Hi, I read somewhere that you don't really need to isolate your radio from the pc and can simply connect the leads straight up? Can someone let me know if this is right or wrong?


Many thanks Carl.

Hi, I have a problem with my power supply!

When I key my radio (FT-840) the current needle drops and turns the radio off! It was fine before btw.

Something must have died in the power supply and wont allow the correct current draw? Voltage can be set to 13.8.

I have already tested the radio on another power source and all was fine also the swr is fine to.

Thanks Carl.

Hi, Have been looking at the multi band vertical antennas like this one on ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SE-X80-VERTICAL-HF-RADIAL-FREE-ANTENNA-80-TO-6-METRES-/320946478404?pt=UK_Mobile_Phones_Communication_Radio_Antennas&hash=item4ab9e69d44

Is this just a CB silver rod with a 9.1 unun stuck to the bottom? It is around 18ft which is about the right size to. I use a 9.1 unun with a 10m windsock.

Carl.

Hi, I'm looking at buying a Hand held HF SSB Receiver to take with me on my travels, Any ideas which is the best to buy?

I have been looking at the Icom IC-R20 which seems to be up there!

Thanks Carl.

Hi, I am wanting to construct a Magnetic loop for HF and have a few questions.

1. Does it matter if the loop is square as I will be using a wood frame and copper wire ( My old MW Receiving loop will be used)

2. And if the main loop is square should I have the smaller loop circular?

3. Does the size of the loop matter? My frame is around 83cm2 but I can increase the size if needed.

4. I'm going to be using a 2 gang 490/500pf tuning capacitor using just the 500pf side is this recommended?

I understand the coupling loop should be 5 times smaller then the main loop. Also it will be used for SWL but perhaps some QRP later.

Thanks Carl.

Hi, I currently have a random wire up in an inverted L, It goes from a 9.1 unun up parallel with my house and across my garden to a small tree the approx length is 50ft, at the unun is a small ground system and the antenna is fed with 50 ohm coax into my house to help reduce noise!

I use this antenna to SWL on as much of the HF spectrum as possible, but I cant get any more length without bending the wire in a right angle to another small tree which would give me another 20ft.

My question is would I be better sticking with what I already have or would the extra 20ft despite being bent 90 degrees be a better antenna?

Thanks Carl M6CLS.

As I said above + check out the latest solar forecasts vs last couple weeks.

Carl.

Ok I ordered 50m of Figure-8 from ebay already but I am now convinced (especially without a analyser) that the 4.1 balun and single wire is the way forward! So looks like I will be buying extra cable lol. The main reason is Because The cable I bought is 42 strand with 0.15mm each but the pdf I am going off says 42 strand 0.20mm so clearly there will be a difference between the shorting distance due to the cable size difference.

Thanks guys Carl M6CLS.

Solar activity has been very low this past week and the sfi down to 121 whereas the weeks before up at 160+ this will be a big factor in the propagation for 10m.

Carl.

A very interesting read there Steve thanks. On the original cobweb I see some break into the twin wire halfway down each leg and twist and solder it together but others on the web simply join the ends of each leg together, Is there any reason for this change?
The Idea of a single wire does look good though.

Thanks Carl.

Hi, I am about to start building a cobweb once I get the rest of the bits together, I don't have a antenna analyser so i'm wondering if anyone with experience with them can give me any tips? Such as spacing and how far out the junction box should be on the leg? That kind of thing.

Thanks Carl.

Ok thanks guys,

I have no access to a Analyser sadly.

Would you say in this case I may be better with the wire coming straight down the pole?

Thanks Carl.

Btw the antenna is ground mounted!

Hi, I have built a Helically wound vertical using a 10m telescopic fibreglass pole and a 9.1 unun at the bottom with several lengths of counterpoise dug under my lawn. Now my question(s) is...

Is a 9.1 unun be the best choice or should I be using something else? Like a 4.1 unun or some say a balun but this being a unbalanced antenna surely needs a unun. Btw I know a tuner at the feedpoint would be best but I dont want to pay that much as this is a cheap build antenna and I intend to keep it that way :-)
Also I made the antenna Helically wound to fit a longer length of wire on the 10m pole for better results with 80m to. Now I'm not to fussed about loosing that gain on 80m if it means loosing some of the winds on the pole to better suit 40-20m? Or will this not affect these band at all?

Sorry if the questions sound a it obvious but this is a bit of a learning curve for me!

73s Carl M6CLS.