by the pcc associated with each array element before describing the organization and operation of each pcc with reference to fig2 attention is again directed to the fact that the reference element 0 is connected at node 0 to each of the first level of pccs designated pcc 1 a typical pcc of the first level receives the pilot signal of phase u03c6 1 and transmits the conjugate signal of phase u03c6 1 through diplexers 17 and 18 of the node assembly to which the pcc is connected other pccs at the same level will receive the pilot signal with a phase dependent upon its own position in the array the two diplexers also feed a phase reference regenerator 19 which in turn feeds the phase reference u03c6 o to the next level of pccs it should be noted that each pcc is associated with belongs to a separate node assembly a diplexer is a reciprocal 3 port frequency electronic device which in this application works as follows the signal of one frequency incident on port 1 is coupled to port 2 but not to port 3 simultaneously a signal at a different frequency incident on port 3 is coupled to port 1 but not to port 2 the purpose of the diplexer 17 is to allow a single antenna element to be used both for receiving the pilot signal from and transmitting its conjugate to the station from which the pilot signal emanated the purpose of the diplexer 18 is to allow a single transmission line to be used to receive the phase conjugate u03c6 1 from a remote pcc and to transmit the signal received from the array element to the pcc for that remote.