Ron I do have a NanoVNA, and I like the dipole thought. The EFHW design has a match. Basically a toroid. I will likely experiment with both antennas. Thank you. 73. Mark N5PRD
Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 29, 2020, at 1:50 AM, Ron Bosch via BVARC <[email protected]> wrote: > > > And so everyone knows why I am up so darned late, I am waiting for the 02:22 > ISS pass to download a stinking picture since I only have 2 more realistic > shots at doing so :-) > >> On Tue, Dec 29, 2020 at 1:43 AM Ron Bosch <[email protected]> wrote: >> Mark, >> A few points that I couldn't make on the net, because of time. >> 1. I wasn't saying don't do it, just don't expect a bunch of QSO's. You >> will be limited to when the band is really open, and the noise floor is low >> at the receiving antenna. That will reduce the number of potential contacts >> by at least an order of magnitude. That being said, operating anything is >> better than operating nothing. >> 2. IMHO, and end fed antenna is not a good choice unless you also build a >> matching bridge. You can't expect to maintain an exact 50-ohm load from an >> end-fed with just a toroid, you also need some shunt resistors, and variable >> caps, and such, and you will need to tune it depending on conditions due to >> reactance unless you built-in a big enough reactance in the circuit, and cut >> the end-fed to exactly 1/2 wave where you want to operate, and the toroid >> with that much permeability probably ain't cheap. A better approach to me >> would be a 20M 1/2 wave dipole trimmed at operating height with an antenna >> analyzer. >> 3. Doing this in the city, with the amount of interference, and the antenna >> compromises we have to make seems to add a whole other set of issues to >> making contacts. If I were to do it, I might plan to take the rig out of >> the city to operate it, and get the advantage of using trees and such to get >> my dipole at 33 feet up, with a low noise floor to increase my chances of >> contacts. >> 4. In any event, I suspect you are really going to need at least a Nano VNA >> to make sure you don't smoke the finals, since I doubt seriously that a QRP >> kit includes protection circuitry. That will add a minimum of $50 to your >> build, although you would save a bunch on the antenna if you built a 1/2 >> wave dipole instead. Heck, I have an extra 1:1 current balun I can part >> with for the rock bottom price of $0.02, and since I am including my $0.02 >> in this email, net due is $0.00 :-) >> >> Ron >> KE4DRF >> >>> On Mon, Dec 28, 2020 at 11:44 PM Mark Brantana via BVARC <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> I thought I had things all figured out. I originally wanted to get back on >>> HF, and found I could get some great used equipment for about $400, not >>> including antenna. Add a 10-80 m antenna from MyAntenna for around $165. I >>> already have coax installed. Grand total: $565 >>> >>> Normally, this cost would not be an issue, but like so many others I am >>> short on funds due to CV-19, so it is a bad time for this expenditure. I >>> find I can buy a 20-m QRP Labs CW mini with case for about $90, and build >>> an EFHW antenna for another $20 (including the matching toroid). Grand >>> Total: $110 >>> >>> Everything has its advantages though. A ham since ’78, that’s 1987, I feel >>> that >>> 1. this would force me to improve my almost forgotten code without the >>> inevitable distraction of voice alternatives, >>> 2. this would give me a chance to build a full small project and antenna. >>> >>> Today, though, some felt that this setup would lead to disappointment on my >>> part. I am fully aware there will be some limitations to QRP, but the >>> generally negative comments form our net were as follows: >>> 1. The band is poor at this time. >>> 2. The 4-5 Watt QRP would not get in, and even a 100 Watt unit would not >>> suffice, but needs to be about 500 Watts. This would lead me to need back >>> to spending at least $565, and more for an amplifier. (So we are now saying >>> that even a typical 100 Watt radio is insufficient?) (I would also note >>> that QRP sells a 50 W amplifier for this radio as an add on. >>> >>> Experience counts. So, I am looking for my fellow hams with QRP experience >>> to share their thoughts. I thought I had this all figured out, but if I am >>> going down a wrong road, I need to know. What has been your experience with >>> 20-m QRP? >>> >>> Mark >>> N5PRD >>> ________________________________________________ >>> Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club >>> >>> BVARC mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org > ________________________________________________ > Brazos Valley Amateur Radio Club > > BVARC mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.bvarc.org/mailman/listinfo/bvarc_bvarc.org
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