RADIO DIRECTION FINDING APPLICATIONS LITERATURE & SOFTWARE

RDF Products publishes a variety of applications literature both to aid users in their selection of new radio direction finding products as well as to help users more effectively deploy and operate their existing radio direction finding equipment:  

Web Notes:  Web Notes are short papers covering topics of general interest to DF users.  These papers are written in an easy-to-read format for users more focused on the practical (rather than theoretical) aspects of radio direction finding technology.  These Web Notes (listed below) are published in Adobe Acrobat PDF format for convenient download:

WN-001 - Questions & Answers:  A User's Guide To Radio Direction Finding Basics (B01-50k)

WN-002 - Basics of the Watson-Watt Radio Direction Finding Technique (B01-388k)

WN-003 - Questions & Answers:  A User's Guide To Radio Direction Finding Receivers And Bearing Processors (B01-39k)

WN-004 - A Comparison of the Watson-Watt and Pseudo-Doppler DF Techniques (B01-61k)

WN-005 - Questions & Answers:  A User's Guide To Radio Direction Finding System Bearing Accuracy (B01-187k)

WN-006 - Questions & Answers:  A User's Guide To Radio Direction Finding System Sensitivity (B01-265k)

WN-007 - Questions & Answers:  A User's Guide To Using Loop Versus Adcock Radio Direction Finding Antennas (B01-97k)

WN-008 - Questions & Answers:  A User's Guide To Radio Direction Finding Antenna Selection (A02-608k)

WN-009  - Questions & Answers:  Selecting the Right DF Receiver/Processor (A01-525k)

Application Notes:  RDF Products also publishes Application Notes to help illuminate various aspects of radio direction finding technology.  These papers are more formal and detailed, covering radio direction finding topics in greater depth than the shorter and less technical Web Notes listed above.  These Application Notes (listed below with a brief synopsis) are published in Adobe Acrobat PDF format for convenient download:

AN-001 - A User's Guide:  How To Shop For A Radio Direction Finding System (March 2000).  A "must read" for the serious DF system user.  This paper helps the prospective buyer untangle the mysteries of the DF equipment selection process so that informed and cost-effective purchasing decisions can be made.  Topics include budgetary considerations, fundamental DF system configurations, mobile versus fixed-site DF systems, attributes of professional-quality DF systems, plus evaluating and dealing with the DF equipment vendor.  (B03-1,388k)

AN-002 - A Comparison Of Loop And Adcock Antennas For Single-Frequency Fixed-Site Radio Direction Finding Applications (June 1994).   Discusses the relative merits of Adcock and loop DF Antennas for fixed-site radio direction finding applications using a 30 MHz installation as an example.  Illustrates in detail the inferiority of both ferrite and brass loops with respect to Adcocks in terms of both bearing accuracy and sensitivity.  (C01-459k)

AN-003 - Measuring Bearing Accuracy Of Mobile Adcock Radio Direction Finding Antennas (October 1994).  Provides an in-depth discussion of the concepts and principles underlying radio direction finding system bearing accuracy measurement.  Also discusses techniques and procedures that technical users can refer to as guides for conducting their own bearing accuracy tests.  Offers important insights as to how to interpret manufacturers' bearing accuracy specifications, as well as how to avoid "specsmanship" traps.  (C01-1,131k)

AN-004 - Measuring Sensitivity Of Mobile Adcock Radio Direction Finding Antennas (January 1995).  Provides an in-depth discussion of the concepts and principles underlying radio direction finding system sensitivity measurement.  Includes detailed information that technical users can refer to for constructing their own reference antennas and test ranges.  Offers important insights as to how to interpret manufacturers' radio direction finding sensitivity specifications, as well as how to avoid "specsmanship" traps.  (C01-1,588k)  

AN-005 - An Introduction To Dipole Adcock Fixed-Site DF Antennas (December 1999).  Provides an in-depth discussion of the philosophy underlying dipole Adcock DF antennas for mast-mounted fixed-site applications. Explains the reasons for the vast superiority of dipole Adcocks over elevated ground-plane monopole Adcocks. Discusses the serious problems associated with the presence of the support mast for dipole Adcocks and how RDF Products has overcome them.  (B05-1,064k)

AN-006 - An Introduction To 8-Element Adcock DF Antennas (May 2016).  Provides an in-depth discussion of the history, technology, and application of 8-element Adcock DF antennas.  Explains the underlying reasons for their ability to cover much wider frequency ranges than 4-element Adcocks, but also their limitations.  Discusses their favorable characteristics for HFDF applications.  (A01-928k)

Software:  RDF Products applications software is available for convenient download:

DefCon2b - DefCon2b DF Processor/Receiver Controller Program (Zipped format).  This software is a Windows graphical user interface program for the RDF Products DFP-1000B and DFP-1010B DF bearing processors and selected host receivers, providing simultaneous control of both the DF processor and host receiver in a tightly integrated, intuitive, and unified format. (V1.6.15-4,551k)

DefCon2RX - DefCon2RX Remote Display Program (Zipped format).  This software is a Windows graphical user interface program for the RDF Products DFP-1000B and DFP-1010B DF bearing processors that serves as a "receive-only" remote display program. (V1.0.1-1,547k)

2577-Axim X5 - DF Software for the Dell Axim X5 PDA (Zipped Format).  The X5 PDA is used as the bearing display in DFP-1000B DF processors S/N AB234 and below.  Use these files to install or reinstall the DF software into the X5 as required.  (593k)

2577-Axim X51 - DF Software for the Dell Axim X51 PDA (Zipped Format).  The X51 PDA is used as the bearing display in DFP-1000B DF processors S/N AB235 and above.  Use these files to install or reinstall the DF software into the X51 as required.  See Appendix O of the current DFP-1000B Operator's Manual for instructions.  (1,741k)

Publications CD:  All of RDF Products publications are available on its Publications CD.  The documents available on this CD include Product Data Sheets, Operator's Manuals, Web Notes, Application Notes, User Functional Test Procedures, and Service Bulletins.  These documents are all published in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.  Product photos are also included in JPEG format.  To obtain a copy of this Publications CD at no charge, please fax a request printed on company letter-head to RDF Products at +1-360-635-4615.

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