[Mobile-Portable] Screwdriver antenna controller

[Jim Miller]

Mine does have the magnets and the previous post reminded me what the tag on
it said when I got it.  It said it was "SAM ready".  I may have paid a bit
extra for it at the time, can't remember.

I built the switch and use it but it seems the noise generated by the
screwdriver motor is so bad I cannot accurately see the swr dip on the radio
when I get to position.  I have been using my MFJ 269, what a pain to switch
cables etc.  I have tape on the side of the coil marking the nominal
locations to get me close.  I am looking preferably for something automatic
but am concerned that the same "noise" will prevent reliable operation.  For
that reason I am also (not preferably) considering one of the manual ones
that show the "count" location.

I have found SAM (screwdriver antenna memory www.ko6yd.com) which says it is
out of production and send him an email if you want one.  I also found one
at www.thescrewdriver.com that is a manual counter type like SAM and another
at www.w4rt.com, the Boss II which is fully automatic.  Eham has 3 bad
reviews out of about 15 on the Boss II which is of concern but the others
are glowing.  One of them however states a problem of it going right past
the resonance point without stopping and that could be the noise type of
problem I see on mine.  What do you do?

Santa is coming.  Has anyone any additional comments about the Boss II in
particular?

73, Jim



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Neader KA9FOX" <ka9fox at qth.com>
To: "Mobile-Portable Reflector" <mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2005 10:49 PM
Subject: Re: [Mobile-Portable] Screwdriver antenna controller


> Jim, if you look on Charlie's site at http://www.hiqantennas.com and pull
> up your 4/80RT, it now says:
>
> -------------
> Method of tuning:
>
> For Yaesu Radios (FT-100/D, 847, 857 & 897)
> I recommend The Antenna BOSS Motorized Antenna Controller, which will
> interface between the Hi-Q antenna and your Yaesu rig. This will make the
> antenna act and tune like the old ATAS-100 and 120. You may also use a
> simple DPDT switch to tune the antenna.
>
> For Other Radios
> ALL of the Hi-Q-Antennas manufactured since January 2003 have a magnet
> installed to count rotations of the motor-output shaft. So, by adding a
> simple reed switch externally, you can use the Ameritron SDC-100 antenna
> controller. You may also use a simple DPDT switch to tune the antenna.
> ---------------
>
> Since you have had your antenna for 4 years, it is unlikely that you have
> the magnet installed (which counts turns) therefore you will need to
> retrofit yours.  I would drop Charlie at Hi-Q a note about it to see what
> your options are. I am not sure if it can be done by you, or if it would
> require shipping it to Charlie for some surgery.
>
> As far as the reed switch installation, N0SS has provided a PDF file
> detailing the installation.  You can find it at
http://www.hiqantennas.com,
> click on Support.
>
> - Scott KA9FOX
>
> At 08:36 PM 12/3/2005 -0800, you wrote:
> >Jim,
> >
> >Is this what you are looking for?  http://www.ko6yd.com/
> >
> >73,
> >Rich  AD6X
> >
> >
> >
> >At 07:47 PM 12/3/2005, you wrote:
> >>I have a Hi Q 4-80 screwdriver mounted on the bumper with a 102 inch
whip
> >>above it (for 6 and 10M I use a 6 ft whip but am normally on 40 and
> >>80).  I have had it for about 4 years and mounted it shortly after I got
> >>it but didn't pay enough attention to the grounding and it worked great,
> >>then poorly, then great again, whenever the grounding decided to make
> >>connection.  I took it off after the trio and only put it back on a few
> >>months ago, this time with proper attention to grounding.  WOW, love
> >>it.  I continually get UNSOLICITED great signal reports.  Fantastic.
> >>
> >>Anyway ....... tuning from 40 to 80 takes a bit and is somewhat of a
> >>pain, so :
> >>
> >>What is being used for antenna controllers at this time.  I made a
switch
> >>box which works great but it is a bit dangerous watching the coil in the
> >>mirror at 70 mph.  Seems like there was a controller that stored
"counts"
> >>of the positioning sensor that could be returned to by selecting a
> >>position on a rotary switch and pressing the button.  What was the name
> >>of it, probably the least expensive.  I would think there are other
> >>controllers available too that are more "automatic".
> >>
> >>TIA, de Jim KG0KP
> >>----
> >>Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC,
mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net
> >
> >
> >----
> >Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net
> >
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Scott Neader KA9FOX    ka9fox at qth.com
> Free Ham Radio Classified Ads:  http://swap.QTH.com
> Web Hosting Services:   http://hosting.QTH.com
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> KA9FOX Contesting & DXing Site: http://www.ka9fox.com
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net