Exploration of options for 144MHz SSB station at VK1OD

VK1OD is located in a low density residential area in the suburbs of Canberra, Australia's national capital. Canberra is a city of about 300,000 population, an administrative centre, and does not have heavy industry, but commercial and light industrial areas exist.

Major cities exist to the north-east (Sydney), and to the south-west (Melbourne). Though Sydney is closer, rising granite in that direction is an obstacle. This article explores the path to Melbourne which has good prospects of aircraft enhanced propagation because of the population in Melbourne and surrounds, and the flight path from Sydney to Melbourne being roughly overhead.

Melbourne is 470km distant at a bearing of 231°, just through the middle of the skyline in Fig 1. The elevation of the horizon in the direction of Melbourne is 1.25° at 42km (Mt Franklin).

Noise sources

Black Mountain tower (television transmitter site, analogue and digital) can be seen just to the right of centre, it is 12° off bore sight, so well within the main lobe, and 5km distant. Not visible in the picture and within the main lobe is the CBD of Civic, the old centre of Canberra just 3km distant.

Configuration

Table 1 sets out the configuration that forms the base for analysis of itself and alternate scenarios.

Table 1: Base configuration
Item	Element	Value	Comments
1	TS2000	NF=7.9dB	300/2400 filter Measured sensitivity=-124.5dBm for 10dB SINAD, ENB=1450Hz Receiver sensitivity metric converter
2	1m RG213 patch cable	0.084dB loss	Calculated RF Transmission Line Loss Calculator
3	10m RG213	0.84dB loss	Calculated RF Transmission Line Loss Calculator
4	Hy-gain VB214 14el Yagi,	15.2dBi gain from spec VSWR 1.17	Measured 100W fwd, 0.4W reflected at tx VSWR calculator. E-plane half power beamwidth should be about 32°.

Receive performance

Ambient Noise

Expectations

ITU-R P.372-8 gives some indication of expected radio noise levels Table 2 shows the expected ambient noise at 144MHz.

Table 2: Expected ambient noise at 144MHz per ITU-R P.372-8
	Business (curve A) (dB)	Residential (curve B) (dB)	Rural (curve C) (dB)	Quiet rural (curve D) (dB)	Galactic noise (curve E) (dB)
F_a(dB)	17.0	12.7	7.4	-8.1	2.4
T_a (K)	14579	5417	1599	45	499

Measurement

The ambient noise was measured using the techniques and tools described at Ambient noise calculator. The internal attenuator in the TS2000 was measured at 12dB, and measurements made over a period of time of the ambient noise. The results are show in Table 3.

Table 3: Ambient noise measurement

Ambient noise calculator - results

144MHz, TS2000, VB214 pointing 231°

10 September 2006 16:09:09

Configuration
Loss rx-refplane	0.900 dB	Loss rx-refplane temp	290 K
Rx NF	7.90 dB	Rx NF temp	290 K
Observation #1		Observation #2
Attenuation	0.00 dB	Attenuation	12.0 dB
Attenuator temp	290 K	Attenuator temp	290 K
Measurement	0.134 Volts	Measurement	0.100 Volts
Results
F_a	8.92 dB	T_a	2264 K

The best ambient noise figure was 8.9dB, though it was up to 10db higher for extended periods. These levels fall in the Rural to Residential categories in ITU-R P.372-8, with highest levels exceeding the Business category.

G/T ratio

This analysis focuses on a single figure of merit for the entire receive system, and that is the G/T ratio (the ratio of antenna gain to system equivalent noise temperature. G, Antenna gain is with reference to the antenna connector. T, system noise temperature, is the total system noise, including sky temperature (or ambient noise) referred to the antenna connector.

The G/T ratio is a meaningful indicator of system performance, unlike quoting receiver noise temperature in isolation of sky temperature and antenna gain. The ability to receive weak signals is directly related to G/T, the higher G/T, the better. Signal/Noise ratio is proportional to G/T (Signal/Noise=S * λ²/(4*π) * G/T / (K*B) where S is power flux density, K is Boltzman's constant, and B is receiver effective noise bandwidth).

So, if changing the receiver Noise Figure from 5dB to 1db improves the G/T ratio by just 0.1dB, the real benefit of the change is just 0.1dB.

The G/T ratio for a base scenario and four improved scenarios was calculated using the techniques and tools described at Effective use of a Low Noise Amplifier on VHF/UHF, the results are set out in Table 4 and Figure 2.

Table 4: Summary of G/T scenarios
Scenario	Description	G/T (dB)
Base	TS2000 transceiver (E-type), 10m RG213 feedline, Hy-gain 15.2dBi VB214 yagi	-21.0
Low loss feedline	replace 10m of feedline with LDF4-50	-20.8
Preamp at tx	20dB gain, 0.8dBNF preamp at transceiver	-18.6
Preamp at antenna	20dB gain, 0.8dBNF preamp at antenna	-18.5
Higher antenna gain	stacked antenna with additional 3dB gain	-18.0

Fig 3 shows the cost effectiveness of improvement in the four improved scenarios. Costs of both preamp options could be significantly higher in a high power station which may require coax relays and sequencer.

Transmit performance

Transmit performance is expressed in the Effective Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP).

Table 5: Summary of EIRP scenarios
Scenario	Description	EIRP (W)	EIRP (dBW)
Base	TS2000 transceiver (K-type), 10m RG213 feedline, Hy-gain 15.2dBi VB214 yagi	2675	34.3
Low loss feedline	replace 10m of feedline with LDF4-50	2977	34.7
Preamp at tx	20dB gain, 0.8dBNF preamp at transceiver	2675	34.3
Preamp at antenna	20dB gain, 0.8dBNF preamp at antenna	2675	34.3
Higher antenna gain	stacked antenna with additional 3dB gain	5338	37.3

Only one improved scenario significantly improves the transmit performance, it is the "Higher gain antenna" option.

Summary

Table 6: Summary of scenarios
Scenario	Description	G/T (dB)	EIRP (dBW)
Base	TS2000 transceiver (K-type), 10m RG213 feedline, Hy-gain 15.2dBi VB214 yagi	-21.0	34.3
Low loss feedline	replace 10m of feedline with LDF4-50	-20.8	34.7
Preamp at tx	20dB gain, 0.8dBNF preamp at transceiver	-18.6	34.3
Preamp at antenna	20dB gain, 0.8dBNF preamp at antenna	-18.5	34.3
Higher antenna gain	stacked antenna with additional 3dB gain	-18.0	37.3

The "Higher gain antenna" option is the only scenario that provides significant improvement of both transmit and receive performance, and it does it not only more cost effectively, but at lower cost.

This analysis is only valid for the scenarios modelled, and the situation will vary from station to station. Other factors may be relevant or even important in different situations.

The article shows a method for approaching the problem analytically and objectively, discounting low value options, and understanding the value proposition of the higher value options.