'' EGGBEATER '' ANTENNA

VHF/UHF ~ PART 2
Version française : http://www.on7wr.be/Gigazette/ON6WG/eggbeater2.pdf
ON6WG / F5VIF

Summary :

N.B. In Part 1, Fig.1 shows a maximum gain of 6.45 dbi. Several design attempts were made using
slightly different configurations ( i.e. reflector to radiator distance, radius of the reflector, etc...). It
was not possible to improve the gain above this value.

In Part 1, three particular satellites were chosen for the receiving tests. They were mainly chosen
because of their similar orbits, close to 800 km, and then for their transmission system, antennas
and polarisation system. The comparison table ( Part 1 – page 5 'Levels of received signals') was
computed after twenty passes for each of them and gives an average value of received signals.
Two properties of the ¼ wavelength line were tested and put into practice. (1) Impedance matching
and (2) 90 degree phasing to obtain circular polarization. In this design we make use of the same
two properties of the coaxial line.
It was also shown how the reflector can influence the radiation field pattern giving to this design a
gain of 6.5 dbi. at high elevation angles ( between 60 and 90 degrees.).
This design was created to obtain signal levels as high as possible in order to use high speed digital
communication satellites. The goal was also to use a simple antenna without any rotator.
As strong signals are needed for this purpose, low satellite passes with low sigs were not taken into
consideration. The result is a good design for elevations over 35 degrees.
Here in Part 2, we are examining how to further improve the performance of this design.

Introduction :

In « Part 1 » we saw a '2 dimensional' radiation field pattern. Here I am using a '3-D' radiation field
pattern of this circularly polarised antenna.

Fig. 8

3-D development shows a good view of the radiation field pattern as well as the gain at different
elevation levels. The maximum gain, shown here as purple in colour, covers an elevation angle
from 60 to 90 degrees.

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The ability to reverse the polarisation (RHCP to LHCP) will greatly improve the antenna
performance. I decided to connect a coax switching relay at points C and D, (see Part 1, fig. 7),
inside the tube used to support the antenna. If the relay can not be fitted here, we can use the
properties of the ½ wavelength coax lines, to fit it lower down, where there is more room.
Explanation : when a section of coax line is equal to or is an even multiple of a ½ wavelength, the
impedance measured at the beginning of it will be reproduced at the end of it. So we can use any
type of coaxial cable ( RG-155, RG-58 or RG-62 ) to make a link between the coax relay switch and
the antenna. So each loop can be coupled to the relay by a ½ wave, or 1-wavelength or 1 ½
wavelengths of coax; any half wave multiple in fact. To calculate the electrical length of this ½
wavelength line, the velocity factor must be taken into account.
Electrical length = measured length x velocity factor.
If the lines are correctly cut, an SWR meter placed in the feeder will not show any difference in its
measurement, with or without the ½ wavelength lines in the circuit.

Schematic :

Fig.9

For information, here are the calculated lengths for the ½ wavelength RG-58 coaxial lines ( velocity
factor 0.66 ) used in the prototype antennas.
145 Mhz : 68.5 cm
435 Mhz : 22.8 cm
The ¼ wavelength line can be connected on the coax relay switch. Then the ½ wavelength lines
can be soldered to the coax relay, and all the lines folded over, (as shown in Fig 11), so as to slide in
side the tube supporting the antenna.

Choosing a coax relay switch :

Manufactures of 50-Ohm coax switching relays are not too numerous. After some searches, it
seemed to me that the Tohtsu CX120P coax relay was the best compromise for this purpose. It is
small enough to enter in a 2 inches dia. tube. At a frequency of 500 Mhz, it can be used with an
input power of 150 watts and the isolation is still good (40 db). The insertion loss is 0.2 db. Max.
VSWR is 1.3.

Fig.10
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Fig.10 shows the coax relay used on the antenna. The CX120P model is specially made to be used
on printed circuit boards. This model is the more convenient because any size of coax cable can be
connected to it. The CX120A model can also be used but it accepts only one size of coax cable.

Fig.11

Fig.11 shows coax switching relay, folded ¼ and ½ wavelength lines and fittings. A part of the
tube supporting the antenna is seen on the left side of the picture. The shadow is produced by the
antenna itself.

SWR measurement with CX120P coax switching relay installed :

UHF : Freq. Mhz ............ | 430 | 432 | 435 | 436 | 437 | 438 | 440 |
SWR .................... | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.5 |

VHF : Freq. Mhz ............ 144..............146

Performance :

As soon as the polarisation of a received signal is inverted, the level of the signal can be maintained
by interchanging the polarisation of the antenna. It can be also useful sometimes when transmitting
to the satellite.

Proximity of the vhf and uhf antennas :

When using J-mode, VHF and UHF antennas are often close to each other. As these two bands are
used simultaneously, an interference problem can appear on the UHF receiver. It can be caused by
the third harmonic when transmitting on VHF. To solve this problem the third harmonic must be
removed at the transmitter with a band-pass filter. Separating with some distance the VHF and UHF
antennas is also another way to solve it. If, for some reason, it is not possible to separate the
antennas with enough distance, one can add a duplexer 144/430 Mhz in the feeder line of the uhf
receiver. The 144 Mhz connector of the duplexer must be left unconnected.

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Appendix I :

Polarisation change and satellite attitude on a circular orbit : A special case.

The attitude of a satellite is its orientation related to one or several co-ordinate points. These co-
ordinate points can be either the centre of the Earth, the Earth, the Sun etc... Attitude control
systems are placed on board a satellite to give it orientation. Attitude control can be used for
orientation of antennas, solar panels, camera or various experiments.
However its main use is to stabilise the satellite. As soon as it is stabilised, other control systems
can be used to stabilise other elements like, for example, the internal temperature.
The simplest attitude control system is made with magnet rods. These magnet rods will fall into line
with the Earth magnetic field, just like the needle of a compass.

Fig.12 represents the attitude of a satellite equipped with this kind of system passing along its
course on a circular orbit around the earth. Notice the turning over of the satellite when passing over
the Poles.
The magnetic terrestrial field is shown white in colour. The satellite orbit is shown in red.

Fig.12

Now moving away from the Poles, what is seen by the antenna located on the earth and tracking
this satellite ?
The answer is illustrated on Fig.13. Assuming the approaching satellite is using a RHCP turnstile
antenna, the receiving antenna on earth sees a RHCP signal. When passing the Zenith (perigee) of
its orbit relative to the the receiving station, the receiving antenna on earth sees the other side of the
satellite's turnstile antenna and consequently a LHCP signal.
So, polarisation change is not only due to propagation but is in some cases also depending of the
attitude of the satellite itself.
In conclusion, we can see the value of having reverse polarisation available, on a satellite receiving
antenna.
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 RHCP : Right Hand Circular Polarisation LHCP : Left Hand Circular Polarisation
Fig.13

Appendix II :

Click on the links below :

To see technical data of CX120P coax relay switch :

___________________ http://www.tohtsu.com/ __________________

To find a place to buy the coax relay CX120P :

___________________ http://www.maes-electr.be/ ________________

Then click on 'Producten' , ' Toebehoren' , ' Tohtsu '

Dual Band ?

Special thanks to Nigel G4DCQ, for his comments, suggestions and improvements to the English
text.

French translation of this article

ON6WG / F5VIF Web Site : http://pagesperso-orange.fr/on6wg/

To contact the author : ________ mailto:[email protected] ________

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