Direct Links:  10–15–20–40–80–160 – 3000W Triplexer

The project idea is to design and build a Triplexer with BPFs set for 3000 watt amplifier output power.

  • VC3S claimed the new MS High Power Canadian record in 2016 CQWW RTTY using VA6AM Triplexer and BPFs. Their short story and 3830 Result.
  • NP2N used VA6AM Triplexer with BPFs during 2017 ARRL CW DX contest. Their M/2 category short story and 3830 Result.
  • N5DX, VE2IM (1500W set) and 9M6NA used VA6AM Triplexer + BPFs  with a great scores in SOHP AB category during 2017 CQWW CW. You can find their results at 3830 Score page.
  • CR5E team used a stack of tribanders with a few triplexers and BPFs. This is their 2018 CQWW SSB 3830 result and Filipe  CT1ILT SOAB HP in CQWW CW 3830 result. 

Some short specification of the 3000W set:

  • BPFs are 5th order type  with isolation > – 55dB (mostly better than -60dB)
  • BPFs together with Triplexer  > – 85dB
  • More than -100 dB of isolation between 10 and 20 meter bands (with Triplexer)
  • The Triplexer + BPFs set Return Loss > 25dB
  • The Triplexer + BPFs set Insertion Loss  below  10M – 0.27dB, 15M – 0.45 dB, 20M – 0.38dB

Recommended BPF Power with antenna VSWR < 1.5:

  • With 50 CFM air cooling:   2000W CW/SSB 
  • With 100 CFM air cooling:   3000W CW/SSB  
  • Without fan installed:   1500W CW/SSB PEP

Enclosure is Hammond 1411ZU:

  • Without Fan – 17″ x 5″ x 4″ 
  • With Fan Installed –  18.5″ x 5″ x 4″ 

K8AZ 003

With total band isolation better than -85dB it can be used up to 6000W by Isolation level .  My own “smoke” test done with 3000W. As per my best knowledge, a few 3000W sets used with OM3500 amplifier without issues. 

There is no concern about band isolation level but a Return Loss (VSWR) when all boxes connected together.

It could be a mismatch between Impedances of Triplexer and BPFs in opposite directions which could lead to increased VSWR of the whole system. Something like if you have it 45 Ohms for triplexer and 55 Ohms for BPF the total will brings some increased SWR (lower return Loss).

So, during  a final tuning every box Impedance should be as close to 50 Ohm as possible, something like value between 48 and 52 Ohms is a good result to achieve.

When using Triplexer with connected BPFs I would recommend to use devices below in your station setup:

  • The interlocking system inside your antenna switch to prevent from switching both radios to the same band.
  • Coax cables between Triplexer and BPFs should be as short as possible.
  • The high SWR protection unit. It can be built-in inside your amplifier or it can be a separate SWR/Power meter with PTT control. Something like this one PowerMonitorIII_v4.
  • Antenna switch with 50 ohm load available from KK1L switch PCB (-67dB or better port isolation)  or you can buy a 2×6 switch with interlocking system from RemoteQTH.com (-71dB or better port isolation) .
  • Array Solutions SixPak 2×6 switch can be modified as well to install 50 Ohm loads by installing extra three relays for 10-15-20 meter bands. Please, contact Array Solutions for the solution.

I can say the final result for my high power 3000W set is good. I got more than 10 dB improvements for band isolation compare to 4O3A Triplexer+BPFs set.

All graphs shown below taken using UHF M-M adapter. Please, see diagram.

  • Every unused band port must see a 50 Ohm load for the triplexer best performance and reliability.

Photo below shows how I connected my prototype triplexer with BPFs using M-M adapter. Please, see some Installation options here. BPFs installed vertically and Triplexer is in front of them on a desk/shelf.

triplexer_adapter_007

Below is a graph with measurement of isolation levels between bands. 

VNA was connected to two band ports and measured 10-15, 10-20 and 15-20 band combinations.

  • The Blue line is isolation between 20 and 10 meter bands. It is well below -100 dB isolation level.
  • The Red line is isolation between 10 and 15 meter bands. The 28.9MHz peak is the minimum of -89 dB isolation level.
  • The Green line is isolation between 20 and 15 meter bands. It is better than -93 dB isolation level.

bands-1

20M band BPF + Triplexer (all BPFs attached):

  • Insertion Loss < 0.40dB
  • Band Isolation ( 15M > 95dB, 10M   > 110 dB under VNA noise floor, 40M > 67dB)
  • VSWR< 1.09 (RL > 27 dB)

hp_20

15M band BPF + Triplexer (all BPFs attached):

  • Insertion Loss < 0.45dB
  • Band Isolation ( 20M > 88dB, 10M  > 88 dB)
  • VSWR< 1.09 (RL > 27 dB)

hp_15m_trip_with_bpf

10M band BPF + Triplexer (all BPFs attached):

  • Insertion Loss < 0.55dB
  • Band Isolation ( 15M > 88dB, 20M  > 100 dB)
  • VSWR< 1.1 (RL > 26 dB)

10M_Set

set_test

BPFs connected to the triplexer by M-M UHF adapters without any coax cables in between. This way of connecting provides the most of isolation between any bands. It was less then 10-15 mV (measured by Tektronix oscilloscope) to 15 and 10 meter bands with more than 3000 watts applied to 20M band BPFs in CW mode (as it was connected on the picture above).

All test done using my GS-35B amplifier at power level of 1500 watts and with help of VE6SV on power level of 3000 watts. Gordon has a wonderful MS station setup with everything available for a real testing. Thanks a lot!

  • RX IMD for Triplexer with BPFs connected is better than -20dBm level at any band ports. 

The numbers above are without an antenna switch attached. Please, read a switching consideration here.

  • The power smoke test shows that Triplexer + BPFs design is good at 3000 watt power level to provide a sufficient level of band isolation. Please, see High Power BPF page for some power restrictions.