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Re: POC: CECV2 using an OEM V6 TFT display...

 

Small update here. Learning curve pretty steep, but making good progress on replacing the Nextions with tft displays like the one shipped with V6. (See photos below). The most difficult part of the effort is getting the tft_espi library to work correctly. Works fine on my Teensy boards, but running into an issue on the Pico Raduino versions that I need to sort out.

Notice the last photo with my fat fingers. To options options, band store/recall memory, CW settings, etc., you will just slide the screen left. I like this approach better than all the "hidden buttons" that switched screens in the original Nextion based design. Performance is good too.

73
Mark


--
AJ6CU/7
KD8CEC 2.0, Nextion Screens,? and open source uBITX Raduino boards for Arduino IOT, BLE, RP2040, Teensy 4.0, and Raspberry Pi Pico
https://github.com/aj6cu


Re: Sbitx Amplifer Relay Output

 

More power to you, Dave!!? ?One of our local hams is losing her sight also.? ? We all slowly decay....such is life.? ?Congrats on the fun that you are having!!!? ?I hope you find an amplifier and that people give you a bit of a hand in making it work!

Gordon KX4Z


Re: Sbitx Amplifer Relay Output

 

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Gordon KX4Z:

I use to have a HW 100. That was back in the 1980. Then I move up to a Drake TR 7. Not sure what happen with it from my many moves. The Ubitx V6 with Reed B N’s accessible firmware is my path back to the HF bands. As a Blind individual, its nice having an affordable HF rig that I don’t have to adapt myself to it. ??

One day I hope to purchase a HF amplifier for use with my Ubitx V6. Eventually, I will need to seek assistance in making miner modifications to my Ubitx.?

Thank you For your Info Reply:

73 Dave WD8AJQ
???
SE?

On Nov 25, 2023, at 11:43?PM, Gordon Gibby <docvacuumtubes@...> wrote:

?
There is a good?likelihood that? in the past I have also fired up the SB-200 with output from a uBitx, but I'm so busy with so many pursuits it has been a looong time since I worked with a ubitx.? ?The principle should be the same -- avoid using analog voltages that have anything?at all with amplifying stages to control output, instead take digital outputs from the arduino, buffer with a MOSFET or something, control an optoisolator for further separation.

I think the gain of a lot of older amps is about 7dB.? ?However,? I *do* remember one experiment where I drove the grid of a 6146 inside a HW-100 with the output from a ubits....I used a swamping resistor on the grid and I think I used a 49:1 transformer to increase the voltage from the ubitx to drive the grid and wow!? ?I? could get close to 90 watts or more output.? ? Back then I did not have a spectrum analyzer?but I would bet it was pretty clean anyway since the HW-100 has tuned pi network for output.

Lots of cool things you can do once you have a little RF with which to work!

Gordon KX4Z


On Sat, Nov 25, 2023 at 11:03?PM David Barber <wd8ajq@...> wrote:

Gordon KX4Z:?

Was wondering, did you just use you Sbitx with the SB 200 or did you also use the Ubitx?
73 Dave WD8AJQ
?

SE?

On Nov 24, 2023, at 12:32?PM, Gordon Gibby <docvacuumtubes@...> wrote:

?
First effort at a better amplifier relay control output.? ?
Previous work with an older vacuum tube SB-200 amplifier consistently showed the tuned circuits in the amplifier actually improved the signal!? (With the amplifier, you can get 200-300 or so watts output.? ?There is no need for ALC from the amplifier, because full output from the sBITX simply isn't enough to saturate the SB-200 amplifier.? ?The same sort of result should generally apply with commercially provided 811A or 3-400Z 3-500Z etc amplifiers.? ? This will likely also work with solid state amplifiers, but those don't provide much in the way of signal "cleanup," like the older vacuum tube amps with their tuned circuits do!? ??

However, learned the hard way NOT to use the switched +12V analog since this is involved in small signal stage power....
Much safer to utilize the digital TX signal from the Raspberry Pi.? ?However, this is a modest current +3.3V output.??
To avoid significant loading on this signal, used a 2N7000 enhancement mode N-channel MOSFET (same idea as Ashhar's design uses repeatedly) to turn on current through a commercially available optocoupler PC817 available as a small breakout board from Amazon:? ?

This optocoupler doesn't have much "gain".
The typical modifified SB-200 with solid state input (instead of the high voltage -170VDC input that would destroy most newer transcerivers if connected by the unwary ham!) -- open circuit relay voltage of 1.58 V, and short circuit current of 4.8 mA.? ?Most of that current is required to turn on the T/R relay in the SB-200.

I changed the 1000 ohm resistor in the breakout board to a 200 ohm so it could be driven by a 5V supply with about 10mA -- so that the output optotransistor can conduct 5 mA without any problem.

Tapped into signals:
TX Digital -- pin 5 of an IC controlling the relays
Ground -- pin 8 of the same IC
+5.1 VDC -- scraped the +5V trace to gain this voltage, soldered.

Haven't fully tested, but it does go ON and OFF properly and it did positively and correctly control the T/R relay system in my SB-200.? (Remember:? this has a SOLID STATE MODIFIEED input)

<Schematic1.jpg>




<IMG_4047.JPG>
<IMG_4046.JPG>
<IMG_4045.JPG>
<IMG_4044.JPG>



There is less room available in the harrdware of the V2,, so this breakout board idea may have to be disassembled a bit, but the basic idea should still work.? ?Will test this more thoroughly to verify spectrum is unaffected and operation OK with full RF flowing.? ? Those tests haven't been done yet.

73
Gordon KX4Z


Re: Sbitx Amplifer Relay Output

 

I'm pretty sure that Allison gave me some pointers on how to connect to the 6146 grid.? ?I would hazard a guess at a 2K-4K swamping resistor on the grid, and a 49:1 transformer feeding it from 50 ohm output of qrp radio.? ? ?It might still be somewhere on this site.

Gordon KX4Z


On Sat, Nov 25, 2023 at 11:44?PM Gordon Gibby via <docvacuumtubes=[email protected]> wrote:
There is a good?likelihood that? in the past I have also fired up the SB-200 with output from a uBitx, but I'm so busy with so many pursuits it has been a looong time since I worked with a ubitx.? ?The principle should be the same -- avoid using analog voltages that have anything?at all with amplifying stages to control output, instead take digital outputs from the arduino, buffer with a MOSFET or something, control an optoisolator for further separation.

I think the gain of a lot of older amps is about 7dB.? ?However,? I *do* remember one experiment where I drove the grid of a 6146 inside a HW-100 with the output from a ubits....I used a swamping resistor on the grid and I think I used a 49:1 transformer to increase the voltage from the ubitx to drive the grid and wow!? ?I? could get close to 90 watts or more output.? ? Back then I did not have a spectrum analyzer?but I would bet it was pretty clean anyway since the HW-100 has tuned pi network for output.

Lots of cool things you can do once you have a little RF with which to work!

Gordon KX4Z


On Sat, Nov 25, 2023 at 11:03?PM David Barber <wd8ajq@...> wrote:

Gordon KX4Z:?

Was wondering, did you just use you Sbitx with the SB 200 or did you also use the Ubitx?
73 Dave WD8AJQ
?

SE?

On Nov 24, 2023, at 12:32?PM, Gordon Gibby <docvacuumtubes@...> wrote:

?
First effort at a better amplifier relay control output.? ?
Previous work with an older vacuum tube SB-200 amplifier consistently showed the tuned circuits in the amplifier actually improved the signal!? (With the amplifier, you can get 200-300 or so watts output.? ?There is no need for ALC from the amplifier, because full output from the sBITX simply isn't enough to saturate the SB-200 amplifier.? ?The same sort of result should generally apply with commercially provided 811A or 3-400Z 3-500Z etc amplifiers.? ? This will likely also work with solid state amplifiers, but those don't provide much in the way of signal "cleanup," like the older vacuum tube amps with their tuned circuits do!? ??

However, learned the hard way NOT to use the switched +12V analog since this is involved in small signal stage power....
Much safer to utilize the digital TX signal from the Raspberry Pi.? ?However, this is a modest current +3.3V output.??
To avoid significant loading on this signal, used a 2N7000 enhancement mode N-channel MOSFET (same idea as Ashhar's design uses repeatedly) to turn on current through a commercially available optocoupler PC817 available as a small breakout board from Amazon:? ?

This optocoupler doesn't have much "gain".
The typical modifified SB-200 with solid state input (instead of the high voltage -170VDC input that would destroy most newer transcerivers if connected by the unwary ham!) -- open circuit relay voltage of 1.58 V, and short circuit current of 4.8 mA.? ?Most of that current is required to turn on the T/R relay in the SB-200.

I changed the 1000 ohm resistor in the breakout board to a 200 ohm so it could be driven by a 5V supply with about 10mA -- so that the output optotransistor can conduct 5 mA without any problem.

Tapped into signals:
TX Digital -- pin 5 of an IC controlling the relays
Ground -- pin 8 of the same IC
+5.1 VDC -- scraped the +5V trace to gain this voltage, soldered.

Haven't fully tested, but it does go ON and OFF properly and it did positively and correctly control the T/R relay system in my SB-200.? (Remember:? this has a SOLID STATE MODIFIEED input)

<Schematic1.jpg>




<IMG_4047.JPG>
<IMG_4046.JPG>
<IMG_4045.JPG>
<IMG_4044.JPG>



There is less room available in the harrdware of the V2,, so this breakout board idea may have to be disassembled a bit, but the basic idea should still work.? ?Will test this more thoroughly to verify spectrum is unaffected and operation OK with full RF flowing.? ? Those tests haven't been done yet.

73
Gordon KX4Z


Re: Sbitx Amplifer Relay Output

 

There is a good?likelihood that? in the past I have also fired up the SB-200 with output from a uBitx, but I'm so busy with so many pursuits it has been a looong time since I worked with a ubitx.? ?The principle should be the same -- avoid using analog voltages that have anything?at all with amplifying stages to control output, instead take digital outputs from the arduino, buffer with a MOSFET or something, control an optoisolator for further separation.

I think the gain of a lot of older amps is about 7dB.? ?However,? I *do* remember one experiment where I drove the grid of a 6146 inside a HW-100 with the output from a ubits....I used a swamping resistor on the grid and I think I used a 49:1 transformer to increase the voltage from the ubitx to drive the grid and wow!? ?I? could get close to 90 watts or more output.? ? Back then I did not have a spectrum analyzer?but I would bet it was pretty clean anyway since the HW-100 has tuned pi network for output.

Lots of cool things you can do once you have a little RF with which to work!

Gordon KX4Z


On Sat, Nov 25, 2023 at 11:03?PM David Barber <wd8ajq@...> wrote:

Gordon KX4Z:?

Was wondering, did you just use you Sbitx with the SB 200 or did you also use the Ubitx?
73 Dave WD8AJQ
?

SE?

On Nov 24, 2023, at 12:32?PM, Gordon Gibby <docvacuumtubes@...> wrote:

?
First effort at a better amplifier relay control output.? ?
Previous work with an older vacuum tube SB-200 amplifier consistently showed the tuned circuits in the amplifier actually improved the signal!? (With the amplifier, you can get 200-300 or so watts output.? ?There is no need for ALC from the amplifier, because full output from the sBITX simply isn't enough to saturate the SB-200 amplifier.? ?The same sort of result should generally apply with commercially provided 811A or 3-400Z 3-500Z etc amplifiers.? ? This will likely also work with solid state amplifiers, but those don't provide much in the way of signal "cleanup," like the older vacuum tube amps with their tuned circuits do!? ??

However, learned the hard way NOT to use the switched +12V analog since this is involved in small signal stage power....
Much safer to utilize the digital TX signal from the Raspberry Pi.? ?However, this is a modest current +3.3V output.??
To avoid significant loading on this signal, used a 2N7000 enhancement mode N-channel MOSFET (same idea as Ashhar's design uses repeatedly) to turn on current through a commercially available optocoupler PC817 available as a small breakout board from Amazon:? ?

This optocoupler doesn't have much "gain".
The typical modifified SB-200 with solid state input (instead of the high voltage -170VDC input that would destroy most newer transcerivers if connected by the unwary ham!) -- open circuit relay voltage of 1.58 V, and short circuit current of 4.8 mA.? ?Most of that current is required to turn on the T/R relay in the SB-200.

I changed the 1000 ohm resistor in the breakout board to a 200 ohm so it could be driven by a 5V supply with about 10mA -- so that the output optotransistor can conduct 5 mA without any problem.

Tapped into signals:
TX Digital -- pin 5 of an IC controlling the relays
Ground -- pin 8 of the same IC
+5.1 VDC -- scraped the +5V trace to gain this voltage, soldered.

Haven't fully tested, but it does go ON and OFF properly and it did positively and correctly control the T/R relay system in my SB-200.? (Remember:? this has a SOLID STATE MODIFIEED input)

<Schematic1.jpg>




<IMG_4047.JPG>
<IMG_4046.JPG>
<IMG_4045.JPG>
<IMG_4044.JPG>



There is less room available in the harrdware of the V2,, so this breakout board idea may have to be disassembled a bit, but the basic idea should still work.? ?Will test this more thoroughly to verify spectrum is unaffected and operation OK with full RF flowing.? ? Those tests haven't been done yet.

73
Gordon KX4Z


Re: Sbitx Amplifer Relay Output

 

开云体育


Gordon KX4Z:?

Was wondering, did you just use you Sbitx with the SB 200 or did you also use the Ubitx?
73 Dave WD8AJQ
?

SE?

On Nov 24, 2023, at 12:32?PM, Gordon Gibby <docvacuumtubes@...> wrote:

?
First effort at a better amplifier relay control output.? ?
Previous work with an older vacuum tube SB-200 amplifier consistently showed the tuned circuits in the amplifier actually improved the signal!? (With the amplifier, you can get 200-300 or so watts output.? ?There is no need for ALC from the amplifier, because full output from the sBITX simply isn't enough to saturate the SB-200 amplifier.? ?The same sort of result should generally apply with commercially provided 811A or 3-400Z 3-500Z etc amplifiers.? ? This will likely also work with solid state amplifiers, but those don't provide much in the way of signal "cleanup," like the older vacuum tube amps with their tuned circuits do!? ??

However, learned the hard way NOT to use the switched +12V analog since this is involved in small signal stage power....
Much safer to utilize the digital TX signal from the Raspberry Pi.? ?However, this is a modest current +3.3V output.??
To avoid significant loading on this signal, used a 2N7000 enhancement mode N-channel MOSFET (same idea as Ashhar's design uses repeatedly) to turn on current through a commercially available optocoupler PC817 available as a small breakout board from Amazon:? ?

This optocoupler doesn't have much "gain".
The typical modifified SB-200 with solid state input (instead of the high voltage -170VDC input that would destroy most newer transcerivers if connected by the unwary ham!) -- open circuit relay voltage of 1.58 V, and short circuit current of 4.8 mA.? ?Most of that current is required to turn on the T/R relay in the SB-200.

I changed the 1000 ohm resistor in the breakout board to a 200 ohm so it could be driven by a 5V supply with about 10mA -- so that the output optotransistor can conduct 5 mA without any problem.

Tapped into signals:
TX Digital -- pin 5 of an IC controlling the relays
Ground -- pin 8 of the same IC
+5.1 VDC -- scraped the +5V trace to gain this voltage, soldered.

Haven't fully tested, but it does go ON and OFF properly and it did positively and correctly control the T/R relay system in my SB-200.? (Remember:? this has a SOLID STATE MODIFIEED input)

<Schematic1.jpg>




<IMG_4047.JPG>
<IMG_4046.JPG>
<IMG_4045.JPG>
<IMG_4044.JPG>



There is less room available in the harrdware of the V2,, so this breakout board idea may have to be disassembled a bit, but the basic idea should still work.? ?Will test this more thoroughly to verify spectrum is unaffected and operation OK with full RF flowing.? ? Those tests haven't been done yet.

73
Gordon KX4Z


Re: Burned out my nextion display

 

Rolan

I was reading about the TVS diodes which looks like what this would be. The 24V though.... wouldn't that be 24volts? this board
has a 5 volt input. I don't really understand all the breakdown voltage and clamping voltage technical stuff looking at the data sheets
for TVS diodes. I haven't found any that say anything about 5 volts.

These displays sure took a jump in price though I paid $38 for this one and now they are $65

73's
Dave K0DLP


Re: Burned out my nextion display

 

Congrats. It a surge supresor sort.? A voltage surge appeared and your display is protected., thanks to nextion design.?
You might get them at mouser etc. I fear moq could be cumbersome.
It is a general theory that that a surge will pass thro' any psu, regulator etc and reach the load.?


Regards
Sarma. Vu3zmv


Re: Burned out my nextion display

 

24V TVS diode ?


Burned out my nextion display

 

Hello all you knowledgeable people

I was using my ubitx for ft8 when the screen went blank. It is a nextion 4.3 intelligent display. I powered it all off
and powered it back on and nothing. The radio has a separate 5v regulator for the screen and I checked that
and it only had about 2 volts. I unplugged the display and it went back up to 5 volts.

I then pulled the screen and powered it up with a walwart and nothing. But I noticed that D4 was very hot so I
removed it and powered on the screen and the screen worked.

My electronics knowledge is pretty basic, I searched for the number on the part but didn't really find an exact?
match. From the symbol on the board this looks like 2 diodes connected together at the cathode in a single?
package so would this be for overvoltage protection? And if so could it be replaced with a zenor diode?

Any insights on this is greatly appreciated


73's
Dave K0DLP


Re: Power Supply Wire Size

 

After more research, I found this:
.

Based on this chart, 20 AWG or larger would work for almost all uses.

73
Evan


Re: Power Supply Wire Size

 

Which Radio?

uBiTx = 2.5 amps max -> 18 or 16 AWG
sbitx = 9.5 amps -> 12 AWG

This is based on the following chart:


I have used smaller wire sizes without any issues for short lengths.

73
Evan
AC9TU


Power Supply Wire Size

 

What size wire are you using from your power supply to the radio? I want to get it right.


Re: sBITX V2 TX no output

 

Hello everyone
Once again on the current status:
The device (hardware) works 100% with the software V1 on all bands.?
It is definitely a software problem!?
Version 2 and beta version 3 of the Sbitx software show these problems.?
I have now created 5 different SD cards and always the same problem


Re: Sailboats Need uBITXs - Thanks Farhan! #ubitx-v6 #maritime_mobile

 

Hi Rafael,

? ?The tinned braid is salvaged from a length of Ancor 12 AWG shielded marine cable. The ring is a standard crimp connector for 12-10 AWG wire and a #10 fastener. It's 10 mm across the outside of the ring.

? ?I initially planned to 'come up' with a ground bodge...er...'solution' after terminating the braid. Research stopped once I found the braid slid over the ring and made an effective ground.? I sail solo, and don't use the radio on the move, so don't mind tossing the braid over the stern once the anchor's down.

(Hmmm...looks like the jumper from the common mode choke to the antenna isn't marine coax...must be left over from the 'if this works I'll make it permanent next time I'm in this locker' exercise. hihi)

73, Andy





On Fri, Nov 24, 2023 at 09:47 AM, Rafael Diniz wrote:
This is very interesting!

Would you mind sending us a picture? How is this ring terminal?

Cheers,
Rafael


On 11/24/23 02:10, AndyH wrote:
On Thu, Nov 23, 2023 at 10:29 AM, Demonmariner wrote:

What are you using for an antenna? I'm working on an hf setup for
my small sailboat.

I'm using a Hustler vertical on the aft deck just inside the pushpit.
The Cape Dory has a fiberglass hull and deck.? The center conductor
from the coax is connected to the antenna, and the braid is terminated
with a ring terminal.

The SWR is 1.5:1 - 2-1 with no antenna ground. (The variation is due
to changes in the distance between the base of the antenna and the
water surface.)? Slipping a couple of meters of tinned braid over the
ring terminal and tossing the other end into saltwater brings the SWR
down to 1.1:1 regardless of the swell.? I'm not using any other ground
for the radio.

The antenna has been in service about 18 months so far. The ball mount
is the weakest link with regards to rust. It looks like the bolt might
be 304 stainless, but the spacer inside the ball is mild steel. Were I
to install this again, I'd have a fab shop make a fixed deck mount
from 316.

Fair winds,
Andy

SSM-2 Ball Mount
MO-3 Mast
VP-1 Multi Band Adapter
RM-20 and RM-40 Standard resonators


Re: Sailboats Need uBITXs - Thanks Farhan! #ubitx-v6 #maritime_mobile

 

On Fri, Nov 24, 2023 at 08:09 AM, kc5kwz wrote:
Andy,

A friend of mine was some how using a mast stay for his HF antenna. Did you ever hear of that?
Yessir! There are high strength insulators available to break (usually) a rear stay cable. One needs a tuner for their new random wire antenna.

Best, Andy


Re: Sbitx Amplifer Relay Output

 

1.? V2 software doesn't seem to decode /cwdelay command....I need to figure that out.? ?Managed to adjust it in the lini file -- we have to rrun our CW training net SLOW so needed longer "hang
2.? With a "hang" of 900 I was able to run the CW tranining net on 3.560 for half an hour with about 100+ watts output from the SB-200 -- the relay control output worked FINE the entire time.

Gordon KX4Z


Sbitx Amplifer Relay Output

 


First effort at a better amplifier relay control output.? ?
Previous work with an older vacuum tube SB-200 amplifier consistently showed the tuned circuits in the amplifier actually improved the signal!? (With the amplifier, you can get 200-300 or so watts output.? ?There is no need for ALC from the amplifier, because full output from the sBITX simply isn't enough to saturate the SB-200 amplifier.? ?The same sort of result should generally apply with commercially provided 811A or 3-400Z 3-500Z etc amplifiers.? ? This will likely also work with solid state amplifiers, but those don't provide much in the way of signal "cleanup," like the older vacuum tube amps with their tuned circuits do!? ??

However, learned the hard way NOT to use the switched +12V analog since this is involved in small signal stage power....
Much safer to utilize the digital TX signal from the Raspberry Pi.? ?However, this is a modest current +3.3V output.??
To avoid significant loading on this signal, used a 2N7000 enhancement mode N-channel MOSFET (same idea as Ashhar's design uses repeatedly) to turn on current through a commercially available optocoupler PC817 available as a small breakout board from Amazon:? ?

This optocoupler doesn't have much "gain".
The typical modifified SB-200 with solid state input (instead of the high voltage -170VDC input that would destroy most newer transcerivers if connected by the unwary ham!) -- open circuit relay voltage of 1.58 V, and short circuit current of 4.8 mA.? ?Most of that current is required to turn on the T/R relay in the SB-200.

I changed the 1000 ohm resistor in the breakout board to a 200 ohm so it could be driven by a 5V supply with about 10mA -- so that the output optotransistor can conduct 5 mA without any problem.

Tapped into signals:
TX Digital -- pin 5 of an IC controlling the relays
Ground -- pin 8 of the same IC
+5.1 VDC -- scraped the +5V trace to gain this voltage, soldered.

Haven't fully tested, but it does go ON and OFF properly and it did positively and correctly control the T/R relay system in my SB-200.? (Remember:? this has a SOLID STATE MODIFIEED input)








There is less room available in the harrdware of the V2,, so this breakout board idea may have to be disassembled a bit, but the basic idea should still work.? ?Will test this more thoroughly to verify spectrum is unaffected and operation OK with full RF flowing.? ? Those tests haven't been done yet.

73
Gordon KX4Z


Re: sBITX V2 TX no output

 

Remember I think he said he had full output from the O:RIGINAL software.? ?So at that time his hardware was FINE.? ?He might wish to recheck that the original still works (if he hasn't already).? ?There is a certain risk in diving into this tiny circuitry (ask me how I know!)? ?so as much as possible, proving hardware by simply adjusting software has potentially less risk for him.

Gordon KX4Z


On Fri, Nov 24, 2023 at 9:58?AM HA3HZ <gyula@...> wrote:
ps.:
I supply it from 12.5V from a current-limiting power supply. The limit is at 6A.
The device consumes 0.45... 0.6 A during reception when switched on without sound.
The brightness of the 7" display is reduced to 35%.
When transmitting at FT8 with 50% drive on 14074 kHz, it consumes 0.57 A with a vertical loop antenna.
This means 18W at 1.0 swr on an external swr meter.
The display shows 1/3 more, but I couldn't set it to be accurate.
I've been tinkering with the device more than usual and tweaked a few things.
You can find more information about this in the forum search.
--
Gyula HA3HZ


Re: Sailboats Need uBITXs - Thanks Farhan! #ubitx-v6 #maritime_mobile

 

This is very interesting!

Would you mind sending us a picture? How is this ring terminal?

Cheers,
Rafael

On 11/24/23 02:10, AndyH wrote:
On Thu, Nov 23, 2023 at 10:29 AM, Demonmariner wrote:

What are you using for an antenna? I'm working on an hf setup for
my small sailboat.

I'm using a Hustler vertical on the aft deck just inside the pushpit. The Cape Dory has a fiberglass hull and deck.? The center conductor from the coax is connected to the antenna, and the braid is terminated with a ring terminal.

The SWR is 1.5:1 - 2-1 with no antenna ground. (The variation is due to changes in the distance between the base of the antenna and the water surface.)? Slipping a couple of meters of tinned braid over the ring terminal and tossing the other end into saltwater brings the SWR down to 1.1:1 regardless of the swell.? I'm not using any other ground for the radio.

The antenna has been in service about 18 months so far. The ball mount is the weakest link with regards to rust. It looks like the bolt might be 304 stainless, but the spacer inside the ball is mild steel. Were I to install this again, I'd have a fab shop make a fixed deck mount from 316.

Fair winds,
Andy

SSM-2 Ball Mount
MO-3 Mast
VP-1 Multi Band Adapter
RM-20 and RM-40 Standard resonators