[Lowfer] Lowfer KE

Wed Jan 13 23:11:59 EST 2021

Kasey

Resetting the pot and making another measurement sounds like a good plan. 

There are likely a number of minor resonances in the antenna system ... primarily due to the many stray capacitances associated with a big loading coil. Tuning to one of these undesired resonances usually produces a small and not very well defined peak. The correct resonance should show quite a large change in antenna current with a very sharp peak. In fact it may be difficult to maintain the peak because of hand capacitance in the vicinity of the loading coil when adjusting the variometer ... if you don't have a long insulated tuning shaft! 

Jay W1VD

p.s. The higher the Q of the loading coil and he lower the losses of the ground system ... the sharper the variometer tuning.

----- Original Message -----
From: KA4SEY <ka4sey at gmail.com>
Reply-To: Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer bands <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
To: Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer bands <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: 1/13/2021 7:30:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Lowfer KE
________________________________________________________________________________

Jay,Now that I'm looking over the schematic I see you had it preset. Sorry for the inconvenience. I would have to try it again maybe Saturday or Sunday and I will let you know then. John is getting a great reception from it so I'm assuming its tuned. I will set that pot back to where it was. Thinking back now I did try it on the antenna side. I had the wire wrapped around one time instead of just passing it through. (Again, me not being able to read.) With the pot turned all the way up I think it read an S9 and I dont think it was a very sharp peak.Kasey
-------- Original message --------From: jrusgrove at comcast.net Date: 1/13/21  7:19 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer bands" <lowfer at mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Lowfer KE KaseyJohn is right ... the best place for the meter is at the top of the loading coil.The 7800 ohm value that the the pot was set to should not have been changed. That was the value required to calibrate the meter to read 200 mA full scale. No harm done ... just reset it to 7800 ohms with a DVM. I'd recommend then reinstalling the meter at the top of the loading coil and making another measurement. Readjusting the pot for higher sensitivity and only getting a reading of 4 on the meter (about 1/3 scale) makes me wonder if you are really on resonance. How sharp was the peak when tuning the variometer? Jay W1VD ----- Original Message -----From: KA4SEY <ka4sey at gmail.com>Reply-To: Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer bands <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>To: Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer bands <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>Sent: 1/13/2021 4:32:18 PMSubject: Re: [Lowfer] Lowfer KE________________________________________________________________________________John and Jay,I did try it there too but I dont remember exactly what the measurement was. I was thinking it was slightly higher than the ground measurement. Jay, the pot I was talking about is the 7800 ohm between the meter and 1N34 diode.Kasey-------- Original message --------From: John Andrews <w1tag at charter.net> Date: 1/13/21  4:17 PM  (GMT-05:00) To: lowfer at mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Lowfer KE Kasey,Just one thought. The best place for an antenna ammeter is in the antenna lead above the coil. If you put it in the lead from the bottom of the coil to ground, you may be sampling some stray currents from the the coil and its connections to ground. Their phase relationship might cause them to add or subtract from the measured antenna current.Obviously, putting the meter up on top means that it can't be touched or grounded.John, W1TAGOn 1/13/2021 4:02 PM, jrusgrove at comcast.net wrote:> Kasey> > Okay ... so you did install the rf milliameter ... great! Which "pot > turned all the way up" are you referring to?> > Jay W1VD> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "KA4SEY" <ka4sey at gmail.com>> To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European,& UK) and MedFer bands" > <lowfer at mailman.qth.net>> Sent: Wednesday, January 13 , 2021 3:08 PM> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Lowfer KE> > >> Okay, I dont remember exactly where it was at. The only measurement I>> remember is between the bottom of the coil and the ground rod. It was>> reading slightly above the 4 with the pot turned all the way up.>>>> Kasey>>>> On Wed, Jan 13, 2021, 3:04 PM <jrusgrove at comcast.net> wrote:>>>>> Kasey>>>>>> Actually, you would measure it ... using the meter, transformer and >>> other>>> associated parts I sent a>>> while back.>>>>>> Jay W1VD>>>>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----->>> From: "KA4SEY" <ka4sey at gmail.com>>>> To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European,& UK) and MedFer bands" <>>> lowfer at mailman.qth.net>>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 1:26 PM>>> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Lowfer KE>>>>>>>>> > How would I figure out antenna current?>>> >>>> > Kasey>>> >>>> > On Wed, Jan 13, 2021, 1:25 PM <jrusgrove at comcast.net> wrote:>>> >>>> >> Kasey>>> >>>>> >> Okay ... that's transmitter curent not antenna current. Need to know>>> >>  antenna current to determine>>> >> whether the antenna is functioning as expected. Didn't see >>> anything here>>> >> on the captures overnight.>>> >>>>> >> Jay W1VD>>> >>>>> >>>>> >> ----- Original Message ----->>> >> From: "KA4SEY" <ka4sey at gmail.com>>>> >> To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European,& UK) and MedFer bands" <>>> >> lowfer at mailman.qth.net>>>> >> Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 11:51 AM>>> >> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Lowfer KE>>> >>>>> >>>>> >> > Currently the meter is reading 51ma.>>> >> >>>> >> > On Wed, Jan 13, 2021, 11:49 AM <jrusgrove at comcast.net> wrote:>>> >> >>>> >> >> Kasey>>> >> >>>>> >> >> What are you seeing for antenna current?>>> >> >>>>> >> >> Jay W1VD>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >> ----- Original Message ----->>> >> >> From: "KA4SEY" <ka4sey at gmail.com>>>> >> >> To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, & UK) and MedFer >>> bands">>> <>>> >> >> lowfer at mailman.qth.net>>>> >> >> Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 11:20 AM>>> >> >> Subject: Re: [Lowfe r] Lowfer KE>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >> > That's no problem, glad you were seeing traces. Sounds like you>>> should>>> >> >> have no problem receiving>>> >> >> > it. Possibly try it in the daytime. John is copying it the best>>> right>>> >> >> now. You two are about the>>> >> >> > same distance from me. Thanks again,Kasey>>> >> >> > -------- Original message --------From: Douglas Williams <>>> >> >> williamsdoug1966 at gmail.com> Date:>>> >> >> > 1/13/21  11:16 AM  (GMT-05:00) To: "Discussion of the Lowfer >>> (US,>>> >> >> European, & UK) and MedFer>>> >> >> > bands" <lowfer at mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re: [Lowfer] Lowfer KE>>> Dummy>>> >> >> me forgot to change the>>> >> >> > power options on my PC from Balanced to HighPerformance, so it>>> went to>>> >> >> sleep 30 minutes after I>>> >> >> > went to bed. I wasdefinitely getting traces of a signal on >>> 187.227>>> >> >> before I went to bed. Willtry>>> >> >> > again tonight.On Wed, Jan 13, 2021 at 11:09 AM KA4SEY <>>> >> ka4se y at gmail.com>>>> >> >> wrote:> Great copy John!>>> >> >> > Looks like I have it tuned pretty well> now.Thanks,KaseySent >>> from>>> my>>> >> >> Verizon, Samsung Galaxy>>> >> >> > smartphone> -------- Original message --------From: John Hamer <>>> >> >> wilbur0611 at gmail.com>> Date:>>> >> >> > 1/13/21 9:15 AM (GMT-05:00) To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US,>>>> >> >> European, & UK) and MedFer bands">>> >> >> > <lowfer at mailman.qth.net> Subject: Re:> [Lowfer] Lowfer KE The>>> storms>>> >> >> east of the Bahamas seem to>>> >> >> > have calmed down> this morning. Theywere in line with my loop >>> and>>> made>>> >> >> reception difficult. I> got>>> >> >> > some greatcaptures of KE. Below is the link to a few >>> highlights.>>>> >> >> > http://jwhamer.me/grabber/1_13_2021/I still have the KE grabber>>> >> >> running>>>> >> >> > at:http://jwhamer.me/grabber/John HamerOn Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at>>> 8:46>>> >> PM>>>> >> >> Douglas Williams>>> >> >> > <williamsdoug1966 at gmail.com>wrote:> Got t races coming in> a >>> plenty>>> >> >> now.>> KE 187.227>> D.>>> >> >> > WB4DW>>>> On Tue, Jan 12, 2021 at 8:29 PM> Douglas Williams <>>>> >> >> williamsdoug1966 at gmail.com>>>>> >> >> > wrote:>> > Don't worry> about Andy. Nobody worries about >>> Andy.> >>>>> >>>> >> >> Focus!!!> >> > D.> >> >> >>>>>> >> >> > ______________________________________________________________>>>> >> Lowfer>>>> >> >> mailing list> Home:>>> >> >> > http://mailman.qth.net/mail> man/listinfo/lowfer> Help:>>> >> >> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> Post:>>>> >> >> > mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net> Post must be less than 50KB total>>> for>>>> >> >> message plus attachment!>>>>> >> >> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net>> Please help support >>> this>>> >> >> email list:>>> >> >> > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>> >> >>> >______________________________________________________________Lowfer>>>> >> >>>>> >> >> > mailing listHome:>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowferHelp>>> >> :>>>> >> >>  > http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:>>> >> Lowfer at mailman.qth.netPost>>>> >> >> must be less than 50KB>>> >> >> > total for message plus attachment!This list hosted> by:>>> >> >> http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this>>> >> >> > email list:> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>>> >> >> > ______________________________________________________________>>>> Lowfer>>> >> >> mailing list> Home:>>> >> >> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer> Help:>>> >> >> http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> Post:>>> >> >> > mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net> Post must be less than 50KB total>>> for>>> >> >> message plus attachment!>>>>> >> >> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net> Please help support >>> this>>> >> email>>> >> >> list:>>> >> >> > http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>> >> >______________________________________________________________Lowfer>>> >> >>>>> >> >> > mailing listHome:>>> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowferHelp:>>> >> >> > http://mailman.qth.net /mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:>>> >> Lowfer at mailman.qth.netPost>>> >> >> must be less than 50KB>>> >> >> > total for message plus attachment!This list hosted by:>>> >> >> http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this>>> >> >> > email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>> >> >> > ______________________________________________________________>>> >> >> > Lowfer mailing list>>> >> >> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer>>> >> >> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>> >> >> > Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net>>> >> >> > Post must be less than 50KB total for message plus attachment!>>> >> >> >>>> >> >> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net>>> >> >> > Please help support this email list:>>> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>> >> >>>>> >> >> ______________________________________________________________>>> >> >> Lowfer mailing list>>> >> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer>>> >> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>> >> >> Post: mailto:Lo wfer at mailman.qth.net>>> >> >> Post must be less than 50KB total for message plus attachment!>>> >> >>>>> >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net>>> >> >> Please help support this email list: >>> http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>> >> >>>>> >> > ______________________________________________________________>>> >> > Lowfer mailing list>>> >> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer>>> >> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>> >> > Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net>>> >> > Post must be less than 50KB total for message plus attachment!>>> >> >>>> >> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net>>> >> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>> >>>>> >> ______________________________________________________________>>> >> Lowfer mailing list>>> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer>>> >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>> >> Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net>>> >> Post must be less than 50KB total for mes sage plus attachment!>>> >>>>> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net>>> >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>> >>>>> > ______________________________________________________________>>> > Lowfer mailing list>>> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer>>> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>> > Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net>>> > Post must be less than 50KB total for message plus attachment!>>> >>>> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net>>> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html>>>>>> ______________________________________________________________>>> Lowfer mailing list>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>>> Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net>>> Post must be less than 50KB total for message plus attachment!>>>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.h tml>>>>> ______________________________________________________________>> Lowfer mailing list>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm>> Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net>> Post must be less than 50KB total for message plus attachment!>>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > ______________________________________________________________> Lowfer mailing list> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowfer> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> Post: mailto:Lowfer at mailman.qth.net> Post must be less than 50KB total for message plus attachment!> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html______________________________________________________________Lowfer mailing listHome: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/lowferHelp: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:Lowf er at mailman.qth.netPost must be less than 50KB total for message plus attachment!This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list: 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