MODELS 524, 527 and 527B Super High Gain Log-Periodic Antennas U.S. Patent No. 3,257,661 Model 524 Model 527 Model 527B Highly reliable communications on long-range circuits require antennas with high power gain at low take-off angles. In addition, ionospheric variations resulting in frequent changes in frequency make it desirable for the antenna to have a wide frequency bandwidth. The conventional approach to achieve wide band, highly directive antennas has been to use multiple rhombic antennas which rely heavily on end-fire gain to achieve their directivity and hence are quite large. Typical installations exceed 300 meters in length and require large investments in land. Log-periodic antennas have long been desired for their wide band characteristics, efficient land use, and modest price. Heretofore, increasing the gain of a log-periodic has been attempted through end-fire techniques. This approach results in very large structures which are difficult to support and install. Small structures with very high gain are now possible with techniques developed at TCI which employ broadside gain. Use of the clamped mode technique* physically increases the width of the radiating aperture resulting in larger broadside gain. The width of the active region of the 524 and 527 is one and one half wavelengths. Individual radiators resemble a saw-tooth and are the electrical equivalent of "fattened" radiators with low Q. The reduction in Q increases the power handling capability and lengthens the effective active region resulting in greater radiation efficiency. * Reliable Communications on Long Range Circuits * High Power Gain - Over 18 dBi * Wide Frequency Bandwidth - 4 to 30 MHz * Small Land Area - Replaces Rhombic Twice the Size * Low Take-Off Angle It is well known that vertically polarized antennas experience undesirable ground losses without the use of sizable ground screens. Because the TCI super high gain antennas are horizontally polarized, ground losses are negligible and the maximum possible antenna gain is actually achieved without ground screens. All TCI antennas share the same high quality, exhaustively tested components and materials. All radiators, feedlines, and catenaries are of Alumoweld, a wire composed of a high strength steel core and a highly conductive corrosion resistant welded coating of aluminum. All feedline and radiator tip insulators are made of high strength glazed alumina, a material with an extremely low loss tangent (.001) and virtually impervious to the effects of ultraviolet radiation, dirt, and salt spray. on, and deterioration when stored for long periods of time at high temperature and humidity, all contribute toward a definite need for improvement. The TCI antennas use Alumoweld catenaries, broken up by fail-safe insulators. The TCI towers are furnished with either 6061-T6 aluminum or galvanized steel. All bolts and nuts are of the same material as the tower thereby eliminating all dissimilar metal contacts. Fixed station log-periodic antennas traditionally have used fiberglass catenary and drop rod assemblies on the basis of excellent dielectric and tensile strength properties. However, field experience has shown that minute, difficult-to-detect flaws in the material, RF burning, small nicks incurred during installation handing which may result in catastrophic structural failure later Specifications MODEL 524 ANTENNA The Model 524 is a single curtain antenna utilizing the clamped mode fattened radiator design. The antenna is three half wavelengths wide resulting in a dramatic increase in the broadside radiating aperture. The antenna gain is 15.5 dBi minimum, 16 dBi nominal and the azimuth beamwidth is 38. On a long point-topoint circuit where wide azimuth coverage is not required this antenna provides reliable communications with a single antenna curtain. Polarization ......................Horizontal VSWR................................2.0:1 maximum Azimuth Beamwidth ........38 nominal Front-to-Back Ratio .........13 dB nominal & Side Lobe Level Environmental..................Designed in accordance with EIA Performance Specification RS-222C for loading of 225 km/h (140 mi/h) wind, no ice, 145 km/h (90 mi/h) wind, 12 mm (1/2") radial ice Optional: 160 km/h (100 mi/h) wind only, no ice Size Model Number 524-3-N 524-6-N 524-4-N Frequency Range 4-30 MHz 5-30 MHz 6.2-30 MHz Height Length* Width* ft. mtr. ft. mtr. ft. mtr. 141 42.9 406 123.8 597 182.5 121 36.8 358 109 514 157 101 30.8 285 86.87 395 120.4 * Measured from extreme guy points. Gain and Pattern Data Freq. fo 15 MHz 21 MHz 25 MHz 30 MHz Gain 15.5 dBi 16.0 dBi 16.5 dBi 16.5 dBi 16.5 dBi LHPP 15 9 9 8 8 TOA 27 19 17 15 14 UHPP 42 29 27 24 23 Power and Impedance Data Model Number Input Impedance Power Connector 524-N-02 524-N-03 524-N-04 524-N-06 50 ohm 50 ohm 50 ohm 50 ohm Receive 10/50 kW 25/50 kW 1/2 kW Type N Female 1-5/8" EIA Female 1-5/8" EIA Female Type N Female ELEVATION AND AZIMUTH PATTERNS (Azimuth pattern at elevation angle of beam maximum, gain in dBi) NOTE: Front support poles, normally class 2,3, or 4 Douglas Fir, are required but not supplied by TCI. Check with TCI for specific requirements. Specifications MODEL 527B ANTENNA The Model 527B antenna consists of two standard transposed dipole arrays which are horizontally polarized and stacked in the vertical plane. The increase in vertical aperture decreases the H-plane beamwidth resulting in antenna gain of 15 dBi while retaining an azimuth beamwidth of 64. This antenna is extremely useful in applications where high gain, low take-off angles are required over a broad azimuth. Polarization ......................Horizontal VSWR................................2.0:1 maximum Azimuth Beamwidth ........64 nominal Front-to-Back Ratio .........13 dB nominal & Side Lobe Level Environmental..................Designed in accordance with EIA Performance Specification RS-222C for loading of 225 km/h (140 mi/h) wind, no ice, 145 km/h (90 mi/h) wind, 12 mm (1/2") radial ice Optional: 160 km/h (100 mi/h) wind only, no ice Gain and Pattern Data Freq. 4.0 MHz 6.2 MHz 12.0 MHz 25.0 MHz 30.0 MHz Gain 14.5 dBi 14.7 dBi 15.0 dBi 15.2 dBi 15.2 dBi LHPP 11 10 8 6 6 TOA 22 20 17 14 13 UHPP 35 34 26 21 20 Size Model Number 527B-2-N 527B-8-N Frequency Height Length* Width* Range ft. mtr. ft. mtr. ft. mtr. 4-30 MHz 220 67.2 487 148.4 600 183 6.2-30 MHz 151 46 330 101 410 125 * Measured from extreme guy points. Power and Impedance Data Model Number Input Impedance Power Connector 527B-N-02 527B-N-03 527B-N-04 527B-N-06 50 ohm 50 ohm 50 ohm 50 ohm Receive 10/50 kW 25/50 kW 1/2 kW Type N Female 1-5/8" EIA Female 1-5/8" EIA Female Type N Female ELEVATION AND AZIMUTH PATTERNS (Azimuth pattern at elevation angle of beam maximum, gain in dBi) NOTE: Front support poles, normally class 2,3, or 4 Douglas Fir, are required but not supplied by TCI. Check with TCI for specific requirements. Specifications MODEL 527 ANTENNA The Model 527 consists of two 524 curtains stacked vertically. On long range point-to-point circuits where extremely high power gain and low take-off angle are required, the 527 will provide highly reliable communications. Performance will exceed that of a rhombic more than twice the size. The 527 provides antenna gain in excess of 18 dBi and at a take-off angle of 12. Size Model Frequency Number Range Height ft. mtr. Width* ft. mtr. 527-2-N 4-30 MHz 221 67.5 598 182.2 781 238.1 527-3-N 6.2-30 MHz 170 51.8 388 118.3 545 166 527-6-N 4.95-26 MHz 184 56 442 135 610 183 * Measured from extreme guy points. Polarization ......................Horizontal VSWR................................2.0:1 maximum Length* ft. mtr. Gain and Pattern Data Azimuth Beamwidth ........38 nominal Freq. Gain LHPP TOA UHPP Front-to-Back Ratio .........13 dB nominal & Side Lobe Level fo 12 MHz 25 MHz 30 MHz 16.5 dBi 17.5 dBi 18.2 dBi 18.2 dBi 10 9 6 6 20 18 13 12 33 28 20 19 Environmental..................Designed in accordance with EIA Performance Specification RS-222C for loading of 225 km/h (140 mi/h) wind, no ice, 145 km/h (90 mi/h) wind, 12 mm (1/2") radial ice Optional: 160 km/h (100 mi/h) wind only, no ice Power and Impedance Data Model Number Input Impedance Power Connector 527-N-02 527-N-03 527-N-04 527-N-06 527-4-100 50 ohm 50 ohm 50 ohm 50 ohm 300 ohm Balanced Type N Female 1-5/8" EIA Female 1-5/8" EIA Female Type N Female Balanced Terminals Receive 10/50 kW 25/50 kW 1/2 kW 100 kW AM (150 kW Avg/ 400 kW Peak) ELEVATION AND AZIMUTH PATTERNS (Azimuth pattern at elevation angle of beam maximum, gain in dBi) 524/527/B-160401(c) TCI, 2001 Data and specifications subject to change without notice. www.tcibr.com 47300 Kato Road, Fremont, California 94538, USA * 1 800 824-8074 (USA) * Tel 1 510 687-6100 * Fax 1 510 687-6101