[Mobile-Portable] Screwdriver antenna controller

[rbrucker3]

Scott
My ASAC (Am-Comm) controller acted/worked like yours.  My Screwdriver
antenna is mounted rear driver side of a GMC pickup.  Originally I run a
hefty ground to the frame to the ant. base ground point.
After a ground strap was added from the base to the closes sheet metal
(about 6 inches long) and all the problems went away.
To make it short as possible I opened the tale light assembly.  Removed
paint inside, used 3 machine screws with double star lock anti-ox and
mounted  2 inch copper strap.  At the antenna end, disassembled the feed
point and attached the ground there.  Mine uses a cone arrangement with a
screw washer and nylon washer.  The ground strap was punched with a large
hole and mounted (not using the manufactures ground point provided) but
between the nylon washer and ground side at the feed point screw.  The strap
was run between the joining edge of the fender and plastic tale light assy.
My 706 and ASAC are mounted under the seat where I also ran a short ground
lead (-12 V side) unit to unit about 6 inches.
I'm not a great writer but hope you understand the above.  Before I got me
ground problems fixed I would have given my ASAC away to someone I disliked
for revenge.  I have been using it this way for three years now with no
problems on any band.
Robert W6LFO


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Scott Neader KA9FOX" <ka9fox at qth.com>
To: "Mobile-Portable Reflector" <mobile-portable at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 11:18 AM
Subject: Re: [Mobile-Portable] Screwdriver antenna controller


> I also have one of the ASAC (Am-Comm) controllers.  It seems to get
> confused a lot, especially moving between the high bands and the low bands
> (40/80).  As someone eluded to, it takes longer than 15-20 seconds to move
> around, requiring a second or third punch of the IC706 TUNE
> button.  Sometimes, when I punch the button it starts tuning the right
> direction, then the next punch it goes the opposite direction.
>
> Worse, sometimes it gets confused enough that I don't even know where the
> thing is... like if I'm trying to get on 40 and it somehow doesn't stop
> there or went the wrong way, then I lose track of the thing and even I
> don't know what direction to go.  The usual cure is to pull over and look
> at the coil then guess where to go from there.
>
> After using the ASAC for a few years, I would switch to a turn counter in
a
> heartbeat.
>
> - Scott