SUSU Antenna Array

From SUWS-wiki

This page describe the plan to build a new antenna array to mount back on the mast on the West Building (outside the Stag's Head). This would be of benefit to SUWS as well as other societies listed below.

Facebook Group

Current Status

  • Currently in purchasing and refurbishment stage as well as final planning on assembly and connections

Interested Parties

  • SUWS (us) - General Amateur Radio operation / tracking high altitude balloons.
  • Space Flight Society
    • Interested in helping us.
    • Interested in tracking satellite / high altitude balloons
  • SUSUtv
    • Interested in directional Wi-Fi for live campus broadcast
  • Surge
    • Interested in properly fixing their FM antenna
  • Astronomy
    • Interested in 1GHz-2GHz (?) radio astronomy.
  • ECS Sensor Network Research
    • 868Mhz omni for sensor network node
  • There is still room for other interest should there be any

Antenna/Feature Ideas

Confirmed

  • HF beam dipole
  • triband 2m/70cm/6m omni
  • 70cm+2m on dual-axis rotator
  • SURGE FM broadcast antenna
  • SOWN Wi-Fi @ coordinates

Sensible

  • 23cm on spur
  • 868 sensor net antenna on spur
  • radio telescope (astrosoc)
  • monitoring node (temp/wind ect)

Current Plan

From top of the mast to bottom.

  • 6m/2m/70cm collinear (AR+satellites+HABs)
  • Spur bar
    • FM Broadcast antenna (SURGE)
    • 2.4GHz omni (sensor networks)
    • 868 MHz omni (sensor networks)
  • HF Dipole (AR)
  • Azimuth Rotator

Kit

Arrived and reimbursed

Arrived awaiting reimbursment

  • Dual axis Rotator

Ordered

Approved

  • 2m crossed yagi
    • Link [[1]]
    • Price: £99.95 + £4.99
    • Date to be ordered: ASAP
    • Budget: mast
  • 70cm Yagi
    • Link [[2]]
    • Price: £52.96 + £10
    • Date to be ordered: ASAP
    • Budget: mast
  • Triband Verticial
    • Link [3]
    • Price: £89.95 + £4.99
    • To be ordered: ASAP
    • Budget: mast

Awaiting Approval

Planned but not ready for approval

  • SSD for APU
    • Link [[4]]
    • Price £34.81
    • Date to be ordered: Later
    • Budget: to be decided

Parts known to be needed

  • Ubiquity Powerbeam
  • Verticial mast section
  • horizontal mast section
  • mounting hardware
  • rack cupboard
  • Dual axis Rotator Parts
    • grease for rotator
    • rotator to pole bracket (we are short one) (potentially [5])
  • Internal patch panel parts
  • Parts for HF dipole
  • Coax parts
    • coax
    • connectors
  • connection plate
    • ?* weatherproof N through connectors [[6]]
    • ?* N blanking plates
    • Mounting frame (suggest stainless or aluminium)
    • Connector box [[7]]
      • 2* ethercon panel connectors [[8]]
      • 2* XRL7 male panel [[9]]
      • 2* XLR7 female panel [[10]]
      • 2* ethercon cable [[11]]
      • 2* XLR7 female cable [[12]]
      • 2* XLR7 male cable [[13]]
      • potting compound [[14]] / lots of silica gell
      • D connector mounting plate [[15]]
      • weatherproofing ans sealant [[16]]

Coax Info

Information sourced from Coax Data and ML&S

Prices sourced from ML&S inc. VAT

Diameter RF Loss Max Power Handling Cost Datasheet
mm dB/100ft @ 400MHz W @ 50MHz (1:1 SWR) /25m Reel
RG-58 5 10.5 450W £20.70
RG-213 10.3 4.5 1500W £32.25 http://www.romkatel.ro/cataloage/pdf/eupen/RG213.pdf
Ultraflex 7 7.3 3.59 1820W £29.70 http://www.messi.it/dati/immagini/RGAC7PLUS-All1_EN.pdf

Note: Connectors for Ultraflex 7 are uncommon, and so may add significantly to the expense.