As I mentioned in a previous post, a week or two ago I spent a frustrating weekend puzzling out how to build the 10 meter antenna traps. This weekend I knocked out four additional pairs... 15, 20, 30, and 40 Meters. These are all based on the design described in this article.
After having made all sorts of mistakes on the first pair, the next eight went fairly quickly. I ran out of coax and 12ga wire to do the 60 Meter traps... it's on order, but it will be week or so before I get it.
Next up on the great antenna build is the tuning... which I should be able to do after I get my dip meter. I ordered it from Universal Radio, the same place I'm buying my coax, but its on back order, so it may be a while before I get it.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Good Deed For The Day
This morning, I participated in my son's Boy Scout Troop's Merit Badge University event, where I taught the Radio Merit Badge to a group of four boys, my son included. I am happy to report that two of the bvoys were very enthusiastic about the idea of Amateur Radio, and intended to pursue their Technician license at the earliest opportunity, which will be the RARSfest in April. Unfortunately, my son wasn't one of the two boys... although perhaps that is for the good, since I have him handy to keep pestering him to study.
I'm hoping to create a vibrant Amateur Radio presence in the scout troop, and eventually may be interested in spreading it to other troops in the area.
This evening, I started messing around with one of the Traps for the attic antenna I'm trying to build. I found that LMR-200 is a real pain to cut and trim... and winding the coils is tedious. I'm going to have to order more cable if I plan to build 60M traps too... the initial lengths I cut where just a smidgeon too short, so each set of cables gets demoted one Trap size. In the morning I'll see if I can get the first one wound nice and tight, and then I'll solder it. With in luck, when I get the Dip Meter in a week or two, I'll be able to tune the thing and it will be right on per my calcs.
I'm hoping to create a vibrant Amateur Radio presence in the scout troop, and eventually may be interested in spreading it to other troops in the area.
This evening, I started messing around with one of the Traps for the attic antenna I'm trying to build. I found that LMR-200 is a real pain to cut and trim... and winding the coils is tedious. I'm going to have to order more cable if I plan to build 60M traps too... the initial lengths I cut where just a smidgeon too short, so each set of cables gets demoted one Trap size. In the morning I'll see if I can get the first one wound nice and tight, and then I'll solder it. With in luck, when I get the Dip Meter in a week or two, I'll be able to tune the thing and it will be right on per my calcs.
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