>> So, what have people experienced with their USB Converters when running the big amp?
I use a Digi Edgeport 8-spigot converter rather than the 1-port 'consumer' grade USB-serial converters many hams use. I got mine used surplus and paid less per port than many single-port converter 'dongles' cost. Even at full blat on 160, between the 'clean' RF installation and the USB converter, I have no problems driving many serial ports running serial comms to all kinds of shack accessories. VERY reliable!! So, it can be done. >> Regarding magnetic loops ... Here's a really good web site ... http://www.magneticloopantenna.com/ I built a 40 meter mag loop out of 1 5/8" Heliax, excited by a Faraday loop. It is just over 10' in diameter! The Java-type calculator (available from the website) shows 91.2% efficiency and that jives with experience. In many instances, this big loop, with its bottom just about 8' over ground trounces a nearby conventional dipole at 40 feet. I have tuned it with a vacuum variable capacitor, and run the power up to 100W. The 5 kV vacuum cap was warranted due to the calculated ~3 kV across it. Even with the calculated Q of 264, the resonance is nice and smooth across the whole lower end of the CW subband. Note that this monstrosity is certainly not what most people 'think' of when they consider magnetic loop antennas for HF! I have smaller loops, some of which are quite portable, for higher bands (20 meters) and these are only 5' across. Mine almost always use a scrap/surplus piece of Heliax feedline as the radiating element. It's too easy an option to ignore. Most folks think magnetic loops as a little desktop type thing (2' or 3' diameter) and these are usually far better as a RX antenna. But it most certainly possible to make a TX mag loop that works very well and gives other similar-sized antennas a real run for their money. Oh, and, the directionality and narrow bandwidth are wonderful QRN/QRM fighters on RX. Steve KZ1X/4 K1, K2, K3, etc. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
