My understanding is that "early bird" was $10, which ended the Friday
before it was "live", and it was supposed to be $12 the day of. So, my
guess is that, if they'll let you pay now, that it's $12.
What I don't know is what's supposed to happen after April 15th. Some of
the presentations, the ones from the vendors, are now on YouTube. Maybe
the others will just become unavailable, which seems like a loss to me.
On 3/22/2021 8:45 PM, Mark Brantana via BVARC wrote:
What is the price of admission?
On Mar 22, 2021, at 7:37 PM, Rick Hiller via BVARC <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Mark,
Have a read in an ARRL Antenna Handbook about antenna measurements,
test site set up, absolute gain and pattern measurements. Might
shed some light on your project.
Also near field versus far field distances and characteristics.
That forum’s presentations are on demand online until April 15th.
Working my way thru. I’ve only seen a few so far.
RH
On Mar 22, 2021, at 5:32 PM, Mark Brantana via BVARC <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
FSD = Field Strength Drone
We have had some fun discussions about this idea. I wish I could
have visited the forum held recently, but I had to miss it. I
understand someone had someone talked about a related topic, and I
have looked at the article Jeff kindly sent me. I hope I did not
miss anything else, but I have tried to read and follow up on all
the comments. This educational jaunt has given me some help in
better understanding field strength meters.
Antenna Orientation: I was especially struck by one very old and
classic demo showing the response of a receiver in a non-aligned
configuration with the antenna orientation. For example, a
horizontal receiving antenna and a vertical transmitting antenna, or
vice versa. This demo showed clearly that the antenna needs to be
properly oriented, and that a 90 degree disorientation gave no
response at all. So, an FSD would have to have 360 response in order
that the orientation does not introduce falsely attenuated response
simply due to the antenna orientation. It might look something like
a Van der Graff ball somehow; and possibly this is why it the
dangling antenna looks like a ball in Jeff’s reference.
Antenna Length: Then, there is the question; how big does it need to
be. Since a field strength indication is really a relative reading,
this may not be an issue. It does introduce a complication in that
the field strength meter would need to be tightly tuned to a testing
frequency, even if the antenna is really inefficient. Without
tuning, the field strength antenna will very strongly tend toward
resonation on shorter wavelengths, and thus provide false readings.
In other words, the little wire coming off of the field strength
meter we may have, but have never used, may qualitative only and not
quantitative, since the reading will depend on the orientation and
length of its antenna. An antenna for the Field Strength Drone would
have additional requirements to satisfy the measurement
requirements. It is not going to be a matter of just flying a field
strength meter through the field.
Food for thought. Opinions?
Mark
N5PRD
On Mar 10, 2021, at 5:36 PM, Mark Brantana <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Thanks for all the great comments. The real question at this time
is, does anyone have an interest in working with me on this
project? It is a purely ham project and we get paid in bragging
rights.
Mark
N5PRD
On Mar 10, 2021, at 5:17 PM, Mark Brantana
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Rick,
Agreed. And it is beginning to look like there is a need to build
and test such a thing to really learn it’s value. For instance, I
never knew how useful an my nanoVNA would be until I bought one.
Sure, I could do an SWR study the old way, but the new widget
enables me to do a lot more, faster and easier.
I just threw this question out this morning for discussion, and
got my money’s worth from everyone. It was academic at that time,
but now I am wondering all the more why there isn’t some video on
YouTube showing some ham who has built such a device. It seems
like this is something wanting to be made, at least for ham use.
Mark
On Mar 10, 2021, at 2:59 PM, Gary Sitton via BVARC
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Rick:
I really agree especially since I've looked into the drone motor
controllers.
They typically emit so much onboard and radiated hash that
special by-pass
precautions are taken with some of the onboard sensors, e.g.
accelerometers
for orientation sensing. I disagree that modelling software is
adequate for
the typical antenna environment, e.g. antennas below a
wavelength. Also
conformation of directional antenna's front-to-back and forward
gain for
optimization purposes would be nice if even perhaps extravagant.
73, Gary K5AMH
PS: Most drone controllers use the STM ARM processors for which there
is free open source drone software: https://betaflight.com/
On 3/10/2021 2:34 PM, Rick Hiller via BVARC wrote:
Comment: Is an FSD applicable?
Although an FSD would provide a close-in Far Field pattern of an
antenna antenna installation, which is very cool indeed. Is it
really necessary in the world of Ham Radio?
We already have antenna modeling software based on the NEC which
is quite accurate, depending on the set up parameters provided,
of course. That model analysis provides us with a pattern and
a fair amount of operational information.
But what do we (I) really want? I want to know what and how my
antenna is performing in the real world outside of my QTH. Is
it getting to Europe or VK? When is the best time and
frequency to get to Japan or South Africa? Questions like this
are not to be answered by a FSD.
What we really need is a world wide system to detect our signals
wherever they may occur. So let's start thinking of that. We
just need a few hams on every continent to
participate........Wait! Not so fast.......there is already a
system that does this. WSPR and it is available from a local
amateur radio dealer -- SOTA Beams
*_https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite-classic
<https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/wsprlite-classic>. _* QST Dec
2018 even has a review of this system.
*_https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/content/QSTREVIEW.pdf
<https://www.sotabeams.co.uk/content/QSTREVIEW.pdf> _*
Now look, I am not poo pooing the FSD concept , ideas,
discussion, etc. Very cool indeed to get a group of folks
excited and discussing antenna stuff. Woo Hoo! I'm all for
it, being the antenna phreak that I am. I'm just taking a step
back and seeing if it is necessary, practical or even applicable
for Hams. Plus, maybe some don't know about WSPR.
73...Rick -- W5RH
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On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 1:57 PM Jeffery MacMillian via BVARC
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Here is a good paper on this very topic.....
https://www.narda-sts.com/en/selective-emf/srm-3006-field-strength-analyzer/eID/pd/pdce/9063/pdfr/9500/
<https://www.narda-sts.com/en/selective-emf/srm-3006-field-strength-analyzer/eID/pd/pdce/9063/pdfr/9500/>
have Fun,
Jeff
KC5TT
On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 1:31 PM Tom Watson via BVARC
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Brilliant!
On Wed, Mar 10, 2021, 12:22 AM Mark Brantana via BVARC
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
OK, what is an FSD? It is a Field Strength Drone.
It’s an idea I am sure others have had, and I don’t
expect to get around to designing or patenting such
a thing. But inventions are often just the merging
of new technologies, and this is not much different.
I don’t see any YouTubes about this or any other
reference, so here’s the idea:
With all the capabilities of little drones I wonder
if anyone has designed one which can carry a field
strength meter and fly a grid around an antenna to
evaluate antenna performance. The guts of my little
Radio Shack FSM would have weighed way less than an
ounce.
Ideally, the field strength meter could communicate
to the base through the drone transmitter, reducing
weight. Software at the base could link the drone 3D
location data with the FS reading. The drone would
have to wait at test locations for the operator to
transmit, and ideally would move to the next
location. Finally, the software might be able to
link with existing simulation software for
comparison with theory and allow for simulation
model improvement. This looks like it would take a
small team to develop.
This sounds like it would have many uses besides
antenna evaluation, like RFI evaluation.
What about it? Has anyone done this?
Mark
N5PRD
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--
Rick Hiller
*/e-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>/*
*/Cell: 832-474-3713/*
*/Physical: 9031 Troulon Drive/*
*/ Houston, TX 77036/*
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Gary Sitton, K5AMH
[email protected]
SDR/DSP Consultant,
"Have FFTs, Will Travel."
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