20m Phased Vertical Array - First on Air Testing

Testing my 20m Phased Vertical Array on air for the first time.
Results continue to impress. Tnis is a good way of implmenting an antenna with gain & front to back in a small space.

[@dxscotland5901]

That’s looking great Colin well done 👍

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Your setup is really coming along Colin! I still need to look into this phased setup some more it seems to work really well, thanks for the update. 73

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks Chuck, I'm sure it won't be any issue for you. Drop me a line anytime if you need to.

[@boxingday11]

Excellent, well done Colin👍

[@brendanhynes473]

Many Thanks Colin, keep up the good work

[@George_Salt]

Nice video Colin.

[@ronballad7611]

Ive been playing around with a pair of 20m phased verticals with elevated radials. Faced a few challenges, but I am getting there! I thought I'll mention that I did some interesting tests today, to determine how much the connectors, different interconnecting pigtails in the relax box etc detunes the phasing lines. I'd kept mine as short as possible, but I was astonished to find that SO239's, pigtails etc, dragged my 84 degree lines down about 275 khz! I then trimmed the cables whilst isolating the pigtails from the relay, but keeping the far end of the phasing lines screwed to the SO239. I got as close as I can, but figured that was way better than the previous detuning. It also made me feel silly having tried to get the 84 and 71degree lines spot on previously, because they get detuned once hooked to the relay box anyway! The results were very encouraging, and the FB jumped noticeably! I reckon I wont be "spot on" unless I do more pruning compensating for the length added by the relay contacts. If I'm to be "perfect" Id need to do the same for the 71 degree lines as well, but one step at a time. Do you know if my approach is correct, or if I likely screwed up the phasing? Like I said, the FB did jump up, but I recall reading ON4UN that even an incorrectly phased array will show FB but might actually be -4-5db down on gain. So, FB is not always indicative that everything is right, or supposedly so.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

I think your on the right path. This isnt an easy or quick project. Justin KG2RG has documented lots of his phased verticals on KZbin. Have you watched his stuff on them?

[@mw0lge]

nice one Colin :) This is looking great ! cheers, Richie.

[@bike10001]

M1ANN. Interesting video Colin. I’m working on phased verticals with raised radials for 17m using the christman method. I should be up and running after testing within a week or so. Hope you make some good dx. Looking at your set up in the back garden with all those radials you must have a very understanding missus !!!

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks. Only set these up as and when. The XYL wouldn't wear it if I had it up all the time. I will likely make a set of 17m coax lines too. Always handy to have additional bands.

[@Dr-T]

15dB front to back is a really good result. Well done. 73 Bruce G4ABX

[@reallybadaim118]

So very impressive! I want to get you in my log. Let me know and I will make the time. 73. I'm in the US and can remote into several stations if you want to test.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Will do, what's your callsign? I will take a note.

[@digitalanaloguehamradio]

Very interesting video thanks

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks Chris. I've learned many thing from your channel. I would have been lost setting up my 878uv codeplug without your video.

[@digitalanaloguehamradio]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio that's wonderful thank you. I am on a mission to help younger channels than mine. Either in the video production or the promoting of certain topics.

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

@@digitalanaloguehamradio Thats brilliant. I'm still very much learning but hopefully it will come together in time.

[@meggalavk3ktt]

great job it give people who cant have towers and beams some hope of directivity it shouldn't be hard for other bands as well

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Exactly, that is what driven me to do this. I also have 40m coax lines made. I've still to cut 80m lines. I have further developments to come to allow those with strict planning / HOA regulations.

[@graemeeuk]

Great test Colin, very interesting. I also agree on the Life’s a Breeze pro poles, they really are excellent. I was also very interested to see your fan dipole potential from your feed boxes, presumably you would run those to an insulated plate at the top of the pole? 73, cheers M0EUK

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Some sort of separation will be needed. I will look at it in time. I automatically have the separation if using an adjustiwave.

[@calebmunch-ae0fp20]

Very cool! I am curious where you came up with your degrees of delay? Most phased verticals I see now use the "Christman method" with 2 84 degree feedlines with a 71 degree delay. Any information online for yout setup?

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

The design is in the low band DXing book as I understand though I don't have a copy and it's out of print just now. Try and get a look at a copy.

[@simonbussey7530]

Great job and effective use of a small garden space. I'm curious of the difference between running two phased and a single vertical on it's own?

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

I believe it it around 5-6db better than a plain vertical. I like to think of it as my 100 watts is really 400 watts.

[@billgatewood9578]

Do you have a parts list for your phased array system? Thanks

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Here you go. There is also links in the description. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGG6e6CliMtorLM

[@johnallsopp8260]

Hello Colin an interesting video, I, 'm trying three verticals in phase on 21 Mhz 15 meters, I missed the names of the poles in use can you reply with their name and where they are obtained from. Thank you & 73 de John G4YDM

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

These were 6m life's a breeze pro poles. No longer made unfortunately.

[@johnallsopp8260]

Thank you Gud DX John G4YDM@@MM0OPXFieldRadio

[@timsmith428]

..what is the spacing between the two verticals? VE3IIM/VE6PG

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Is exactly an 1/8 wave so 2.645m

[@timsmith428]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio ..Thanks! de VE3IIM/VE6PG

[@williamgrocott8925]

Nice work Colin and great reports. 👍🏻 How critical is the antenna tuning and how do you ensure they are tuned to the same frequency with good SWR, as location and surroundings may affect one antenna more than the other? De Will, M0LGW

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Hi Will. Both antennas are tuned identical where resonance is at 14.175. This is ensured via my analyser. You will just have to try and see if you have and surrounding structures and if they are effected. Give it a go.

[@PatAutrey]

Is the length of the coax from the radio to the junction box critical? What length is your coax

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Doesn't matter at all. I just use whatever length I need to get to radio.

[@hamradiostation_M0UGE]

Hi Colin, would you mind putting a parts list up for the array as I am very eager to use one for 40m , but unsure where to get the box etc cheers, Ross M0UGE

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Hi Ross, most of the info is here. The aluminium boxes are Hammond 1590C from RS components. I will try to to a proper parts list but it may be a while www.moneysmith.com/W4NFR/40%20Meter%20Phased%20Verticals/40mpv.html

[@hamradiostation_M0UGE]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio OK thanks 73

[@stevenelson6895]

Brilliant Colin ! I’m moving house soon and will have a small garden.. will you be selling these units ?

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thanks Steve, afraid not. It's a nice thought but just don't have the time.

[@PatAutrey]

Also I have the Nano VNA I was wondering how would I do the 90° test using this equipment any idea?

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Yes no problem on the NanoVNA. You use the phase function and the 90 degree frequency is where it crosses zero. I thought I made a video thay showed this. I willl have a look.

[@PatAutrey]

@@MM0OPXFieldRadio oh I hope so please send me the video link if you did that would be awesome!

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ_Mmn-gl6mdZ8U

[@brianfields4479]

Very interested test. I was going to try a phased ant as yours, but as I only work long path in the evening, I put up a parasitic array. Using mmna I found the gain in one direction on the phased and the parasitic ant were just about the same, and of course if only one direction is required the parasitic ant is far simpler to make of course. Tests here between my 2 ele parasitic and a single ele vertical, gave me on average 2-3 S points into eu from zl, and less noise on the 2 ele. So now I can pretty much reduce power from 200w to 50w and get the same results. A 2 ele parasitic by the sea is really easy to put up and boy does it go. Thanks for the info, it's always interesting to see what others are testing. 73 zl3xdj

[@MM0OPXFieldRadio]

Thats a really good gain Brian. Yep, the parasitic array is much simpler. There is just something switching the verticals and seeing that signal rise or fall. magic

[@brianfields4479]

How much stronger do you think your 2 ele is into eu compared to a single element.