Welcome to my channel. I have been a ham radio operator for more than 30 years. I'm an extra class, N6JJ. During the years, I was lucky to get lots of theoretical and practical experience in many subjects related to this hobby. In this channel, I will try to help you and anyone else that you know with knowledge, demos, tips, and guidance. Please feel free to send me any question that you have and I will try to help you. It doesn't matter if you just want help to become a ham radio operator or if you're already an experienced extra ham, I'm sure that you will find it interesting and helpful, and if so, please subscribe and like my videos. Thank you, 73.
I'm not familiar with the motor option of that antenna. I tried to check for some information online but I saw a few variations of that motor. The controller is designed to control a stepper motor. I think that they are providing a DC gear motor.
Excellent job. Amazing workmanship. I read somewhere if you give the small loop a more oval shape (side to side, not top to bottom) it will increase the induction area between the two coils. But if it's not broke, don't fix it!😅
Thank you so much for this! I am working on this project now and have got all my parts to put this together. I am going to 3d print all of my parts to hold my boards and motor in place. I am using an air variable capacitor that doesn't have 360° of rotation. Could you tell me how to go about adding 2 stops in the code so I don't stop the stepper motor at the end of the capacitor rotation and continue powering? I am afraid I would damage my stepper motor pretty quick.
The latest software version already contains "Memories" which can be used to set specific locations to stop the motor. In addition, the software provides the option to set virtual limits, that will act as the min and max range for your capacitor. Please check my website as I explained how all the features can be used. Good luck.
It's a combination of the size of the loop and the capacitor range. I would recommend checking the options using an online mag loop calculator, and set the target frequency to 10M and see what are the needed parameters of the loop and capacitor. Good luck.
Just finished installing and had first tune of my 40M mag loop. Bit of a bumpy ride until I realised that I was entering the ssid incorrectly. Thank you very much for all your work on this project, especially after Blynk did the dirty on us.
Great presentation. However, I confess to being surprised by a bad connection between the rotor shaft and electrical connection of one good looking but old variable capacitor - only about 0.25 ohm by my milliohm meter but with a radiation resistance in the 0.3 ohm range you could, potentially, lose half your power in the capacitor shaft connection and never know it! Does anyone else have a comparable finding or am I the unlucky one? Neil, AB4YK
@Neil, do you have any isolation between the capacitor and the motor? I didn't understand if you are using any. Please review the RU-vid videos, all of them show a wood rod in between.
Very good demonstration of how the antenna is constructed. I am going to have to build one. I do have to ask, if there is no balun at the feed point of the small loop, does the length of the feedline come into play? 73 WA4QGA
Hi, the stepper motor that you see on the video is the Nema 17 (17HS4401). You can see full details on the project and the components on my website. Thanks.
No, the capacitor range should fit the frequency range that you plan to use. The best will be to use an online free magloop calculator and check the options.
At 45:00, regarding circular polarized antennas. Consider that moon is a reflector and thus it change RHCP to LHCP and vice versa. Then, you should to use two antennas, one LHCP and one RHCP, depending what other person in QSO have... or give up - just using cross-polarization.
At 41:05 you said that we should to make QSOs "early morning, late evening". What about those cubesat small satellites that works only on solar power? They does not work during night passes.
Thanks for your question. The answer is yes, we can use the cubesat during the night as well as the satellite is charging it's battery using the solar panel on the other side of the earth, where the sun exists. The battery can hold the cubesat for a long time, so you have the option to use it day and night. I hope it answers your question.
@@reHamRadioOkay. Thanks. Currently trying to listen few linear satellites over Europe. So far no trace of any signal. My antenna is 1/4 lambda GP on the roof. ISS repeater at 437.800 MHz is strong, NOAA 15, 17 and 19 are strong (137.xxx MHz). Just not sure those small cubesat with maybe 0.25W of power, how strong or weak might be.
Yeah, lots of us are familiar with this situation. First, patience. Then, check online if there is some information about that call sign qsl manager or some guidance. Good luck.
Yes. I already have the idea to add an automated tune feature that will be based on the field strength of the antenna. I hope to work on that in the near future. But audio is also an option, even though it will not be so precise.
I just ordered one from your website. Thank you very much for offering this kit. I have been racking my brain for days trying to learn about stepper motor driver and controllers on ebay and amazon. Then I came back to your videos and saw that you have one already made for purchase! I am so excited :o) Happy Holidays Tamir and 73 de K5MGK Mark
Thanks for the great feedback Mark. I do understand, as I developed this project exactly from that reason when I tried to design my own antenna. Good luck, 73.
I have the 155 ft OCF non resonant antenna with 100 ft of coax. My entry into the shack is only about 50 ft from the ground about 35 ft below the antenna mount. Knowing I shouldn't coil the feedline coax up should I run it away from the shack and then back to the entry (that would be the opposite direction of the antenna wire) or should I lay it out on a run past the entry point and then back to it? Also can it be suspended or should it lay on the ground?
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. I just got my license about a month ago and this video is so well put together. Definitely am subscribing and checking out the page about the tape measure antenna.
Congrats on getting your license! Welcome to the club! I'm very happy that this video was helpful and I want to thank you for your feedback. Good luck and 73!
Thanks for your feedback. The capacitor is always the part that is hard to find, but just be patient and search on eBay, from time to time you will find interesting surprises. Good luck.
