Measuring ICE Bandpass Filter
Today, I had the possibility to measure the performance of the well known ICE bandpass filters. Read more about the measurement results…
Introduction
A set of bandpass filters are a necessary in a multi signal environment. Almost all contesters have already experienced the problems of signal distortion in a multi transmitter environment. Luckily bandpass filters help us to reduce the interferences between various transmitters.
Today there are bandpass filters available from:
- Industrial Communication Enigneers (ICE)
- Dunestar
- Array solutions
- 4O3A Contest Resort
- Wolfgang Wippmann (DG0SA)
A good construction manual of a 6 / 9 band filter set can be found on the website of the Bavarian Contest Club.
Measurement setup
As usually I used my “poor man’s” Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) from TAPR / Tentec.
In all diagrams S21 (forward transmission) and S11 (reflexion / impedeance matching) were measured. The schematic and the picture below show the measurement setup.
Measured band: 160m (1,8 MHz)
Download this measurement plot in high resolution: ICE Bandpass Filter 160m
Measured band: 80m (3,5 MHz)
Download this measurement plot in high resolution: ICE Bandpass Filter 80m
Measured band: 40m (7,0 MHz)
Download this measurement plot in high resolution: ICE Bandpass Filter 40m
Measured band: 20m (14,0 MHz)
Download this measurement plot in high resolution: ICE Bandpass Filter 20m
Measured band: 15m (21 MHz)
Download this measurement plot in high resolution: ICE Bandpass Filter 15m
Measured band: 10m (28 MHz)
Download this measurement plot in high resolution: ICE Bandpass Filter 10m
Measured band: filters deactivated (transmission loss)
Download this measurement plot in high resolution: ICE Bandpass Filter deactivated
Conclusions
The filters are well adjusted and perform as expected. Please note that on higher frequencies (15m and 10m) the transmission losses increase. If you don’t really need the filter on this band you should turn it off in order not to waste these 1,5 – 2dB!
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