Yesterday afternoon I attached the Par-20 end fed antenna to my painters pole up against my house. For the pole support I used a heavy umbrella base and it provided a tight secure fit. One end of the wire with the matching box/connector was hung over a branch of a small maple tree. This setup takes 3-5 minutes tops and provides a stealth approach depending where the support is located.
The 20 meter band was quiet here in N.J. except few a New England stations. I did try for a few dx contacts but my QRP 10 watts SSB could not break into the pile ups.
Overall a fun time playing around with a new antenna configuration.
Building Kits, Small Circuits, & Amateur Radio Stuff!
Showing posts with label Antenna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Antenna. Show all posts
Monday, May 6, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Cold Sunday Mornings
A few items on the to do list for a cloudy chilly 40 F degrees in New Jersey starting with taking a good inspection of my stealth antenna.
Before I even think of applying power to my transceiver using this antenna I always check the SWR with the MFJ-259B analyzer. Well the SWR reading was screaming at a very high reading telling me something is way off when a check was made last night. Almost sounds like a connection is broke, remember this is magnet wire with a air life of a few months at best with the storms, wind, and snow over the past few weeks. A good education guess is I do not have much faith in this antenna just yet.
If my day goes as planned, (which it never does) I have also been tinkering with a small QRP circuit on a wireless bread board. So far the circuit has passed the smoke test but not getting any RF readings at base or collector of the transistor. A few small adjustments might have to be made to get this circuit to oscillate correctly. It would help if I used the exact components listed on schematic, but that is part of the fun in experimenting.
The sun just popped out for a minute or two, looks nice. Would love to get in the car and head to a scenic location and play radio, have not done yet this year. Just scrap my indoor activities and take off, decisions, decisions.
Yes experiencing cabin fever in February, how long until spring?
Before I even think of applying power to my transceiver using this antenna I always check the SWR with the MFJ-259B analyzer. Well the SWR reading was screaming at a very high reading telling me something is way off when a check was made last night. Almost sounds like a connection is broke, remember this is magnet wire with a air life of a few months at best with the storms, wind, and snow over the past few weeks. A good education guess is I do not have much faith in this antenna just yet.
If my day goes as planned, (which it never does) I have also been tinkering with a small QRP circuit on a wireless bread board. So far the circuit has passed the smoke test but not getting any RF readings at base or collector of the transistor. A few small adjustments might have to be made to get this circuit to oscillate correctly. It would help if I used the exact components listed on schematic, but that is part of the fun in experimenting.
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| One Transistor QRP Circuit
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Yes experiencing cabin fever in February, how long until spring?
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Warmer Temps
Besides the bitter cold temperatures this past week not much going on for a late Saturday afternoon. When I mean cold were talking 10 deg. F, you learn to appreciate your car battery in the morning as it turns over and starts up. Today did reach 30 F with the sun shining so it felt nice.
Not much doing on the radio side but depending on the band conditions will try and jump on before dinner and give it my best. This week I did run a radial ground wire 16"6" feet for 20 meters that lowered my standing wave ratio to about 2.9 - 3.0 and let the turner work out the rest. Before the ground wire my SWR was way out of control.
One more ground wire for the 40 meter band is on the to do list for this week, I enjoy the novice hangout and the slower pace of CW.
Lets just say my long wire antenna is a work in progress, always tweaking.
Enjoy your weekend!!
Not much doing on the radio side but depending on the band conditions will try and jump on before dinner and give it my best. This week I did run a radial ground wire 16"6" feet for 20 meters that lowered my standing wave ratio to about 2.9 - 3.0 and let the turner work out the rest. Before the ground wire my SWR was way out of control.
One more ground wire for the 40 meter band is on the to do list for this week, I enjoy the novice hangout and the slower pace of CW.
Lets just say my long wire antenna is a work in progress, always tweaking.
Enjoy your weekend!!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Morning Coffee
Good day to all far & near, enjoy your Sunday.
Once the sky turned dark last night, I did my best 007 and put up my stealth magnet wire antenna. With one side attached to a painters pole on the far end of my small yard, other side attached near my gutter and into the window. James Bond himself would have been proud seeing me up on a ladder in the dark. Would have been interesting if my neighbors peeked out the window to see the show, if I saw someone on a ladder after dark would certainly do a double take.
So far with the new setup I have mixed results, using my Ten-Tec R4020 QRP rig and a tuner having trouble getting a decent low swr an 20 meters. Next up is attaching a small clamp to the heater pipe for a ground.
OK back to some more tweaking and hopefully some contacts later.
Once the sky turned dark last night, I did my best 007 and put up my stealth magnet wire antenna. With one side attached to a painters pole on the far end of my small yard, other side attached near my gutter and into the window. James Bond himself would have been proud seeing me up on a ladder in the dark. Would have been interesting if my neighbors peeked out the window to see the show, if I saw someone on a ladder after dark would certainly do a double take.
So far with the new setup I have mixed results, using my Ten-Tec R4020 QRP rig and a tuner having trouble getting a decent low swr an 20 meters. Next up is attaching a small clamp to the heater pipe for a ground.
OK back to some more tweaking and hopefully some contacts later.
Friday, November 30, 2012
Happy Friday!
This week seemed to fly by considering the two days off last week for the holidays.
On the radio side, tomorrow afternoon will re-string my stealth wire antenna that came down during the nor'easter storm a few weeks ago. The cause was the weight of the snow on the line, not the wind. I am a big fan of magnet wire antennas, mine did stay up and made it through Hurricane Sandy. That is one tough antenna in my book.
Maybe even an hour or so of QRP would be nice this weekend.
Last Friday I picked up a Roku streaming device for my viewing pleasure. A very cool box and a review will follow in the next few days.
T.G.I.F.
On the radio side, tomorrow afternoon will re-string my stealth wire antenna that came down during the nor'easter storm a few weeks ago. The cause was the weight of the snow on the line, not the wind. I am a big fan of magnet wire antennas, mine did stay up and made it through Hurricane Sandy. That is one tough antenna in my book.
Maybe even an hour or so of QRP would be nice this weekend.
Last Friday I picked up a Roku streaming device for my viewing pleasure. A very cool box and a review will follow in the next few days.
T.G.I.F.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Antenna Coupler
In my quest for a better signal and overall low SWR I decided to experiment with a simple antenna coupler.
Straight from the web pages of AA5TB's very fine site, the 40M to 17M End Fed Antenna Coupler.
http://www.aa5tb.com/coupler2.html
A very simple to make coupler requiring only a few components. The only items I need is the polyvaricon variable capacitor and a housing case. I spent sometime going to a few garage sales yesterday looking for old transistor radios to steal the capacitor but had no luck. I have to look around my basement for an old radio. As my wife mentioned why bother going to a garage sale, just head down to the basement. I did not find any humor in that comment. Basements in general are meant to house stuff, old and new.
As for the housing I will pick up something this week. it will be interesting to see the effects of this coupler instead of a ground on my end fed.
The sun just came out and temperatures at 64 F might be a good time for a backyard DXpedition.
Straight from the web pages of AA5TB's very fine site, the 40M to 17M End Fed Antenna Coupler.
http://www.aa5tb.com/coupler2.html
A very simple to make coupler requiring only a few components. The only items I need is the polyvaricon variable capacitor and a housing case. I spent sometime going to a few garage sales yesterday looking for old transistor radios to steal the capacitor but had no luck. I have to look around my basement for an old radio. As my wife mentioned why bother going to a garage sale, just head down to the basement. I did not find any humor in that comment. Basements in general are meant to house stuff, old and new.
As for the housing I will pick up something this week. it will be interesting to see the effects of this coupler instead of a ground on my end fed.
The sun just came out and temperatures at 64 F might be a good time for a backyard DXpedition.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
New Antenna Plus QRP
On Saturday afternoon I decided to go with a ultra stealth mode antenna which is just a roll of Philmore Mfg 30 AWG magnet wire, part number 12-1230.
Total antenna length about 35 feet, one end attached to a fence on the corner of my property with a small plastic bottle cap as an insulator, other end straight up to the second floor window. With the help of the antenna tuner and a good solid ground, this has the makings of an easy end fed wire antenna.
If anyone is looking for a hidden stealth wire antenna, I would recommend magnet wire all the way, appearance with a cloudy background yesterday and bright blue skies today, the wire is almost invisible unless you focus you eyes and look for it (of course I did not have my glasses on). It looks like part of a long spider web from the ground.
Regarding the strength test, time will tell but later this week the call is for rain in the forecast. It will be interesting if its still airborne. The roll of magnet wire consists of over 1,600 feet, so if it comes down it's no big deal, plenty left over to rewire if I have to and it only takes a few minutes.
I was very happy with the results last night on 20 meters, I put my call out to a CQ from Chano, EA8UP and was answered, 10 watts SSB to the Canary Islands, my signal was a 5-4. I was just excited to make the contact.
That made my Saturday big time!
QRP is fun!!
Total antenna length about 35 feet, one end attached to a fence on the corner of my property with a small plastic bottle cap as an insulator, other end straight up to the second floor window. With the help of the antenna tuner and a good solid ground, this has the makings of an easy end fed wire antenna.
If anyone is looking for a hidden stealth wire antenna, I would recommend magnet wire all the way, appearance with a cloudy background yesterday and bright blue skies today, the wire is almost invisible unless you focus you eyes and look for it (of course I did not have my glasses on). It looks like part of a long spider web from the ground.
Regarding the strength test, time will tell but later this week the call is for rain in the forecast. It will be interesting if its still airborne. The roll of magnet wire consists of over 1,600 feet, so if it comes down it's no big deal, plenty left over to rewire if I have to and it only takes a few minutes.
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| EA8UP |
That made my Saturday big time!
QRP is fun!!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Long Wire Antenna
Today was a perfect sunny day with low humidity for a change to enjoy the outdoors with a backyard set up and homebrewed antenna.
I decided to make a quick run to the dollar store for some speaker wire. A 100ft spool of 18AWG costs a few bucks, so much for the dollar store. Hooked up one end to my Mr. Longarm painters pole and about 48 feet of wire attached to a 4-1 LDG balun with another wire attached to my metal 6 foot fence for grounding. My LDG Z11 tuner did the work on 20 and 40 with an swr of 1.5.
The 40 meter band was very quiet on the CW side and had no success with my R40/20 QRP rig. The 20 meter band was better but no takers to my 5W cq call, plus some of those stations were super fast. I needed to make a contact to see if this wire setup would work. Decided to hooked up my FT-857D and jumped on 20 meter SSB and make two contacts with Germany and Spain.
This setup still needs tweaking, maybe putting up the pole support in a corner of yard to get more wire in the air and extending the pole to its max height. The ground is also a very important part so might play around to improve. I always like to try new antennas and setups in general before going to the field.
Still happy with this quick and easy setup.
I decided to make a quick run to the dollar store for some speaker wire. A 100ft spool of 18AWG costs a few bucks, so much for the dollar store. Hooked up one end to my Mr. Longarm painters pole and about 48 feet of wire attached to a 4-1 LDG balun with another wire attached to my metal 6 foot fence for grounding. My LDG Z11 tuner did the work on 20 and 40 with an swr of 1.5.
The 40 meter band was very quiet on the CW side and had no success with my R40/20 QRP rig. The 20 meter band was better but no takers to my 5W cq call, plus some of those stations were super fast. I needed to make a contact to see if this wire setup would work. Decided to hooked up my FT-857D and jumped on 20 meter SSB and make two contacts with Germany and Spain.
This setup still needs tweaking, maybe putting up the pole support in a corner of yard to get more wire in the air and extending the pole to its max height. The ground is also a very important part so might play around to improve. I always like to try new antennas and setups in general before going to the field.
Still happy with this quick and easy setup.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Loops
The magnetic loop antenna has always fascinated me with its small stealth appearance. I have been doing some homework on adding a loop to my assortment of antennas. Plus it would fit in with my small lot in NJ.
The easy way is to purchase one but that comes with a rather large price tag which I would rather not do at this time. The MFJ 1788 Hi Q Loop is $469.00 or the Alex Loop with shipping is $266.00. I have read very good reviews on both.
Which leaves me option B, pick up a capacitor, copper pipe/tubing and make my own. Plenty of information on the web to get me started, if I finish with a working antenna is another story. This will be an interesting warm weather project.
Years ago I picked up a 2M loop for SSB for around $79.00, still have it and works well.
In the meantime here are a few interesting loop links for your reading pleasure.
www.alexloop.com
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1788
http://www.antennex.com/hws/ws0201/nonmag.htm
http://www.aa5tb.com/loop.html
The easy way is to purchase one but that comes with a rather large price tag which I would rather not do at this time. The MFJ 1788 Hi Q Loop is $469.00 or the Alex Loop with shipping is $266.00. I have read very good reviews on both.
Which leaves me option B, pick up a capacitor, copper pipe/tubing and make my own. Plenty of information on the web to get me started, if I finish with a working antenna is another story. This will be an interesting warm weather project.
Years ago I picked up a 2M loop for SSB for around $79.00, still have it and works well.
In the meantime here are a few interesting loop links for your reading pleasure.
www.alexloop.com
http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-1788
http://www.antennex.com/hws/ws0201/nonmag.htm
http://www.aa5tb.com/loop.html
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Indoor Dipole
I was experimenting this afternoon with an indoor dipole made last weekend for 10 meters. This was hung up in the upstairs bedroom of my cape, no attic available but up a decent height on the second story.
So far no contacts for the half hour attempt calling cq with 10 watts SSB. Overall the band seem quite except for 1 or 2 stations. This set up will need some more time before I am satisfied. I also have the option for a indoor Buddi-pole but the reviews are mixed on the Yahoo board, but that will not discourage me from trying it out next weekend.
The outside temps in NJ were at a high of 28 F with a biting wind, so today turned out to be a lazy Sunday.
Anybody have any favorite indoor antennas home brewed they wish to share please let me know. Commercial antennas are an option if the price is right.
So far no contacts for the half hour attempt calling cq with 10 watts SSB. Overall the band seem quite except for 1 or 2 stations. This set up will need some more time before I am satisfied. I also have the option for a indoor Buddi-pole but the reviews are mixed on the Yahoo board, but that will not discourage me from trying it out next weekend.
The outside temps in NJ were at a high of 28 F with a biting wind, so today turned out to be a lazy Sunday.
Anybody have any favorite indoor antennas home brewed they wish to share please let me know. Commercial antennas are an option if the price is right.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Antenna Work
Last week I started playing around with a stealth like antenna set up for the back yard. After doing some research on the world wide web (sounds cool) I picked up a painters pole from the local Home Depot.
Decided to go with the Mr. Long Arm brand 8-23ft light weight extension pole. This pole is very lite, fits into the car for portable use, and seems well made. I started with a 20 meter ham stick, counterpoise wire, and Mr. Longarm attached to my fence. With my Z-11 Pro antenna tuner hooked up to a FT-857D, a few stations were heard across the band. I was not satisfied so I raised the pole up to the full 23 feet and the extra height made a big difference. Another problem is the antenna was mounted very close to my house, a corner spot in the yard more in the open should help the overall performance. More experimenting is needed to get the most out of this set up. Another choice for an antenna is a simple doublet with some speaker wire and a turner.
I see the sun has made its way back to NJ after a week of clouds and rain, after a few morning chores like cutting the lawn, this afternoon I am going to try and get on the air from the yard. If your interested in checking out Mr LongArm here is the link. You have to admit the is a great name, Mr. Long Arm.
http://www.mrlongarm.com/diy-paint.html
Decided to go with the Mr. Long Arm brand 8-23ft light weight extension pole. This pole is very lite, fits into the car for portable use, and seems well made. I started with a 20 meter ham stick, counterpoise wire, and Mr. Longarm attached to my fence. With my Z-11 Pro antenna tuner hooked up to a FT-857D, a few stations were heard across the band. I was not satisfied so I raised the pole up to the full 23 feet and the extra height made a big difference. Another problem is the antenna was mounted very close to my house, a corner spot in the yard more in the open should help the overall performance. More experimenting is needed to get the most out of this set up. Another choice for an antenna is a simple doublet with some speaker wire and a turner.
I see the sun has made its way back to NJ after a week of clouds and rain, after a few morning chores like cutting the lawn, this afternoon I am going to try and get on the air from the yard. If your interested in checking out Mr LongArm here is the link. You have to admit the is a great name, Mr. Long Arm.
http://www.mrlongarm.com/diy-paint.html
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