kidphc

Saw that video a while ago. He was an incredible lecturer, some of other videos are just as informative. For me at least that video help conceptualize SWR. Another awesome video on antenna concepts in reality.

So here are my thoughts on the radio. My take on the Anytone At6666. Found another poster and it about sums my experience. -SSB receive distortion. (Not bad but, sometimes have to play with the clarifier more then I like) -Impotent NB (really doesn't do much) -Barely touch the RF gain pot and it maxes out -Only 6 memory channels (come on! Really?) (really has 400 memory in frequency mode) -Mode not saved in memory (yeah wtf) -Programming software failure out of the box (really no really controls, minus saving some memories and turning features off, for me turning of FM since it is outside of license. -The VFO is a click digit then dial each digit in. Royal pain in the ass. The plus, clarifier works well. Better then I expected. Wish there was a way to adjust ALC. Wish there was an eq for sound out. This thing is tinny. Same speaker I use at home for the HRI, which is bass heavy. Too the point where HI-Cut has to be on for some conversations or you can't hear anything becuase of the tinniness. It is sensitive, a bit too much. Can pull signals out of the noise floor. However, even with an external speaker (noise filter on), NB on the radio the fricking thing half the time you barely hear anything due to cosmic hash. When you get a strong signal it blows your ear drums out. It's either too quiet (background static/cosmic hash) or way too loud. Constantly, fiddling with the volume. The VFO is a click digit then dial each digit in (did I mention I hate this? For a mobile radio bit of a pain unless stopped way to much time staring at the screen)

Damn it. That was what I was looking for. I am looking for the lowest log? Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Its a Larsen NMO34 coil. Unfortunately, no information on capacitance. Might have to go old school and break out a mult-meter to measure it out. Thanks for the information it is a start.

That kinda was the question to begin with. How to see resonance frequency not using SWR.

If you are using the repeater memory slot. Which should be memory 15-22. Then no worries with the frequencies it should automatically listen to 462.xxx and transmitting on input 467.xxx. Make sure it is the right frequency. As far as your DCS codes that sound about right. Program it and clunk away to see if you break the repeater's squelch.

I have seen the video before and it was no help. Michael thanks for the input. I guess this antenna coil combination wants to stay resonant at 28.59 or so. Uncut it seamed to be resonant at 29 mhz, with the swr at 1:1.7. Currently, it's 2.0 swr at the band edges and at 1:1.7swr at 28.450, 1:1.66 at 2.58. I guess next step is to check the impedence values at those frequencies. When the nmo30 and hamstick comes in about a week I will have to rerun the sweeps. The 1:1.7 swr I started to think was due to the terrible ground plane interactions. Bending the antenna away from a pillar resulted in an swr that dropped a few hundreths. I will never recommend a hood mount that close to the pillar as an even remotely acceptable mounting location. May have to get another mount that mounts the antenna closer to the center of the fender. Should be intresting to compare the two locations and their respective swr values. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

I have a nanovna ver h4. Kinda why I am asking how you would look for the resonance. It certainly has way more ability then the user to do many functions at this point. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

That is one way. But a rigg expert will have to wait. Was hoping for something like with the nanovna like at lowest reactance and inductance. Actually might have found something on those lines. From: https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/antennas-propagation/antenna-theory/resonance-bandwidth.php Basically, the lowest impedance value. --- This is the frequency where the capacitive and inductive reactances cancel each other out. At this point the antenna appears purely resistive, the resistance being a combination of the loss resistance and the radiation resistance. Well kinda. For a pre-engiered antenna generally 1.5 swr is where the antenna is resonant. But an antenna can be resonant t frequency and have a really high swr say like 1:5, example folded dipoles. ---

So building out my system for the truck. Finally, after a year of laziness I am building a center console (well the front half) to house a FTM400xdr and an Anytone at6666 10/12m radio (code for illegal cb radio for those that don't know). It will be used for 10m work as well. STAY TUNED FOR A BUILDOUT POST. So the antenna is mounted to the hood in front of the a pillar. Using a NMO34 with a 64" whip (10m) and a NMO30 with 64" whip(11m).This is going away. The whip is .100 and it flexes to 45 degrees above 30 mph and much more at 70. Incoming MFJ 10m hamstick. Should be tunable for both bands. I was trying to hold to Marc's talk about every commercial antenna for 11m is too short even with a spring. SIDE NOTE: I DID FIND SOME ONE THAT MAKE CUSTOM EXTENDERS TO GET A 102" TO 115" OR SO. Now back on track. The nmo34/30 combo the lowest I could get was a SWR of 1:1.6 or 1:1.7 with trimming. I gave up because the SWR started climbing back up. Lowest frequency for the 10m set up was 28.594 (VSWR OF 1:1.6). Just a hair away from the target of 28.400. It started making me think of antenna resonance and how to calculate it. So in order to find the resonant frequency of an antenna I am looking for an impedance of about 75 ohms purely resistive? This the value I gather for a dipole in free space. So the question is how the hell do I find resonance of a custom, less then ¹/4 wave whip with a bottom loaded coil? Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Might have to go with a hood mount by the windshield with a s much antenna as you can get to clear the windshield and roof. Outside of that you may be stuck with a mag mount. Depending on the shape of the trunk a lip mount on the side of the trunk. Similar to the link below. https://hamradioschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/GetStarted-bands.jpg

Nano vna is easy peezy. Not a turn on and good to go device. But close. Buy it. Buy it... only if you are constantly tweeking or building antennas. The other swr meters you need to provide an input. Aka key up.

You get close to a nanovna in price. Two different functions. For tuning I prefer the Nano Vna. I just ordered an rs70 for the cb. For real-time monitoring. However, I wanted as a on the fly reference. The rs50 is the vhf/uhf version. If it weren't a mobile install I would of done a swing needle. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Just like gmrs is in the 70cm band. You'll cover it in the tech study manual. https://hamradioschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/GetStarted-bands.jpg

They work the same. One just has the bridge setup for hf or vhf/uhf. You can sometimes us a 11m cb swr meter for 10m. Really depends if it was designed for that range. A hf swr meter usually has no problem with 11m cb. Since most hf swr meters go up to at least 10m sometimes 6m. You get what you pay for. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Just remeber perfect SWR doesn't mean you have a resonant antenna. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Depending on amount of metal, shapes etc. You get distortions in the radiation pattern. Ground plane is important because it is the other half of an antenna. 1/2 and larger are marketed sometimes as no groundplane or non groundplane dependent. It is because at the 1/2 wave point the sinoid is partially complete and not reflected back into the ground plane. As well as directionality of the antenna. You are shaping the radiation pattern based off the ground plane and its contiuity. Basically, you can get better recieve or nulls in the radiation pattern. Take it all with a grain of salt. Because you may or may not perceive the differences. In all any antenna is better then no antenna. The mobile install is already a compromised install. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

AM FM SSB 15/45/60 pep Modding for final reliability

Welp bit the bullet. $315.94 for radio and 3 year warranty. No shipping (prime) but the tax

Yup. Talked to a local radio fantic ham. He said buy it stock with or w/o the warranty. If it blows up we can mod/fix it hopefully. I think the blow ups are caused by people over driving it. Why? There is a video of a guy open keyingbit with high swr for hours (could be wrong) and it didn't blow up. So it has to be something else. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Only thing I have heard as far as negatives are that it has the habit of blowing its final. Single stage from what I get. Looking at a modded one, upgrade final and regulator. Just not sure if it is worth x2 the cost. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Bueller...? lol

Definetly do the tech and general at the same time. I wish I had alot of the material is the same. Be on the look out for silent key estates. Their families alot of times will just want their old towers removed, which they will tell you to take apart. Then you may get a taller tower using some of your and buddies time. As well as get some free antennas. Give you a chance to inspect their install as well. If you get lucky your 20' section may attach to the one you just pulled down and you get more height. Downside setting up the tower cost $$$. Just in quality cabling it adds up. Either case, good luck. Have a feeling you'll be that "guy" in the area. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Certain frequency can interact. Spacing/distance can be partially resolved by having one vertical pointing upwards and the other facing downwards on a cross tee. With a 20' tower that can be an issue. Since some of the nicer vertical antennas can be in excess of 20' by themselves. Would be kinda funny if you were constantly kicking the tip of your upside down antenna. Well not really. Grounding should be done at before the tower's foundation is poured As far as the faa permit, I didn't think it was massively difficult. The installation of a beacon light is a requirement after a certain height, which sounds like you are at. Which ham ticket where you shooting for? Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

Pretty much. Had some what the same problem with my burb. The sunroof slid so far back it limited some options. So even a mag mount might work better then a permanent install. Some options on your truck. But even then everything is going to be a compromise of sorts. Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk