[Mobile-Portable] Screwdriver antenna controller

[D C (Mac) Macdonald]

The noise created by the brushes gives you a signal
to use to tune for maximum receive noise as a pre-tune
step prior to a manual final touch-up for minimum 
reflected power!!!  As I wrote earlier, there is no
need for fancy gadgets.  Most of the tune-up plug-in
devices will only key your 706 for about 10-15 seconds,
which is definitely not long enough to move to or from
75 meters.  It takes approximately 30 seconds for my
High Sierra HS-1500 to get between 75 and 40 meters.
I can see that the VSWR-sensing auto-tune devices might
be useful between 40 and 10 meters, though.

I also suspect that tuning under power, even at just
10 Watts, might adversely affect the life of the antenna,
even if only minimally.

K.I.S.S., folks!

(;-p)

73  ---  Mac, K2GKK/5



-- "Jim Miller" <JimMiller at STL-OnLine.Net> wrote:

Yes, I have the 706 MKIIG with the low power tune module
installed.  That is what I am leaning towards is the
automatic one that runs from the tune button.  I am
concerned about the "noise" that is generated by the
motor brushes causing a problem with the sensing.

73, Jim



----- Original Message ----- 

From: "DavidE Benedict" <iam at pmug.org>
To: <mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: <mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net>; <JimMiller at stl-online.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 04, 2005 2:29 AM
Subject: Re: [Mobile-Portable] Screwdriver antenna controller

mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net writes:

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