PreciseRF HG3-plus EXPRESS Manuale utente

User Manual

For the HG3-plus EXPRESS, PRO and QRO models

Magnetic Loop Antenna

Roger M. Stenbock W1RMS

© 2021 preciserf all rights reserved Page 2 of 57 
 
1CONTENTS 
TERMS AND CONDITIONS .................................................................5 
1 15 DAY PRODUCT RETURN POLICY ...........................................5 
2 WARRANTY................................................................................6 
3 CERTIFICATION..........................................................................6 
4 SERVICE .....................................................................................6 
5 REMEDIES..................................................................................6 
6 LICENSES....................................................................................6 
7 GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION..............................................7 
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................8 
1 TUNED CIRCUIT RADIATION......................................................9 
2 MINIMIZING LOSSES..................................................................9 
3 DIRECTIVITY...............................................................................9 
4 CONVENIENT.............................................................................9 
5 LOW NOISE..............................................................................10 
6 EFFICIENCY ..............................................................................10 
7 LIMITATIONS ...........................................................................10 
8 NARROW BANDWIDTH ...........................................................10 
9 CAPACITOR VOLTAGE..............................................................11 
HG3 PLUS MODELS..........................................................................12 
1 EXPRESS MODEL......................................................................12 
2 PRO MODEL.............................................................................12 
3 QRO MODEL............................................................................12 
ASSEMBLY AND DEPLOYMENT........................................................13 
1 THE MAST................................................................................13 
CONNECTIONS.................................................................................15 

© 2021 preciserf all rights reserved Page 3 of 57 
 
1 CONTROLLER CONNECTIONS ..................................................15 
2 RF INTERCONNECTIONS..........................................................16 
3 CONNECTING THE EXPRESS AND PRO ....................................16 
4 CONNECTING THE HIGH POWER QRO ....................................17 
CONTROLS.......................................................................................19 
1 FRONT PANEL..........................................................................19 
OPERATION - EXPRESS AND PRO ....................................................20 
1 INITIALIZING THE TUNER.........................................................20 
2 THE HOME PAGE.....................................................................21 
3 BAND SELECTION ....................................................................21 
4 MODE......................................................................................22 
5 HELP ........................................................................................22 
6 TUNING FOR MAXIMUM NOISE..............................................22 
7 CHECKING THE SWR................................................................22 
8 AUTO-TUNING PRO MODEL ONLY..........................................23 
9 THE SWR BAR GRAPH..............................................................24 
10 80 AND 60 METER TUNING.....................................................25 
THE AR-1 ROTOR.............................................................................26 
1 TURNING THE AR-1 ROTOR.....................................................27 
OPERATION –QRO HIGH POWER ...................................................28 
1 COMPONENTS.........................................................................28 
2 PERMANENT AND PORTABLE MOUNTING CONSIDERATIONS28 
3 ATTACHING THE HG3 QRO TUNER CASE TO THE MAST .........28 
4 INITIALIZING THE TUNER.........................................................29 
5 THE HOME PAGE.....................................................................30 
6 BAND SELECTION ....................................................................30 
7 FACTORY DEFAULT BANDS......................................................31 

© 2021 preciserf all rights reserved Page 4 of 57 
 
8 USER BANDS............................................................................31 
9 TUNING WITH A LINEAR AMPLIFIER CONNECTED ..................32 
10 TUNING FOR MAXIMUM NOISE..............................................32 
11 CHECKING THE SWR................................................................33 
12 AUTO-TUNING FOR LOW SWR................................................33 
13 THE SWR BAR GRAPH..............................................................35 
IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY ...................................................................36 
1 CONFIRM THE RADIO IS RECEIVING........................................36 
2 CONTROLLER CHECK - EXPRESS AND PRO MODEL .................36 
3 CONTROLLER CHECK - QRO MODEL........................................37 
4 MANUALLY RESETTING THE VACUUM CAPACITOR ................38 
5 RF LOOP CONNECTIONS CHECK..............................................38 
6 AUTO TUNE CHECK - PRO MODELS.........................................39 
7 AUTO TUNE CHECK –QRO MODEL .........................................41 
TUNING TIPS....................................................................................43 
PRECAUTIONS .................................................................................44 
SPECIFICATIONS ..............................................................................45 
REFERENCE......................................................................................46 
1 SCHEMATICS............................................................................46 
2 BILL OF MATERIAL...................................................................50 
CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION.....................................................................51 
1 STEPPER MOTOR.....................................................................51 
2 AR1 ANTENNA ROTATOR ........................................................52 
3 SWR BRIDGE............................................................................53 
4 FIRMWARE ..............................................................................53 
 
 

2TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.

PreciseRF makes no warranty of any kind with regard to this material, including but

not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular

purpose. PreciseRF shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental or

consequential damages in connection with the furnishing, performance, or use of this

material.

2.1 15 DAY PRODUCT RETURN POLICY

1) PreciseRF factory assembled products and unassembled kits may be

returned within 15 days after the date of shipment, subject to a restocking

fee. If you have problems getting your PreciseRF kit to work, our support

team will assist you. Contact us at preciserf.com for spare or missing parts.

You can also reach us by phone at (503) 915-2490 Monday through Friday

from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm PST.

2) Products must be returned in new and unused condition in their original

packaging to qualify for a refund. On kits, all kit part’s bags must be

unopened, and the product manuals and boxes must be in a new,

undamaged state. Note: Partially built and completed kits may not be

returned for credit. PreciseRF reserves the right to make the final

determination of returned product condition. Any refunds will be less the

original shipping charges from PreciseRF to the customer. We also charge a

15% restocking fee on each returned product. The restocking fee is higher

for assembled to order products. If a product arrives in a damaged state, we

will either charge a higher return fee or return it to the customer.

3) You must contact PreciseRF for a return authorization form, instructions,

and return address before returning any products. You will be responsible

for paying for your own shipping costs for returning items. If you are

returning an item, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or

purchasing shipping insurance. We do not guarantee that we will receive the

item that you are returning. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you

receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your

refund. Email preciseRF.com or call (503) 915-2490 to authorize a return or

if you have any questions.

4) Late or missing refunds. If you haven’t received a refund, please contact

your credit card company or financial institution. Your refund may take

some time before it is posted to your account. If you still have not received

your refund after contacting your financial institution or credit card

company, please contact us at preciseRF.com.

2.2 WARRANTY

The material contained in this document is provided “as is,” and is subject to being

changed, without notice, in future editions. Further, to the maximum extent

permitted by applicable law, PreciseRF disclaims all warranties, either expressed or

implied, with regard to this document and any information contained herein,

including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for

a particular purpose.

The basic term of the warranty is twelve calendar months from the date of purchase.

The duration and conditions of warranty for this product may be superseded when

the product is integrated into (becomes a part of) other PreciseRF products. During

the warranty period, PreciseRF will, at its option, either repair or replace products

which prove to be defective. The warranty period begins on the date of delivery or

on the date of installation, if installed by PreciseRF.

2.3 CERTIFICATION

PreciseRF certifies that this product met its published specifications at the time of

shipment. PreciseRF further certifies that its calibration was accomplished with

products in accordance with industry acceptable measurement and testing practices.

2.4 SERVICE

For warranty service or repair, this product must be returned to a service facility

designated by PreciseRF. For products returned to PreciseRF for warranty service, the

Buyer shall pre-pay shipping charges and PreciseRF shall pay shipping charges to

return the product to the Buyer. However, the Buyer shall pay all shipping charges,

duties, and taxes for products returned to PreciseRF from another country.

2.5 REMEDIES

To the extent allowed by local law, the remedies provided herein are the Buyer’s sole

and exclusive remedies. PreciseRF shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special,

incidental, or consequential damages (including lost profit or data), whether based

on warranty, contract, tort, or any other legal theory. CAUTION! DAMAGE

RESULTING FROM MISUSE, EXCESSIVE LOAD, WATER INCURSION AND USER

FIRMWARE UPDATES, IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY.

2.6 LICENSES

The hardware and/or software described in this document are furnished under a

license and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such license.

All rights are reserved. Reproduction, adaptation, or translation without prior written

permission is prohibited, except as allowed under the copyright laws.

2.7 GENERAL SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not operate the product in an explosive atmosphere or in the presence of

flammable gasses or fumes. For continued protection against fire, replace any fuse

with the same voltage and current rating and type.

Do not perform procedures involving cover or shield removal unless you are qualified

to do so. Procedures involving the removal of covers and shields are for use by

service-trained personnel only.

Do not service or adjust the product alone. Under certain conditions, dangerous

voltages may exist, even with the product switched off. Do not operate damaged

products. Whenever it is possible that the safety protection features built into this

product have been impaired, either through physical damage, excessive moisture, or

any other reason, REMOVE POWER and do not use the product until safe operation

can be verified by service-trained personnel. If necessary, return the product to

PreciseRF for service and repair to ensure the safety features are maintained.

Do not substitute parts or modify the product. Because of the danger of introducing

additional hazards, do not install substitute parts or perform any unauthorized

modification to the product. For service, return the product to PreciseRF.

3INTRODUCTION

This manual covers the operation, description, and care of the preciseRF HG3

EXPRESS, PRO and QRO Magnetic Loop Antennas (MLA). It was created for

amateur radio, military, and HF operators wanting the performance

advantages of an MLA without its drawbacks.

This manual assumes a rudimentary understanding of radio and electronics

typically acquired by amateur radio operators. For brevity, the HG3 is

referred to as the HG3 EXPRESS, PRO or QRO in this manual.

A magnet loop is not a new antenna. What sets the HG3 MLA apart is how it

addresses many of the magnetic loop antenna’s shortcomings. The result is

the HG3 MLA. It delivers unprecedented capability, performance, and

convenience for a remotely tuned MLA. It uses a proven, accurate and

repeatable stepper motor design. Band selection, remote tuning, including

optional loop rotation, is controlled by a microcontroller driving a high-

resolution stepper motor. An integrated digital SWR bridge allows auto-

tuning based on an SWR scan. This ensures compatibility with most radios.

Manual tuning uses a convenient rotary encoder knob - no more finicky push

buttons. The four-line LCD shows the band selected, SWR, ERP, capacitor

value and more. The bottom line - count on topnotch receiving and

transmitting performance!

3.1 TUNED CIRCUIT RADIATION

An MLA is just an inductor formed by a wire loop with a circumference

limited to less than 10% of a wavelength and a capacitor in parallel tuned to

resonance.

Electrically, it behaves as an inductor

that inductively couples the radio wave

(electromagnetic wave) magnetic field

in the antenna’s near region. In

contrast, conventional monopole, and

dipole antennas couple to the radio

wave’s electric field.

3.2 MINIMIZING LOSSES

To work efficiently, losses must be

minimized. Because of skin effect, the

inductor forming the radiation loop’s (L)

surface area should be high. This decreases series resistive losses. The tuning

capacitor (C) should have a low loss dielectric for low Equivalent Series

Resistance (ESR). This LC circuit must be tuned to resonance at the desired

frequency. At resonance, the MLA exhibits very high Q. As a result, it exhibits

very narrow bandwidth and high voltage (in the kilovolts) across the

capacitor.

3.3 DIRECTIVITY

The MLA has its maximum signal gain in

the plane of its radiation loop, with

nulls broadside to the loop.

3.4 CONVENIENT

It is a compact, lightweight efficient

antenna that's quickly deployable. It is

ideal where an HOA restricts full-size

wire antennas, or where there just is

not enough room to erect a

conventional antenna. Many operators

favor the MLA for Field Day and Summit On The Air (SOTA) operations.

Figure 1 Magnetic Loop Antenna

Figure 2 Directivity

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