I would try to find that sweet spot first, because if you're like me, you never will. I have stacked tribanders, a 2-el 40-meter beam and an 80 meter lazy-v array all on one tower. I modeled the thin
I have one of these that I want to refurbish for use as an antenna-end preamp for a Beverage on Ground (BOG) RX antenna. I believe the MMIC amplifier in it is fried, but I do not have any documentati
Having totally struck out raising this topic on Towertalk, I'm bringing it here in the hopes of getting some solid advice. I have a 20 dB ARR preamp of the type praised by ON4UN in his book. I want t
Thanks, everyone, for too many good inputs to list here. A lot of good ideas, both for experimental approaches and for the final configuration. At least for experimental purposes, I will go with the
Someone recently commented in favor of using transformer isolation in lieu of a common mode choke in a receiving application. I presume this would be a 1:1 transformer using a binocular core, or at l
Quite by accident, in leafing through K9AY's new magazine I ran into a reference to a surface-mount PIN diode <http://www.skyworksinc.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=857> designed specifically for receive
It is called RF Technology International - primarily online. Got the citation from the latest ARRL Contest Update. 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststatio
I am trying to repurpose a ZJ Beverage Box's DC power coupler to support a Beverage hub with remote preamp, and have run into a problem. The DC supply is extremely "un-stiff." With no load, it delive
I hooked up the hub today, and initial results are excellent. For those who missed earlier messages - here's the story. I ran across an inexpensive 8-way relay board on E-bay for less than $20. It is
For those who asked, the Ebay item is <http://www.ebay.com/itm/130545242235?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649> -- 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at w
Gotham antennas actually were pretty straightforward but incredibly flimsy implementations of standard theory, no Barnum involved. IIRC, this vertical used a piece of B&W Miniductor and an alligator
I have about 350 feet of quad-shield RG-6 going out to a receiving antenna hub which has a 20-db ARR preamp on the end of the line, followed by an 8-way relay switch. The feedline is lying on the gro
Please pardon my repeating myself, but this thing has really got me buffaloed, and I've found that this is the place where the most knowledgeable people about this sort of thing hang out I am feeding
Replies interspersed - thanks for all the ideas. 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blo
This is exactly why I got to looking at BOGs - I lack the space in a Northeasterly direction (Northwest too, for that matter). Mine is 220 feet, as suggested by some experiments with the resonant fre
Two words - coyote urine. Seriously .... the local Southern States sells a critter repellent based on dried coyote urine. In our case, the biggest critter problem with my BOG so far has been deer - t
Man, you Westerners are naive! We even have coyotes in downtown Washington and New York City. Ratty looking, but out there hunting. Anyhow, the general idea is pick something the the wee beasties don
F'heaven's sake, Garry, I meant naive about how widely they range in the East, and it was all tongue in cheek, from beginning to end. 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, updated daily a
and then there's the 6000 ft spool of insulated, tinned #16 that I found at the Dayton flea market for $20. It'll probably outlast me. 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, updated daily
Doesn't this suggest that there is a role here for cut and try? Take a set of clip leads to the base of the tower and experiment? 73, Pete N4ZR The World Contest Station Database, at www.conteststati