the receiver. You can see the 0-60 Mhz band scan from Mercury when using MacHPSDR in the next picture.	+	In my present configuration, the ADC in Mercury will overload with the preamp on when connected to the active antenna . To use the preamplifier for the upper HF bands, it will be necessary to add a low pass filter to reduce the AM broadcast contribution to the receiver. You can see the 0-60 Mhz band scan from Mercury when using [http://openhpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=MacHPSDR MacHPSDR] in the next picture.
	[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z, showing the wide band 0-60 Mhz display]]		[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z, showing the wide band 0-60 Mhz display]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:19, 9 April 2010
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−	The second plot of the same spectrum was captured by [~~http://~~http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/gpib/readme.htm KE5FX's] excellent Spectrum Surveillance Program which connects to to my spectrum analyzer and controls it using the GPIB port.	+	The second plot of the same spectrum was captured by [http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/gpib/readme.htm KE5FX's] excellent Spectrum Surveillance Program which connects to to my spectrum analyzer and controls it using the GPIB port.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:16, 9 April 2010
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−	~~When Mercury is connected to the active antenna it is necessary to make sure the preamplifier is turned off.~~ In ~~the~~ present configuration, ~~when connected to the active antenna~~ the ADC in Mercury will overload with the preamp on. To use the preamplifier for the upper HF bands, it will be necessary to add a low pass filter to reduce the AM broadcast contribution to the receiver. You can see the 0-60 Mhz band scan from Mercury when using MacHPSDR in the next picture.	+	In my present configuration, the ADC in Mercury will overload with the preamp on when connected to the active antenna . To use the preamplifier for the upper HF bands, it will be necessary to add a low pass filter to reduce the AM broadcast contribution to the receiver. You can see the 0-60 Mhz band scan from Mercury when using MacHPSDR in the next picture.
	[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z, showing the wide band 0-60 Mhz display]]		[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z, showing the wide band 0-60 Mhz display]]

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-This scan shows the AM broadcast band (centred at 1.0 Mhz, 200 Khz. per horizontal division) showing the strongest signals received at my QTH in the 0-30 Mhz spectrum. The strongest AM station is at 1220 Khz and is at -15 dbm at this snapshot.  There is another strong station at 610 Khz and is approximately -19 dbm.  [[Image:activeantennaplot2.jpg|thumb|300px| Active antenna spectrum 0-2 Mhz.]][[Image:activeantennaplot4.jpg|thumb|500px|right| Active antenna spectrum 0-2 Mhz. using Spectrum Surveillance Program by KE5FX]] The second plot of the same spectrum was captured by [http://http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/gpib/readme.htm KE5FX's] excellent Spectrum Surveillance Program which connects to to my spectrum analyzer and controls it using the GPIB port.
+This scan shows the AM broadcast band (centred at 1.0 Mhz, 200 Khz. per horizontal division) showing the strongest signals received at my QTH in the 0-30 Mhz spectrum. The strongest AM station is at 1220 Khz and is at -15 dbm at this snapshot.  There is another strong station at 610 Khz and is approximately -19 dbm.  [[Image:activeantennaplot2.jpg|thumb|300px| Active antenna spectrum 0-2 Mhz.]][[Image:activeantennaplot4.jpg|thumb|500px|right| Active antenna spectrum 0-2 Mhz. using Spectrum Surveillance Program by KE5FX]]
 [[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg|thumb|1000px| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z, showing the wide band 0-60 Mhz display]]
 by Rick VE3MM

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:02, 9 April 2010
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−	[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z.]]	+	[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z, showing the wide band 0-60 Mhz display]]


	by Rick VE3MM		by Rick VE3MM

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:00, 9 April 2010
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−	[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy ~~KH7X~~.]]	+	[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH6Z.]]


	by Rick VE3MM		by Rick VE3MM

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:00, 9 April 2010
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	This scan shows the AM broadcast band (centred at 1.0 Mhz, 200 Khz. per horizontal division) showing the strongest signals received at my QTH in the 0-30 Mhz spectrum. The strongest AM station is at 1220 Khz and is at -15 dbm at this snapshot. There is another strong station at 610 Khz and is approximately -19 dbm. [[Image:activeantennaplot2.jpg\|thumb\|300px\| Active antenna spectrum 0-2 Mhz.]][[Image:activeantennaplot4.jpg\|thumb\|500px\|right\| Active antenna spectrum 0-2 Mhz. using Spectrum Surveillance Program by KE5FX]] The second plot of the same spectrum was captured by [http://http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/gpib/readme.htm KE5FX's] excellent Spectrum Surveillance Program which connects to to my spectrum analyzer and controls it using the GPIB port.		This scan shows the AM broadcast band (centred at 1.0 Mhz, 200 Khz. per horizontal division) showing the strongest signals received at my QTH in the 0-30 Mhz spectrum. The strongest AM station is at 1220 Khz and is at -15 dbm at this snapshot. There is another strong station at 610 Khz and is approximately -19 dbm. [[Image:activeantennaplot2.jpg\|thumb\|300px\| Active antenna spectrum 0-2 Mhz.]][[Image:activeantennaplot4.jpg\|thumb\|500px\|right\| Active antenna spectrum 0-2 Mhz. using Spectrum Surveillance Program by KE5FX]] The second plot of the same spectrum was captured by [http://http://www.thegleam.com/ke5fx/gpib/readme.htm KE5FX's] excellent Spectrum Surveillance Program which connects to to my spectrum analyzer and controls it using the GPIB port.
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		+	[[Image:MacHPSDR.jpg\|thumb\|1000px\| Screen shot of MacHPSDR by Jeremy KH7X.]]


	by Rick VE3MM		by Rick VE3MM