[ARC5] Tuning up BC-230 and ARC-5

[AKLDGUY .]

Not all of us have enough real estate for a full size antenna.
So we're dealing with something other than 50 / 75 ohms.

In my case, as an apartment dweller, I'm lucky to even have
a yard. It's 8 meters x 6 meters (about 26' x 20'). It is partly
overhung by a metallic-framed balcony on the floor above,
and has a 5' fence.

I intend putting up a folded dipole about 5 meters total length
at fence height. Folding should raise the impedance. I hope
to feed it with 300 ohm TV line from taps on a coil tuned by
a split-stator capacitor consisting of dual ARC-5 transmitter
capacitors. Feed point will be at the centre of the coil with a 2
or 3 turn link and short wires to the BC-230.

The more I deal with coax, the more I hate it. I'm trying to get
back to balanced feed like the hams of the 30s used.
Balanced feed = less likelihood of radiation off the feedline
and less pickup of locally generated noise.

73 de Neil ZL1ANM


On 3/31/16, Michael Hanz <aaf-radio-1 at aafradio.org> wrote:
> _Very_ nice adapter, Dave!  Clean, quick access for installation and
> antenna connection...looks like it was made for the set!  Are you sure
> you're not channeling Dr. Drake? :-)
>
> On 3/30/2016 7:38 PM, David Stinson wrote:
>>> The SCR274 and ARC5 types have a sweet spot antenna reactance range
>>> where the roller inductor is >effective. Too much or too little
>>> reactance and I have difficulty getting it to load.The ARCs will load
>>> into >a pure 5-10 ohm resistance if the inductor is at zero. Not sure
>>> if that would work on the BC230, >though.
>>> Loading them into REAL antennas gets even more interesting!
>>
>> Folks, no offense, please.
>> But I do not understand the resistance to the simple solution
>> for this I've published many, many times.
>> If you're on 40 meters, put a 50 pFd high-voltage cap in
>> series with the antenna output to the 50-ohm antenna.
>> If you're on 80 meters, use 100 pFd.
>> If on a TCS, 100 pFd will work for both.
>>
>> Tunes up like a boss.  To full power.  Every time.
>> Please trust me on this.  I don't know or much care
>> about the theory.  It just works.
>
>