[Lowfer] active whip

[Eric Smith]

Hi gang,

Last night (well, early this morning ... but the birds weren't singing yet 
:) I completed a 12V, J310-based version of the AMRAD LF active whip.  
Since it is 12V I can run it using the low voltage side of the same supply 
I built to run my R23 "Command Set" (that's right).

I've only tested it in the back yard, 6' off the ground.  Initial results 
were great, though.  Can't wait to get it on top of the house or take it 
for a ride to the country.  I noticed that it seems -- well, quiet.  
Strong NDB signals against a quiet background.  Not all the 
intermodulation products I heard in the hula-hoop loop, for example.

My receiver tunes from 185 up to about 550 kc.  The closer to the long 
end, the greater the static crashes!  So, are you guys saying this stuff 
goes away in the fall?  Because, from what I heard last night, it seems 
that if we didn't have the static crashes, I could really crank up the 
gain on the R23.  So is that stuff really mostly gone later in the year?  
Wow -- that'll be great.

What about safety?  I understand the JFETs are very static sensitive.  If 
I mount one of these on my house, can I leave it up there?  Do I need to 
take it down during storms, or just anytime I'm not using it?  What about 
when my 1W LowFER beacon is on only 20 or 30 feet away?  Of course, I shut 
it down for listening -- but am in any danger of cooking my new amp?

Happy to be slowly increasing my receive capabilities.  Looking forward to 
having a modern radio -- I'll be able to try RX QRSS and also go below 
185 kc ... I've never been down there with anything other than an old tube 
HF rig and a LF converter.  My antenna should do alright down to about 10 
kc.  Anyway, at least maybe I can log a few of you this season :)

73
Eric, KD5UWL