Rdf products Dfa-1325b2 User manual

RDF PRODUCTS

17706 NE 72nd Street

Vancouver, Washington, USA 98682

Tel: +1-360-253-2181 Fax: +1-360-635-4615

E-Mail: [email protected]

Web Site: www.rdfproducts.com

OPERATOR'S MANUAL

DFA-1325B2 60-1,000 MHz FIXED-SITE

DIPOLE ADCOCK DF ANTENNA

Rev A03/07-15/dfa1325b2_opm_01

Original Writing: October 2013

WARNING

Please comply with the following basic rules of safety and common sense to ensure safe installation

and operation as well as long product service life:

1. LIGHTNING PROTECTION - Lightning strikes can cause death or serious injury to operating

personnel and destruction of equipment if appropriate precautions are not taken. It is essential

that the DFA-1325B2 be installed with the lightning protection precautions discussed in Section

V-G and Appendix C.

2. ELECTRICAL POWER LINES - Never install the DFA-1325B2 in the immediate vicinity of

electrical power lines. If the antenna comes in contact with power lines, death or serious injury

to operating personnel is likely to result. See Section V-H.

3. INSTALLATION ISSUES - The user must provide a mast mount for the DFA-1325B2 as

discussed in Section V. In addition, the user must securely guy the unit for maximum safety.

Please study Section V carefully and take all necessary steps to ensure that the DFA-1325B2

is safely mounted. If there is any doubt regarding the safety of the installation, obtain

professional help as required as per Section V-A.

4. ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) ISSUES -AlthoughallRDF Products DFantennas and

DFprocessors are designed tominimizevulnerability toelectrostatic discharge (ESD) induced

damage, fixed-site DF systems are especially prone to this hazard. Do not connect the DFA-

1325B2 to the DF receiver/processor before studying and complying with the necessary system

grounding and procedural precautions discussed in Section V-I.

5. EXTERIOR WEATHER-SEALING - Sealants have been applied to the DFA-1325B2 exterior to

enhance weather-sealing and prevent water intrusion. For longest product service life, do not

break the integrity of these exterior weather-seals.

Check the RDF Products website at www.rdfproducts.com for updates and bulletins.

Can we improve this manual? Contact us at [email protected] to offer suggestions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION I - GENERAL DESCRIPTION .................................................................. 1

SECTION II - SPECIFICATIONS .............................................................................. 3

SECTION III - PRE-ASSEMBLY INFORMATION .................................................... 5

A. UNPACKING AND INSPECTION ...................................................................... 5

B. EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED ................................................................................... 5

C. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BUT NOT SUPPLIED .............................................. 6

SECTION IV - ASSEMBLY ....................................................................................... 7

A. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 7

B. STEP-BY-STEP ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS ................................................. 8

SECTION V - INSTALLATION ................................................................................. 13

A. GENERAL .......................................................................................................... 13

B. SELECTING A DF SITE ..................................................................................... 13

C. MOUNTING THE MAST SUPPORT PIPE ......................................................... 14

D. INSTALLING THE DFA-1325B2 ON THE MAST SUPPORT PIPE ................... 14

E. ORIENTATION ISSUES ..................................................................................... 16

F. SITE CALIBRATION .......................................................................................... 17

G. LIGHTNING PROTECTION ............................................................................... 19

H. ELECTRICAL POWER LINES ........................................................................... 19

I. ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) ISSUES .............................................. 19

SECTION VI - MAINTENANCE ................................................................................ 21

SECTION VII - SIMPLIFIED THEORY OF OPERATION .......................................... 23

APPENDIX A - INTERFACE CABLE MATING CONNECTOR PIN-OUT ................. 25

APPENDIX B - INTERFACE CABLE EXTENSIONS ................................................ 26

APPENDIX C - MORE ON LIGHTNING PROTECTION ........................................... 28

iii

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Figure 1 - DFA-1325B2 60-1,000 MHz H/Sleeve-Dipole Adcock DF Antenna .. 1

Figure 2 - DFA-1325B2 Major Components ...................................................... 6

Figure 3 - DFA-1325B2 Hardware Close-Up ..................................................... 6

Figure 4 - Inserting the Cable into the Mast ...................................................... 8

Figure 5 - Installing the Mast Flange onto the Main Chassis ............................ 8

Figure 6 - UHF Sleeve-Dipole Array Installation ................................................ 9

Figure 7 - Turnbuckle Fastener Detail ............................................................... 9

Figure 8 - Kevlar Guy Tie-Down Detail .............................................................. 9

Figure 9 - Watson-Watt DF System Simplified Functional Block Diagram ........ 23

Figure 10 - Adcock DF Antenna Azimuthal Gain Patterns ................................... 24

Figure 11 - Interface Cable Mating Connector Pin-Outs ...................................... 25

iv

SECTION I - GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The RDF Products Model DFA-1325B2 is a dual-array VHF/UHF

H/sleeve-dipole Adcock single-channel radio direction finding

antenna covering 60-1,000 MHz in two bands. This rugged,

weather-sealed unit is specifically designed for permanent or

transportable fixed-site DF applications and is readily mast- or

tower-mounted.

BeingofatrueAdcockdesign,theDFA-1325B2avoidstheerratic

performance associated with inferior loop DF antennas and

provides sensitivity and listen-thru capability superior to that of

comparablepseudo-DopplerDF antennas. The DFA-1325B2 has

also been designed for high signal-handling capability for reliable

performance in dense signal environments. It is a particularly

goodchoicefortacticalmilitary,signalintelligence,andfrequency

managementapplicationswhereultra-widefrequencycoverageis

required.

The DFA-1325B2 has been specially designed so that its

performanceisindependent of itssupportingmastortower. (This

isaccomplished with the supplied isolation mast.) This is in sharp

contrast to competing mast-mounted DF antenna designs where

performance is adversely and unpredictably affected not only by

the presence of the mast, but also by changes in mast height.

The DFA-1325B2 directly interfaces with all RDF Products DF

receivers and bearing processors via a single 8-meter interface cable set (routed through the

isolation mast). Custom interface cables with user specified lengths are also available. The

aerialsareremovabletofacilitate storage, transport, and user testing. The isolation mast can

likewise be removed.

The DFA-1325B2 includes a digital “personality module” that reports model number and

frequency coverage information for this DF antenna. When connected to any of the RDF

Products“B”-seriesDFprocessors/receivers(e.g.,theDFP-1000B,DFP-1010B,DFR-1000B,

or DFR-1200B), the DFA-1325B2 automatically reports its model number and frequency

coverageinformation. Thisinformationisthendisplayedsothattheusercaneasilyavoidout-

of-band operation.

Figure 1 - DFA-1325B2 60-

1,000 MHz H/Sleeve-Dipole

Adcock DF Antenna

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NOTES

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SECTION II - SPECIFICATIONS

DF Technique: Single-channel 2-phase Adcock (mixed sense).

Frequency Coverage: 60-200/200-1,000 MHz continuous (two bands).

Bearing Accuracy: 3.0/5.0ERMS maximum; 2.5/4.0ERMS typical (V/UHF; ideal

siting conditions).

Polarization: Vertical.

Output Impedance: 50 ohms nominal.

2nd Order Intercept: +40/+28 dBm typical (V/UHF; referred to sense input).

3rd Order Intercept: +25/+13 dBm typical (V/UHF; referred to sense input).

Required X & Y Axis 1.0 volts p-p (+/-5%), sinusoidal (100-2000 Hz)

Encoding Tone Voltages:

Personality Module: Reports antenna model and frequency coverage information as

300N81 RS-232 data string “DFA-1325B-2, 60-200, 200-1000

<CR><LF>”.

Power Requirements: 11-16 VDC @ 300 mA (negative ground).

Operating Temperature: -40 to +60 degrees C.

Storage Temperature: -40 to +70 degrees C.

Humidity: 0-100%.

Maximum Wind Velocity: 80 mph.

Dimensions: 118.75"x20.75"x20.75"(HxWxD,including5'isolationmast,and

2' stainless-steel mast support pipe).

Weight: 63.5 lbs. (structural weight including main chassis, aerials,

isolation mast, and 8-meter interface cable; excluding 14 lbs.

stainless-steel mast support pipe and external guy lines).

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NOTES

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SECTION III - PRE-ASSEMBLY INFORMATION

A. UNPACKING AND INSPECTION

Carefully examine the shipping carton for damage before it is opened. If damage is evident,

have the carrier’s agent present, if possible, when the equipment is unpacked. If the carrier’s

agent cannot be present, retain the cartons and packing material for the carrier’s inspection

if the equipment is subsequently found to be damaged after unpacking.

Do not use knives or other sharp instruments to remove packing material from individual

items. To facilitate easy unpacking, the packing material protecting these individual items is

secured with easy-to-remove tape where possible.

To ensure that the shipment has been received complete, inventory all items against the

detailed shipping list. If a discrepancy is found, notify us immediately.

Theequipmentwasthoroughlyinspectedandfactoryadjustedforoptimumperformanceprior

to shipment and is ready for immediate use. If evidence of damage during shipment is found,

notify us immediately.

B. EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED

The following equipment is supplied:

1. Main chassis (P/N B325-6002; 1 ea., includes attached ferrite-loaded interface cable).

2. 200-1,000 MHz UHF sleeve-dipole array assembly (P/N S061-6103; 1 ea.).

3. Kevlar guy assemblies (P/N S061-6104; 4 ea., attached to P/N S061-6103 above).

4. DAB-053B aerials (P/N S024-0053; UHF, 5 ea.).

5. DAD-154B aerials (P/N S022-0154; VHF, 8 ea.).

6. 5' isolation mast (P/N S092-6005; 1 ea.).

7. 1.0" long 3/8" dia. 16 tpi stainless-steel anti-rotation bolts (P/N 605-009; 3 ea.).

8. 1.5" long 3/8" dia. 16 tpi stainless-steel bolts (P/N 605-022; 4 ea.).

9. DFA-1325B2 spare hardware kit (P/N B325-3002; 1 pack).

10. 2' long 3" inside-diameter schedule 40 unthreaded stainless-steel mast support pipe

(P/N S092-0002; 1 ea.).

11. Silicone sealant (P/N 701-012; 1 tube, partial).

12. DFA-1325B2 Operator’s Manual (P/N B325-9002; 1 ea.).

Note: Thetubeofsiliconesealantisnolonger. Incurrent-productionunits,allsealing is done

at the factory.

All of the above components are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 below. Refer to these photos

asrequiredtoidentifythesecomponentsduringtheassemblyprocedurepresentedinSection

IV.

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Figure 2 - DFA-1325B2 Major Components

*Note: The 3 anti-rotation bolts (P/N 605-009) are pre-installed in the mast base*

C. EQUIPMENT REQUIRED BUT NOT SUPPLIED

The DFA-1325B2 must be used with an appropriate

RDF Products DF receiver/bearing processor. In

addition,asuitableuser-suppliedmastmountfittingmay

alsoberequiredtomounttheDFA-1325B2asdiscussed

inSectionV. The user must also supply non-conductive

guy lines and associated hardware. Finally, an

extension interface cable may be required if the

standard 8-meter interface cable is insufficiently long to

reach the DF receiver/bearing processor.

Figure 3 - DFA-1325B2 Hardware

Close-up

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RDF Products DFA-1325B2 User manual

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