Thanks for educating me on the DAV internal loop setup Breck. I thought it used an external loop. Never owned one.
I wonder if you used MN 62 or ARN 7 ADFs (nearly identical) during your transport flying days. I tweaked an R5A ARN 7 to receive and DF on the old 2-3 MHz marine band and installed it on my dads boat. It was a great ADF. Worked better on marine and beacon bands than any purpose built marine ADFs including KODEN, Taiyo, Raytheon, Bendix and others.
Hi Mark
In this case the DAV is used for receiving and has a distorted
pattern. The loop antenna BTW is wound around a form inside the
wooden box. I've checked the inductance/capacitance etc but I
suspect the loops location inside the set is poor. My guess is the
DF pattern was skewed and probably not very usable even when it was
manufactured. BTW it is easier to determine the "Null" on a weak
signal if you are just using listening to earphone audio and not
using a meter. Been there and done that while flying transports.
I have many years of experience using RDFs and
ADFs crewing and later skippering commercial fishing boats. I’ve
shot bearings on USCG and FAA beacons, AM BCB stations, other
boats on 2-3 MHz AM and weak net buoy beacons operating just
near the bottom edge of the 160M ham band. It’s VERY hard to get
useable loop antenna directional nulls on weak signals. DAV and
BC 611 are not great DF targets. Signal is too weak unless you
are very close. Others may hold different opinions but this is
my experience.
I've worked with the DAV quite a bit. Also worked
with Robert Downs on a revised schematic. My only
problem with the DAV is using it for DF - I can not get a
decent figure 8 pattern. Building a battery box is a week
end project.
k4che
On 11/25/2023 11:31 AM, David Stinson wrote:
Is there anyone left who cares
about and
actually works with the WWII MAB / DAV,
arguably the Marine Corps version of the BC-611?