BPFs: 10–15–20–40–80–160LPF-160BPF

160M HP LPF comparison (websites can be opened by links):

Insertion Loss 80M Isolation 40M Isolation
VA6AM LPF < 0.11 dB > 67  dB > 86 dB
VA6AM BPF < 0.17 dB > 56  dB* > 100 dB
DXEngineering (LBS) < 0.17 dB > 65 dB > 65 dB
DXEngineering (DX-S) < 0.2 dB > 73 dB > 89 dB
4O3A < 0.35 dB > 60 dB NA

    * – 160M BPF  can be designed and built with more than -60dB attenuation of 80M band

  • This webpage is about 160M low-pass filter (LPF).

The reason to go this way is to fit this filter into a standard size enclosure. The design is LPF with added LC traps for 80 and 40 meter bands.

Recommended BPF Power with antenna VSWR <1.5:

  • 50 CFM fan installed – 2500W CW/SSB (2000W RTTY)
  • Without fan installed -2000W CW/SSB 

Hammond 1444-1773 enclosure can be used :

  • Without Fan – 17″ x 7″ x 3″ (42.5 x 17.8 x 7.6 cm)
  •  With Fan Installed –  17″ x 7.5″ x 3″ (42.5 x 19.5 x 7.6 cm)

Hammond 1411ZU enclosure can be used if more efficient large fan cooling required :

  • Without Fan – 17″ x 4″ x 5″ (42.5 x 10.5 x 12.5 cm)
  •  With Fan Installed –  18″ x 4″ x 5″ (46 x 10.5 x 12.5 cm)

I used Micrometals T200-2 Iron Powder cores for a large coupling coils and this approach allowed me to fit LPF into my desired enclosures.

  • Those coupling coils made on toroids with 2mm copper wire are not under the stress of a large current and can be used up to 3000W of an amplifier output power (At 3000W power level cooling is required).
  • The simulation software shows an acceptable current level in those coils made on Iron Powder cores. The real test confirmed that 160M LPF can be used up to 2500W of output power.
  • Insertion Loss is very low and my test with 1500W of output power without  installed cooling fans showed that nothing overheated and can be used for a higher output power with air cooling.
  • Doorknob capacitors used are in parallel with at least 30KVar of a reactive power and there is no way any HAM radio amplifier can “smoke” them.
  • As always for all my BPFs and Triplexers only high quality ceramic standoffs used.

Please, see 160M LPF in 1411ZU Hammond enclosure below:

160_LPF1

The results I achieved for the 160M LPF:

  • Insertion Loss < 0.1dB
  • Band Isolation ( 80M > 67 dB, 40M > 85dB)
  • VSWR < 1.1 ( Return Loss > 26 dB)

SP5Y_160M

The graph below shows Zs (impedance) and VSWR.

SP5Y_160M_InBand

160M LPF numbers in a smaller 3″ tall enclosure can be found on this web page.