Hi all,
Any of you, whom are remotely interested, might have heard me discuss my very difficult QTH, mostly whilst on VHF, would know that, I have a passion for small antennas, particularly screwdrivers!
At present, I’m working out how to build the perfect loaded, that’s with a coil, short antenna in the dipole conformation, mainly for 80 meters. This strong and, uncontrollable urge is purely a function of my nightmare QTH, which is a 6 floor flat in the E1 area. However, due to a slight evolution in my researched and, borrowed antenna designs, coupled with my background in polymers, now, I am ready to start building my prototype. However, I have bumbled into a major set-back to my plans. The, miniVNA antenna analyser, that I have owned for a couple of years has, for some confounded reason unknown to me at this point, stopped talking to my Mac so it will not work! Therefore, it will become more difficult to manufacture the coils so that they counter the capasitive reactance of this intended very short antenna.
Ok, now to explain the main reason for writing this email! As you might know, for sometime, VK5JNS, has devised a very good design for a kit built antenna analyser that easily rivals the most vaunted MFJ259B. In fact, his design, seems to be more flexible and, allows the constructer to adapt the code used to programme the device’s microprocessor so that the finished device can be more functional than the MFJ259B. There are many other modifications, which can be made to this flexible design and, they are all well documented on the inter-web. The cost of a full kit sold by SCARC, obviously from Australia, is around £95 and, can be paid using Paypal at www.scarc.org.au, and just look for the antenna analyser kit page!
My intention, is to buy one and, then construct this project, which will certainly be a challenge. Of course, some company, advice and general help solving encountered problems along the way would, of course, be greatly appreciated. Hence, my reason for asking would any-other club members like to buy this kit and, then perhaps we might help each other! Personally, this project inspires me because it’s quite difficult, but, on the other hand very cheap relative to the end product, skills and, deeper understanding of radio science! Furthermore, in the end, whomever decides to construct this kit, would have a really knacky and useful bit of radio kit.
Finally, I will not bore you any further, anyone who is interested in having a look at the design literature for this project/kit, please search using google VK5JNS antenna analyser to find a wealth of information and construction hints & advice. From a personal perspective, I’m going to order a kit this week so anyone who might wish to give me advise during or before construction, then please drop me a line saying so. Of course, I would be delighted to hear from anyone who would be interested in constructing this kit, or perhaps already have.
With kind regards
73’s
Stacy Williams
M0WSAComments, email: m0wsa@lefars.org.uk
- VK5JST antenna analyzer
