Fort
DuPont Operations
17 March 2012
Check in Moose and Squirrel Cold-War Clandestine and Long-Range-Reconnaissance-Patrol Net on 5.3715 Kcs.
I have been "field" testing end fed half wave antennas for the
past couple of portable operations. I now dream about half wave
antennas fed at the end.
The "rope" antenna wire is marked at a half wave for 40,60,75
and 80 meters. Just reel it out let your fingers find the solder spot
on the "wire rope', lock the reel then tie the other end to a tree,
clip on a feed line wire at the reel end for your tuner. The "rope"
wire is available from any of the ham wire vendors.
Before checking
in to the Moose and Squirrel net and after recovering from the BC-611
ordeal I relaxed with a light lunch. I prefer Kraft "Easy Cheese".
Video:
Tuning the Fuchs Antenna Tuner.
Al Klase, N3FRQ brain washed me and made me start experimenting with using a half wave antenna, you too can join me and Al for "half wave" therapy
Information
on half wave antennas and a link to the Fuchs Tuner
can be found on the Al's MRCA site at:
http://www.mrca.ar88.net/Net/11-11-2010.html
The Fuchs circuit requires that the
tuning capacitor be "above ground" so I mounted my variable
cap on a piece of lexan and used an insulated coupling for the shaft.
The yellow 40 pF capacitor was added to increase total capacitance of
the variable as the original circuit called for 200 pF. Wrap the output
toroid in Teflon plumbers tape for insulation before winding. I do not
have an "output indicator" on the tuner as I utilize ME-61 field
strength meter to confirm a peak in the tuning. The Fuchs circuit is unique
as it offers input tuning as well as output tuning.
The tripod folds
up for transporting and the fiberglass pole telescopes. Here the pole
is extended in order to raise the center of the half wave for additional
height.
Equipment in use: Low power SGC-715, crystal
controlled but I use an external DDS VFO On the left is the antenna tuner
and ME-61 Field Strength meter which can be used as a final touch up to
the tuner.
My favorite DDS
VFO kit site
http://www.pongrance.com/super-dds.html
When Al N3FRQ came swishing on the frequency, it sounded like a
giant signal sucker has arrived and completely quieted the receiver.
Video
N3FRQ on 75 meters AM serving as Kingpin for the frequency
"I
love it when a plan comes together."
While we were Moose and Squirreling - -
- Rob, K2WI was on|
Sea Detachment duty aboard the USS Massachusetts
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