My new V6 and what I learned from this group
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K5FJR de K3RTA,
This static of which you speak, is it there mainly when you're transmitting, or at any time? I ask, because it smacks of RF infiltration (or "leakage). Your other rigs may not have this problem because of more commercial-grade internal shielding or other refinements that are above the price point of a good seed kit like uBitx.? May I ask the antenna design? I'm mainly curious because you've got a WORKING condo antenna, apparently (uBitx RF issues aside).? I'm trying to get a condo-owning friend to believe she Can do HF from her place. For yourself, an end-fed half wave using very fine magnet or choke coil wire out to a tree or hanging down against a brick wall might be worth trying, partly because I've been playing with such designs and they seem fine from an RF intrusion point of view.? So HW? Ted K3RTA |
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Oh, and for a dummy load in a pinch [at these power levels], get an 1157 tail light bulb and solder both filaments (pin) & shell (earth) to a male BNC or whatever you're using.
I wouldn't keep it key-down for more than 10-15 seconds; it's not necessarily a well-matched load but it will give the energy someplace to go AND you get visual proof of life. Ted K3RTA |
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I'd go to kitsandparts.com and order a T200-2 torroid, then, pass your lead-in coax through it as many times as it will fit (but a minimium of 4, maybe 5, passes).? This will serve to clamp down on stray RF that may well be following the outside jacket into your radio. Place this on the coax close to the entry point into the condo.? Shipping is quick and they also have some other neat parts that you may find helpful while sequestered during the plague? :)?? As for light bulbs for testing in a pinch, I do recall using a 60-watt bulb on my Heathkit HW-60 (?) novice transmitter.? Those days were magic, seemingly. The excitement of firing up the rig - real radios glow in the dark - and banging away at code to the far reaches of the continent. It's still amazing but as a novice, it was really cool. The graphic demo with a light bulb kind of drove the point home that RF is a true energy form and that the antenna was actually DOING something even though it didn't glow. 72, Ted K3RTA Justice will not come (to Athens) until those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are injured. Thucydides
On Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 10:39:35 AM EDT, McRuss via Groups.Io <wtrrtw@...> wrote:
K3RTA and the Group, DE K5FJR, My antenna is a 'Super Antenna" clamped to the railing of my balcony.? Two radials run out and down INSIDE two gutter drains!? It is not invisible but is not too obvious (no comments from the HOA yet.)? It is tuneable for 10-40 and can be adapted for 2m and 80 - 60.? Here is the link: I recall using a 60 watt bulb back in the 70's for a dummy load, might try wiring up something like that.? I do think the issue is the short coax adapter I built for BNC to PL259 so I've ordered an commercial version (my supply of connectors has been depleted over the years and I couldn't find a real good one in the junk bin!)? The volume static is there during receive and seems to be when receiving a station; I can turn the volume up OK until someone speaks and then the audio causes unreadable static.? I'm hampered by being quarantined and I need a better speaker too! -- Newbie K5FJR |
Ted