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Author Topic: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing  (Read 1372 times)

AC2EU

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #30 on: March 18, 2023, 08:17:16 AM »

Some good ideas presented, I like the J-pole antenna for a simple easy antenna with gain over
a 1/4 wave vertical like AC90 suggested.  What ever antenna you decide upon get it outside and up above the metal trailer.  Let us know your progress, we will assist more.  We've all been there.

Bob
K6UJ
it is outside and above my trailer , the PVC pipe i am running it through is installed on the side of my trailer but its above ...it by a couple feet....i am fairly sure I got it connected correctly, but maybe its too close to the metal? I do not know, still learning, just wanting to be able to get on air, while at home.

It would be helpful if you posted the specifics of what you built or reference the other post where you did.
We have no reference point from which to help you.
From what you have shared, all i can tell you is 2 feet off the roof should be sufficient, as 2 meter quarter wave is 19 inches.
Are you in a valley or have obstructions around you?

KD9WOM

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #31 on: March 19, 2023, 01:59:59 AM »

Some good ideas presented, I like the J-pole antenna for a simple easy antenna with gain over
a 1/4 wave vertical like AC90 suggested.  What ever antenna you decide upon get it outside and up above the metal trailer.  Let us know your progress, we will assist more.  We've all been there.

Bob
K6UJ

I took my antenna down and messed with it, and when I got the so 259 almost unscrewed, meaning i was going to disconnect it from the so 239, Indoors, not even outside, I picked up a frequency from a FD that I have programmed. When I had it tightened properly all the way, it wouldn't work at all...its the basic antenna 19 inch radials. but having it not be tightened fully made it work inside ...I wasn't expecting that. now I have to re-solder  the center piece i broke it off lol oops.
it is outside and above my trailer , the PVC pipe i am running it through is installed on the side of my trailer but its above ...it by a couple feet....i am fairly sure I got it connected correctly, but maybe its too close to the metal? I do not know, still learning, just wanting to be able to get on air, while at home.

It would be helpful if you posted the specifics of what you built or reference the other post where you did.
We have no reference point from which to help you.
From what you have shared, all i can tell you is 2 feet off the roof should be sufficient, as 2 meter quarter wave is 19 inches.
Are you in a valley or have obstructions around you?
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KA4WJA

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #32 on: March 19, 2023, 06:21:28 AM »

Aaron,
Sorry to be coming in here late.
And, to be honest, I'm confused by a good deal that is being posted here ----- not sure who is writing what, who is quoting who, who is answering who, who is adding info vs. who is asking for more info, etc. etc... :(

So, I'm just going to proceed on with my best guess, and if I've misunderstood the info posted here then I'll have some egg-on-my-face, but I "think" I'm correct here.  :)

Aaron, it sounds very much like you have a shorted feedline!  Unless the coax has been pinched or cut somewhere, it's highly likely it is a connector issue!
My guess is you shorted-out one (or both) coax connector(s), when assembling them onto the coax.
{It appears that this is what Dale, WB6BYU and Glenn, W9IQ, were also pointing you to?  And, were trying to get some more info from you, as well.}


So, there ya' go....that's my take on this.

And, please when replying / answering / quoting, use care so we can all actually decipher who is writing what, etc.....it will make getting an answer much easier.  :)

73,
John,  KA4WJA
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KD9WOM

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #33 on: March 19, 2023, 12:35:46 PM »

All I know is when I fully connect my connectors to my coax and draw it tight to the SO-239 and coax, it won't work unless I loosen it up, I am going to work on it again today and see if that fixes the problem...could I have bought a bad or just crappy so 239?
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N1AUP

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #34 on: March 19, 2023, 12:47:03 PM »

I have posted about an antenna and that sort of was a bust on trying to make my own, but my question is, that all I have is a Baofeng and the QRZ Explorer 1. relatively small wattage and I live almost 20-30 miles from a repeater, what should I do to actually be able to receive and send communication? I can kind of pick up and hear a little with the rubber ducky but from my metal mobile home area, sending is NOT going to happen. There might be one repeater closer maybe two but I can't call up either with the ducky..HELP! I am getting frustrated as a newer ham! thanks in advance.

I do have an antenna and I did make it myself, but it seems to do worse than the rubber duck ....any antenna advice or whatever would be greatly appreciated.
 and since I don't have anything fancy I am just trying to hit repeaters that are kind of near me, while at home, uhf vhf ...my radios can't do more than that ....will need to upgrade for more...

When we all first started, none of us had any idea what we were doing.  It's how you learn.

If you hit Home Depot, you can buy a length of 1 1/2 and 1 1/4 electrical conduit.  They will telescope inside of each other, and give you a pretty strong, 18 foot mast.  It won't hold up a 5 element tribander for the low bands, but it will hold up most basic VHF / UHF antennas. 

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KD9WOM

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #35 on: March 19, 2023, 01:02:28 PM »

I have posted about an antenna and that sort of was a bust on trying to make my own, but my question is, that all I have is a Baofeng and the QRZ Explorer 1. relatively small wattage and I live almost 20-30 miles from a repeater, what should I do to actually be able to receive and send communication? I can kind of pick up and hear a little with the rubber ducky but from my metal mobile home area, sending is NOT going to happen. There might be one repeater closer maybe two but I can't call up either with the ducky..HELP! I am getting frustrated as a newer ham! thanks in advance.

I do have an antenna and I did make it myself, but it seems to do worse than the rubber duck ....any antenna advice or whatever would be greatly appreciated.
 and since I don't have anything fancy I am just trying to hit repeaters that are kind of near me, while at home, uhf vhf ...my radios can't do more than that ....will need to upgrade for more...

When we all first started, none of us had any idea what we were doing.  It's how you learn.

If you hit Home Depot, you can buy a length of 1 1/2 and 1 1/4 electrical conduit.  They will telescope inside of each other, and give you a pretty strong, 18 foot mast.  It won't hold up a 5 element tribander for the low bands, but it will hold up most basic VHF / UHF antennas.

cool thanks 73
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KA4WJA

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #36 on: March 19, 2023, 08:31:39 PM »

Aaron,
Thank you for the direct info here.

All I know is when I fully connect my connectors to my coax and draw it tight to the SO-239 and coax, it won't work unless I loosen it up, I am going to work on it again today and see if that fixes the problem...could I have bought a bad or just crappy so 239?

This is almost a textbook result of having a shorted-out coax connector.

And, in your case, I'd be looking at the PL-259's on the coax itself, as this is usually where the problem lies.
(although it is possible that you have a faulty SO-239, unless you bought some made-in-China piece off of Amazon, etc., it's more likely the PL-259 to coax connection that is the cause here.)


As I wrote earlier:
<snip>
Aaron, it sounds very much like you have a shorted feedline!  Unless the coax has been pinched or cut somewhere, it's highly likely it is a connector issue!
My guess is you shorted-out one (or both) coax connector(s), when assembling them onto the coax.
{It appears that this is what Dale, WB6BYU and Glenn, W9IQ, were also pointing you to?  And, were trying to get some more info from you, as well.}

So, there ya' go....that's my take on this.

Follow the steps that Dale, Glenn, and the others have been pointing you to....and, I suspect you'll find the bad / shorted connection is no time.  :)
Good Luck!

BTW, no need to go to home depot, nor is there any need to use a nanoVNA, etc....you can "test" your cable, connectors, SO-239, "antenna", etc. for "shorts" and "opens" with a simple ohm-meter / any cheap multimeter....or, you can just have a very close look at them.  :)

Also, no need to worry about your antenna height yet!

Understand that you could just strip-back about 19" of the outer jacket of a piece of coax, peel-down the shield along the jacket below, exposing a 19" piece of center-conductor (and dielectric), make a half-dozen tight turns of the coax approx. where that peeled-back shield stops....plug the other end of the coax into your radio, and you'll receive just fine! 
(and, except for the common-mode on the coax when transmitting, it should work decent as a "coaxial-vertical-dipole"....a temporary / emergency antenna, but one that works in a pinch, and you make with a scrap piece of coax and a knife, in less than one minute...)


Hope this helps?

73,
John,  KA4WJA
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KD9WOM

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #37 on: March 20, 2023, 11:42:51 AM »

thanks John I am reassembling my antenna i broke it haha but getting it back together with a new connector. hope this helps ....it should I believe ... 73
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KD9WOM

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #38 on: March 20, 2023, 07:59:06 PM »

So basically I had done everything correct, it works now, I just have to re solder my center piece and it will go back up where it belongs, I still can't hit everything in 20 mile radius or so but, I can hit more than I could before. Thank you all for baring with me while I figured that mess out....I was maybe a connector 235 or 239 issue most likely. My antenna works now. I think I programed the repeaters correctly lol
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KM3F

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #39 on: March 21, 2023, 03:24:28 PM »

I would highly recommend you consider the purchase of a Colinear vertical with a lot more gain than you now have and get it up at least 20 feet alongside the home for support and feed with LMR 400 Coax.
Good luck.
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KD9WOM

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #40 on: March 21, 2023, 05:05:02 PM »

I would highly recommend you consider the purchase of a Colinear vertical with a lot more gain than you now have and get it up at least 20 feet alongside the home for support and feed with LMR 400 Coax.
Good luck.

thanks 73
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N0GV

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #41 on: March 23, 2023, 11:43:22 AM »

Frankly, with a run of under 30', RG-8X might work better as it is easier to work with than the LMR-400. If you have got to go with the 400 go with the Ultra Flex version or the Belden 9913-flex as the stranded copper center conductor tends to hold up better, long term, than the copper clad aluminum.

Also, inexpensive 2m/440 rigs do exist, as do inexpensive 20 Amp 13.8 V power supplies. Anytone AT-778 on Amazon costs less than $150 and a power supply will set you back about $100.  Alternatively you can buy used on the forum here....

Grover
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KD9WOM

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #42 on: March 23, 2023, 02:49:13 PM »

Frankly, with a run of under 30', RG-8X might work better as it is easier to work with than the LMR-400. If you have got to go with the 400 go with the Ultra Flex version or the Belden 9913-flex as the stranded copper center conductor tends to hold up better, long term, than the copper clad aluminum.

Also, inexpensive 2m/440 rigs do exist, as do inexpensive 20 Amp 13.8 V power supplies. Anytone AT-778 on Amazon costs less than $150 and a power supply will set you back about $100.  Alternatively you can buy used on the forum here....

Grover


learning to solder for the first time, is now my issue I have made an antenna whoop AND that actually sounds nice, something to mark for the future when I have the funds.
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N0GV

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #43 on: March 30, 2023, 12:04:47 PM »

Ahhh, yes my friend Mo --I seem to need him for most things these days..... Mo Money that is! ;)

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K6JH

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Re: Apparently I have no Idea what I am doing
« Reply #44 on: March 30, 2023, 02:07:38 PM »

learning to solder for the first time, is now my issue I have made an antenna whoop AND that actually sounds nice, something to mark for the future when I have the funds.


PL259s are probably not what you want to learn initial soldering skills on as they’re kind of tricky. Plus they require a bigger soldering iron that is not used on little electronic sized stuff. So you might consider spending what little cash you have on a crimp tool instead of a big iron, and use crimp-on connectors.
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73
Jim K6JH
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