I have built a NorCal 40 kit and have installed it inside an Altoids tin can.  I have the 12V power leads coming out one end of the can and the antenna leads coming out the other end.  The antenna leads are simply 22 gage speaker wire and they are about 12" long.  I plan on using a dipole for my antenna but I can't determine the best way to feed it.  What kind of feedline will work considering I have to initially connect it to 12" of speaker wire?

Thanks!

Oops.  70 MHz.  My bad.

Thanks for all the replies.  I knew this forum would be the place to go.  I'll definitely read the links.  I'll update this thread as I discover new issues on this.  Thanks again!

Mike

I work as a commercial lighting designer (you know...street lights, parking lot lights, etc...) and from time-to-time I have issues with a new luminaire design producing EMI.  All of my designs use electronic drivers / components (no more magnet based transformers) to supply power to the light source.  This one particular fixture is giving me trouble with EMI.  The test results indicate that the fixture failed because it was 20 Dbi over the limit at 70 Hz.  Now, I've built a few antennas in the past and have always used shielded feed lines to prevent signal loss and EMI in the shack but shielded power supply lines (aka feed lines) are not used in the commercial lighting market.  Basically, I'm supply high frequency power to a load via unshielded cables and they are radiating!

So...my question isn't really how to stop the EMI because I have a team of electronics engineers helping me there.  My question is this; is the EMI I am seeing due to the fact that the frequency is at some harmonic of wire's length used to supply power from the driver to the source OR does EMI radiate even at non-harmonic lengths.

Thanks!

Mike

Turned out to be a volume control issue.  I have it up and running now with no issues. I made screenshots of all my settings just in case I forget again.  Can share if needed.

Thanks for all the replies.  I use Ubuntu as my main operating system so I'd really like to get this up and running again just as before.  Puppy Linux is a good answer but not what I need for a permanent solution.

@Michael VE3WWB,

I tried shooting you an e-mail but it bounced back.  Said it was a permanent failure...
Thanks for the offer of help.  Like I said, I had all this working before but I just can't seem to get it working again.  Some screen shots of your configuration screens would be fantastic.  Also, did you use HamLib for rig control?
My e-mail is <<ke5hjo at arrl dot net>>

I had all this working once upon a time but now nothing is working.  Can't control the rig, rig won't transmit, fldigi doesn't see the rig.  I'm very confused and frustrated.  So, any takers out there want to help me set this up again?

Rig = FT-897d
Interface = SignaLink USB
Software = fldigi

Thanks!

Next time, try 3M VHB Tape
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/VHB/Tapes/Solutions/Markets-Applications

Works great.  Car manufacturers use it to stick the decals/emblems onto the outside surfaces of the car so you know this stuff is weather proof.

I will soon have several cars in my family.  The wife's, kids', mine...etc.  I would like to put a simple APRS system in each car but was wondering if that is legal or not.  Do they have to be Hams in order to have APRS in the cars they drive?

Tks!

That was easy.  Thanks!

Now, is there a common frequency where folks sending and receiving files can be found?

Is it possible to send an Excel spreadsheet to someone using digital modes on HF?  If so, how?  What mode is best?  How do I select the file for sending?

I'm using fldigi http://www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.html and an FT-897D rig.

Thanks!

Mike

I found the problem.  For some reason, the software lost my configurations that specified which usb port my rig was connected to.  Go figure.

73

Hello,

I've been using fldigi all day without issues but now, recently, I'm getting this error message when I launch it:

E: init_stream: Could not find device "", using default device

The displayed frequency is correct (compared to my FT-897D) but the waterfall is not working.  I can transmit but it seems I'm unable to receive although I can hear the signals.

I am using:
Ubuntu 8.10
Signalink USB
FT-897D
fldigi 3.12

Any help is appreciated.
73
Mike

Thank you all for the great list of suggestions.  I believe I will end up using Coax since the amount of ladder line I have will not make the distance.  

Just as a quick test, I took a 1/4 wave mobile and mounted it on that sheet metal plate and was able to make contact to one of the repeaters on my list.  I'm not sure why I can't hit the others...maybe it is because the antenna in in the attic and not outside on the roof.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

Mike

I'm going with Kenworth (big rig).

I want to install a good VHF antenna for my home QTH for local 2M repeater coverage.  I want the antenna to be external to my home, lightning protected, discrete, and cheap (still waiting on my stimulus package).  The feedline distance will be 50 Ft or less.

I have the following supplies on hand:

20 Ft of 450 Ohm ladder line
Several lengths of various wires
Electrical connectors
5 Ft long aluminum rod, 1'4" diameter
4 Ft x 4 Ft piece of sheet metal
String and zip ties abound.

So...what kind of antenna can I build and how do I feed it?  

Mike