I have to say, TNSTAM is a new one for me...

Sorry, I didn't mean to confuse. Yes, I used the Rotating Arm Kit to make two 5.5 foot radials for a loaded vertical, each radial down -30 degrees from the horizontal.

Your model is what it looks like in reality (obviously with a coil thrown in there from the buddipole kit). The antenna is connected to my radio through 50 feet of RG-213. I also had the antenna analyzer connected through the same coax when testing. I'm guessing that had a bit to do with it, too? Could the 50' of RG-213 cause an impedance transformation like that?

I was just shocked to see 50 + j0 ohms for a shortened vertical at 8 feet. I mean, it's nice (and I know not terribly efficient), but it certainly works.

Thanks for the help. I'm getting deeper and deeper into antennas and trying new things out. I did model the same antenna in cocoaNEC (without the coax) with results I would expect... not what I saw in reality. Hence my massive confusion.

So, I put together a 30m vertical with my Buddipole using the following:

9.5' whip
3 x 22" arms
Red coil #16 tap
2 x 5.5' whips at -30 deg with the RAK

I put the antenna up at 8 feet.

Using my antenna analyzer, I somehow achieved a 50 + 0j ohm (purely resistive) 1:1 VSWR. Just looking at it, I don't see how that's possible... is my antenna analyzer lying to me... or is it PFM?

Thanks guys, that's exactly what I was looking for!

What is the best way to model a raised vertical in cocoaNEC (or EZNEC for that matter), say with 2 or 4 radials up at 8 feet? Create the vertical wire, end feed it with the voltage source, and then create the radials that are not attached to the voltage source? You'd have to separate them so that NEC won't feed the radials, right?

Thanks for any help in advance, I'm still wrapping my head around antenna modeling.

The RIT on the FT-450 is called Clarifier. I have no idea by Yaesu doesn't name it RIT, but take a look at the manual. It's all in there.

Unity drove me away from Ubuntu. I have since converted to a MacBook Pro. I still have Backtrack Linux running in a VM, but that's it. I haven't looked back.

Does anyone know of packet radio software for Mac OSX that you can use with a sound card vice TNC? I'd like to use my Signalink USB and avoid having a hardware TNC. I'm also trying to avoid running software in a VM on Windows. Thank you.

I'm looking at general homebrew and experimentation. Some days I like to mess with oscillators and RF, some days it's microcontrollers and such. I'm just polling the crowd for what you generally think of as must haves. I have a decent kit going already, some of it made up from components from my EE kit from back in college (I hold a BSEE, but I'm not an EE by profession), some I've acquired myself.

Transistors - 2N2222A, 2N3904, 2N3906, 2N3819, MPF102, TIP31A, TIP32A, ZVN2110A
Diodes - 1N270, 1N4004, 1N4148, 1N5231B
ICs - 741, 311, 335A, 386, 555, SA602, a mess of CMOS 4000 series (Logic, PLL, etc)
uControllers - PIC12, PIC16, PIC18, PIC24, PIC32 series (only 1 PIC24 and 1 PIC32)

So I've built up a collection, just from messing around, but I'm lacking some key components (LM324, etc).

I know exactly what you're talking about! I have found when I'm messing with circuits that I never seem to have one critical component. It drives me nuts. I have a decent kit going already, but I'm curious to see what other people suggest or have found in their experience.

What, in your estimation, are the essential components for a home brew electronics component toolbox? I'm talking transistors, diodes, ICs, and other assorted items. Standard value resistors and capacitors are assumed.

There might be some truth to the pawn thing... in Fresno, you can't trade your games at Gamespot on Sundays due to an anti-pawn law on Sundays. Of course, you can go 2 miles down the road to Clovis and do it there. Stupid laws.

LOTW is not frequency specific. It looks at the band and the date/time to make a match. I know this purely because I was worried about that after November SS when I wasn't recording the actual frequency. So, all good there!

Gotcha, I see what you're saying.

W8JX,

I was more comparing it to the AF DSP of the 857/897.

I know it is outside of your current price range, but I have a FT-450D and I love it. It's an all-mode HF/6m 100W transceiver that's very easy to use and has a lot of modern bells and whistles. I was contemplating a FT-897D, but I ended up going with the 450 due to true IF DSP and more modern, updated technology in general. Go play with one if you can.