Comments for K4UPG.COM http://k4upg.com Adventures in Ham Radio QRP Portable Ops! Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:29:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on Mag Loop First Attempt by kmack http://k4upg.com/2009/09/05/mag-loop-first-attempt/comment-page-1/#comment-4410 kmack Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:29:26 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=174#comment-4410 Myles, Thanks so much for the input on this... I think I grasp what you are saying and makes a lot of sense to me. Do you have any write up or photos on the net to help me visualize it a bit better? Would love to see how you have done this in more detail... i.e. lengths for the bands and how you are connecting the capacitor and length of coax. When you say 2 element in series Magloop... are you speaking of two main loops or just the faraday inductor? Very thought provoking and my original loop has been mostly idle and most of my operation is on weekends when I have time to go out in the field portable. 72, Kelly K4UPG Myles,

Thanks so much for the input on this… I think I grasp what you are saying and makes a lot of sense to me. Do you have any write up or photos on the net to help me visualize it a bit better? Would love to see how you have done this in more detail… i.e. lengths for the bands and how you are connecting the capacitor and length of coax. When you say 2 element in series Magloop… are you speaking of two main loops or just the faraday inductor?

Very thought provoking and my original loop has been mostly idle and most of my operation is on weekends when I have time to go out in the field portable.

72,
Kelly K4UPG

]]> Comment on Mag Loop First Attempt by Myles http://k4upg.com/2009/09/05/mag-loop-first-attempt/comment-page-1/#comment-4409 Myles Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:21:52 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=174#comment-4409 Use a Faraday induction loop, the SWR will be 1.1. Use the inner of RG-213 coax and slide it into one tube, this acts a a capacitor. By finding what length is required for a band you are set. I use 3 lengths, 20M 30M and 40M, you could also have anothe cap in the other tube end, and connect the two with a wire link. I am using a 2 element in series Magloop - this halves the cap needed to reach resonance. The Faraday induction loop is never adjusted. The varying cap tunes to loop. I also tape the ends on the coax inner to prevent arcing. Other caps can be made with PET as the dielectric material, soda bottles are made from PET, it will withstand 20KV. I realise this article is in 2009. I make 5 Watt contacts on WSPR at 18,600KM everyday. Use a Faraday induction loop, the SWR will be 1.1.

Use the inner of RG-213 coax and slide it into one tube, this acts a a capacitor.
By finding what length is required for a band you are set.
I use 3 lengths, 20M 30M and 40M, you could also have anothe cap in the other tube end, and connect the two with a wire link.
I am using a 2 element in series Magloop – this halves the cap needed to reach resonance.
The Faraday induction loop is never adjusted.
The varying cap tunes to loop.
I also tape the ends on the coax inner to prevent arcing.
Other caps can be made with PET as the dielectric material, soda bottles are made from PET, it will withstand 20KV.

I realise this article is in 2009.

I make 5 Watt contacts on WSPR at 18,600KM everyday.

]]> Comment on Stubby Index Finger by Mike Weir http://k4upg.com/2011/12/25/stubby-index-finger/comment-page-1/#comment-4284 Mike Weir Mon, 26 Dec 2011 16:05:24 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=973#comment-4284 Hope that finger heals up for you soon so you can get to the kit building!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family. Hope that finger heals up for you soon so you can get to the kit building!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family.

]]> Comment on Breaking News…Grinches ALMOST Stole My Favorite SDR Site by kmack http://k4upg.com/2011/12/22/grinches-stole-my-favorite-sdr-site/comment-page-1/#comment-4256 kmack Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:11:15 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=964#comment-4256 Always good to hear from you Mike! I have had a blast <em>listening to the mail</em> on w4ax.com site. It works pretty well and is in the general area of the SE US so gives me an idea how the bands might be locally. I've wondered if I could use it for a receiver and xmit with my Argonaut on some of the bands that I don't have modules for with my Sierra. Enjoy the site! Merry Christmas too! 72, Kelly K4UPG Always good to hear from you Mike! I have had a blast listening to the mail on w4ax.com site. It works pretty well and is in the general area of the SE US so gives me an idea how the bands might be locally. I’ve wondered if I could use it for a receiver and xmit with my Argonaut on some of the bands that I don’t have modules for with my Sierra. Enjoy the site!

Merry Christmas too!

72,
Kelly K4UPG

]]> Comment on Breaking News…Grinches ALMOST Stole My Favorite SDR Site by Mike http://k4upg.com/2011/12/22/grinches-stole-my-favorite-sdr-site/comment-page-1/#comment-4254 Mike Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:21:26 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=964#comment-4254 Good evening Kelly, up until your blog post I have never heard of W4AX's site and I too live in a very antenna restricted area. I had an SDR (LP-Pan) and it was hooked up to an attic active antenna. Not great but kinda did an ok job. This site in which I am going to look at in detail will be a great help. Good evening Kelly, up until your blog post I have never heard of W4AX’s site and I too live in a very antenna restricted area. I had an SDR (LP-Pan) and it was hooked up to an attic active antenna. Not great but kinda did an ok job. This site in which I am going to look at in detail will be a great help.

]]> Comment on Contest Point Giving for Christmas by kmack http://k4upg.com/2011/12/19/contest-point-giving-for-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-4237 kmack Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:04:43 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=955#comment-4237 I use a slingshot and 1.5 oz fishing sinker. Using an archery reel and some very slick and strong braided fishing line from Cabela's, it slides through pine tar and bark better than monofiliament that I used to use. Then I pull up the wire or a plumbline to use to anchor the line. I can routinely get 50ft height with the slingshot and actually can hit the spot I aim for about 80% of the time now. I have a picture of both of those methods on the blog at http://k4upg.com/2010/03/28/polar-bear-midnight-madness-event-mar-2010/ or do a search on the blog for reel and you'll see it and the End Fed Half Wave tuner that I often use with my reels of wire marked for various bands I operate. To change bands I just drop the antenna, change the length off the reel and pull it back into the air. For 40m I sort of favor the inverted L or V over the long sloper for ease of use. Give it a try if you aren't too close to people, cars or homes that you might hit with a loose sinker. I shoot relatively vertical so it comes down within 25-30 feet of where I am standing but takes some practice to get the feel of it. Get a slingshot with the arm brace which folds up for transport as it helps steady your shot. 72, Kelly K4UPG I use a slingshot and 1.5 oz fishing sinker. Using an archery reel and some very slick and strong braided fishing line from Cabela’s, it slides through pine tar and bark better than monofiliament that I used to use. Then I pull up the wire or a plumbline to use to anchor the line. I can routinely get 50ft height with the slingshot and actually can hit the spot I aim for about 80% of the time now. I have a picture of both of those methods on the blog at http://k4upg.com/2010/03/28/polar-bear-midnight-madness-event-mar-2010/ or do a search on the blog for reel and you’ll see it and the End Fed Half Wave tuner that I often use with my reels of wire marked for various bands I operate. To change bands I just drop the antenna, change the length off the reel and pull it back into the air. For 40m I sort of favor the inverted L or V over the long sloper for ease of use.

Give it a try if you aren’t too close to people, cars or homes that you might hit with a loose sinker. I shoot relatively vertical so it comes down within 25-30 feet of where I am standing but takes some practice to get the feel of it. Get a slingshot with the arm brace which folds up for transport as it helps steady your shot.

72,
Kelly K4UPG

]]> Comment on Contest Point Giving for Christmas by John http://k4upg.com/2011/12/19/contest-point-giving-for-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-4235 John Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:57:27 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=955#comment-4235 How DID you get the wire into the trees? John KK4BOB How DID you get the wire into the trees?

John KK4BOB

]]> Comment on Contest Point Giving for Christmas by kmack http://k4upg.com/2011/12/19/contest-point-giving-for-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-4234 kmack Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:04:20 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=955#comment-4234 Mike, Sorry we didn't connect on the air. Weather has been great and I hope to get back out over the Christmas weekend. Too nice to stay inside especially when the bands are good. I'm warming up my Argonaut 509 for SKN. Hope to hear you on the air. 72, Kelly K4UPG Mike,
Sorry we didn’t connect on the air. Weather has been great and I hope to get back out over the Christmas weekend. Too nice to stay inside especially when the bands are good. I’m warming up my Argonaut 509 for SKN. Hope to hear you on the air.
72,
Kelly K4UPG

]]> Comment on Contest Point Giving for Christmas by kmack http://k4upg.com/2011/12/19/contest-point-giving-for-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-4233 kmack Tue, 20 Dec 2011 20:03:02 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=955#comment-4233 Yes, it was good to connect on the air! Too bad the band was starting to go a bit long and there was a good bit of QRM on you at times, but fun to connect. I also forgot to Grrrrrr to a fellow Polar Bear! Grrrrrr 2x! Merry Christmas! 72, Kelly K4UPG Yes, it was good to connect on the air! Too bad the band was starting to go a bit long and there was a good bit of QRM on you at times, but fun to connect. I also forgot to Grrrrrr to a fellow Polar Bear! Grrrrrr 2x! Merry Christmas!
72,
Kelly K4UPG

]]> Comment on Contest Point Giving for Christmas by Greg http://k4upg.com/2011/12/19/contest-point-giving-for-christmas/comment-page-1/#comment-4231 Greg Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:50:29 +0000 http://k4upg.com/?p=955#comment-4231 Kelly, I enjoyed the Sierra to Sierra contact with you on 40 meters N4KGL Kelly,

I enjoyed the Sierra to Sierra contact with you on 40 meters

N4KGL

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