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Subject:
From:
Tom Fowle <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
For blind ham radio operators <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 19 Jan 2016 18:45:30 -0800
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (391 lines)
Gary,
Yeah, that's what Danny of myantennas said, one of those things that seem
obvious once you get it.

I'm seriously considering getting one of his EFHW4010 antennas and putting
it partly in my attic and partly over the back yard.

Tom Fowle WA6IVG

On Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 04:16:56PM -0500, Gary Lee wrote:
> I have never used that particular brand, but have used  and own the parr =
> end fed.
> 
> It does work multi band.  typically, it consists of a small broadband 60 =
> to 1 or tso transformer.
> This has a bnc or so239 connector for coax, and a threaded stud with nut =
> for the end fed wire.
> 
> the properties of an end fed half wave are such that it will be resonant =
> on any band for which its length is a multiple of a half wave.
> 
> Therefore, an antenna of roughly 135 feet is resonant on 80, 40, 20, 15 =
> and ten meters.
> This can be extended by building a fuches tuner.
> This uses a tapped secondary coil and a variable cap instead of a fixed =
> transformer.  With this even resonance on 60 and 30 can be obtained.
> I have a qrp version of this tuner, but haven=E2=80=99t experimented =
> with it yet.
> 
> Looks like a neat field antenna, only needs one support
> 
> Gary Lee
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> 
> > On Jan 18, 2016, at 9:12 PM, Tom Fowle <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >=20
> > Looking at the myantennas.com web site, he has a set of end fed =
> multi-band
> > half wave antennas which he claims exhibit low swr on several adjacent
> > bands.  He says nothing about matching networks but says " no tuner
> > required"
> >=20
> > Does anybody have experience with any of his "EFHW" antennas, and if =
> so how
> > does he do it?
> > You just have to have some kind of a matching network for an end fed =
> half
> > wave.
> >=20
> > tom Fowle WA6IVG
> >=20
> > On Sat, Jan 16, 2016 at 11:00:08PM -0600, Dr. Ronald E. Milliman =
> wrote:
> >> The Common Mode Choke I use is the CMC-130-3K produced by and =
> available from
> >> MyAntennas.com. Here is the direct URL:
> >>=20
> >> http://myantennas.com/wp/product/cmc-130-3k/
> >>=20
> >> These Common Mode Chokes are produced by Danny Horvat who is an =
> interesting
> >> fellow. He produces a variety of antennas and antenna related =
> products.
> >>=20
> >> Ron, K8HSY
> >>=20
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: For blind ham radio operators =
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >> On Behalf Of Tom Behler
> >> Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2016 10:05 AM
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's Power =
> Supply?
> >>=20
> >> Richard.
> >>=20
> >> I'd be interested in what kind of common mode RF chokes you get, or =
> what
> >> others on the list use. and where they can be gotten.
> >>=20
> >> I, too, have some RF issues here on certain bands, although they are =
> not as
> >> serious as what you are dealing with.
> >>=20
> >> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
> >>=20
> >>=20
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: For blind ham radio operators =
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >> On Behalf Of Richard B. McDonald
> >> Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2016 10:52 AM
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's Power =
> Supply?
> >>=20
> >> Hi Tom!
> >>=20
> >> No, I do not have a common mode choke, but I think I am going to get =
> one!
> >>=20
> >> 73,
> >> Richard KK6MRH
> >>=20
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: For blind ham radio operators =
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >> On Behalf Of Tom Fowle
> >> Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 5:59 PM
> >> To: [log in to unmask]
> >> Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's Power =
> Supply?
> >>=20
> >> richard,
> >> I forget if you said whether you have a common mode choke in the coax =
> to
> >> your antenna?
> >> That's always a first try at keeping R.F. out of where it doesn't =
> belong.
> >>=20
> >> Also you could try disconnecting the ground from the power supply, =
> and/or
> >> making that individual ground wire a bit longer and taking a few =
> turns of it
> >> through a ferite core near the supply.
> >>=20
> >> Yes it's closer to sorcery than science! <GRIN>
> >>=20
> >> good luck
> >> Tom Fowle WA6IVG
> >>=20
> >> On Fri, Jan 15, 2016 at 11:11:43AM -0500, Steve Forst wrote:
> >>> Dave,
> >>>=20
> >>> I'm not an electrician or a doctor (although I played one when I was=20=
> 
> >>> 6), but my understanding is that the National Electric Code (NEC) =
> mandates
> >>> that   all grounds  should be bonded to the electric mains ground.
> >>>=20
> >>> I'm sure others with more experience will chime in.
> >>>=20
> >>> 73, if you are on the 20 meter net Sunday, try the processor, it=20
> >>> brought you up a bit on 40 last Sunday  when you were chatting with
> >> Junior.
> >>> Steve KW3A
> >>>=20
> >>>=20
> >>>=20
> >>>=20
> >>>=20
> >>> On 1/15/2016 10:54 AM, David Weigel wrote:
> >>>> Hi, Richard, Steve and readers:
> >>>> It is always interesting to learn about the various ways to reduce=20=
> 
> >>>> or eliminate RF in the radio room.  I was wondering if it would be =
> a=20
> >>>> better practice or at least worth a try to NOT connect the 2 ground=20=
> 
> >>>> rods together electrically.  I was thinking that the 120 VAC ground=20=
> 
> >>>> rod might create a low volume "buzz" or spiky noise, coming back on=20=
> 
> >>>> the separate equipment-ground rod pathway.  But I could be wrong.
> >>>> And, as Steve suggested earlier, my preference is to place ferrite=20=
> 
> >>>> clamps on all cables, jumpers, etc.  "Line Isolators are =
> recommended=20
> >>>> by The Radio Works, particularly when there are extraordinary =
> length=20
> >>>> connections to ground rods, or when there can be no ground rodds=20
> >>>> whatsoever.  although I have never used them. Just stirring the =
> pot,
> >> slowly.
> >>>>=20
> >>>> 					Dave Weigel    KD4JEZ
> >>>>=20
> >>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>> From: For blind ham radio operators=20
> >>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >>>> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
> >>>> Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 10:16 AM
> >>>> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>>> Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's Power
> >> Supply?
> >>>>=20
> >>>> Ok, I misunderstood.   The way I had read the other post, I had =
> thought
> >>>> that you were running several  wires from the shack to the outside =
> rod,
> >>>> one for each piece of gear.    That wouldn't be a good idea.   =
> Sounds
> >>>> like you have a good handle on the ground side of things.
> >>>>=20
> >>>> 73, Steve KW3A
> >>>>=20
> >>>> On 1/15/2016 9:55 AM, Richard B. McDonald wrote:
> >>>>> Hi Steve!
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> Yes, indeed, this whole RFI thing looks to be not just a bitch=20
> >>>>> (pardon the
> >>>>> French) but also a bit more art and trial and error rather than
> >> science!
> >>>>> Following is a bit more of an explanation of my present ground =
> wire
> >> setup.
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> Inside the shack is a ground bus (I think that is what it is=20
> >>>>> called, a.k.a., a "common point") that has about five terminals.
> >>>>> Attached to each of these terminals is a length of 14 gauge=20
> >>>>> insolated stranded copper wire that attaches to equipment either =
> by=20
> >>>>> its ground post (wing
> >>>>> nut) or in the case of my PC and TS-2000's power supply by=20
> >>>>> attaching the ground wire to a chassis screw (because they have no=20=
> 
> >>>>> dedicated grounding post).  The length of each of these ground=20
> >>>>> wires varies from ~3' to ~7' depending on the distance of the=20
> >>>>> respective equipment to the bus.  =46rom the bus there is a single=20=
> 
> >>>>> ~6" ~10 gauge insolated wire that goes through the wall into my=20
> >>>>> garage and attaches to an 8' copper ground rod which is sunk into=20=
> 
> >>>>> the ground with only ~6" of it sticking up.  About 6" away from=20
> >>>>> this ground rod is a second ground rod attached to which is AC
> >> grounding for all AC power into the shack.
> >>>>> Then, both of these ground rods are connected together by heavy=20
> >>>>> copper
> >>>> wire.  This electrical work was done by a professional electrician.
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> So, I do not think it is really possible to shorten the lengths of=20=
> 
> >>>>> these separate ground wires, and then attach all of them to a=20
> >>>>> single wire running to the bus.  These wires are already about as=20=
> 
> >>>>> short as they can be.  I do understand and agree that, in most=20
> >>>>> situations, the distance from the bus and the ends of separate=20
> >>>>> ground wires is longer; in which case a single wire
> >>>>> *should* bridge that distance.
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> HTH & 73,
> >>>>> Richard KK6MRH
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>>> From: For blind ham radio operators=20
> >>>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >>>>> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
> >>>>> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 6:41 PM
> >>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>>>> Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's Power
> >> Supply?
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> Richard,
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> Grounding questions are one of those things in the hobby that  =
> will
> >>>>> get you a multitude of   contradictory suggestions.
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> If you try them all, you will probably find one that works for =
> you.
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> I think all would agree that running multiple ground wires from =
> each
> >>>>> piece of gear in the shack to a ground rod is a bad idea.   Usual
> >>>>> practice is to run short pieces of grounding wire from each piece=20=
> 
> >>>>> of gear to a  common grounding point in the shack, with wires =
> being as
> >>>>> short as possible.   Then a single heavy conductor to the ground =
> rod.
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> Another problem is the length of the wire (or wires in your case)=20=
> 
> >>>>> from the equipment to the ground rod. If the wrong length, it
> >>>>> (they) will radiate like an antenna.
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> What is the length from the shack to the ground rod?
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> Good luck, 73, Steve KW3A
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>> On 1/14/2016 9:08 PM, Richard B. McDonald wrote:
> >>>>>> Hey Steve!
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> You said it!  This high power stuff is gnarly!  I will try =
> ferrite=20
> >>>>>> if it persists.  The antenna is about 40' from the shack.
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> following is information about my grounding system.  About 10'=20
> >>>>>> from the shack, I have two copper 8' ground rods sunk into the =
> ground.
> >>>>>> All 120V AC into the shack is grounded to one of them.  Connected=20=
> 
> >>>>>> to the other ground rod is a terminal; attached to which are =
> about=20
> >>>>>> five separate 14 gauge copper wires each of which goes to=20
> >>>>>> equipment in the shack (rig, tuner, PC, amp, etc.).  then, both=20=
> 
> >>>>>> ground rods are connected with a 10 gauge wire.  For the power=20
> >>>>>> supply which is shutting down, I just attached yet another ground=20=
> 
> >>>>>> wire, and I also wrapped its AC power cord in tin foil.  I have=20=
> 
> >>>>>> not yet tested to see if it still shuts down with these new two=20=
> 
> >>>>>> grounding/shielding
> >>>>> improvements.
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> 73,
> >>>>>> Richard KK6MRH
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>>>> From: For blind ham radio operators=20
> >>>>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >>>>>> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
> >>>>>> Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 7:27 AM
> >>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
> >>>>>> Subject: Re: How to Stop RFI from Shutting Down My TS-2000's =
> Power
> >>>> Supply?
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> Richard,
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> Welcome  to the world of high power.   How do you have the radio
> >>>>>> grounded?   How close is the antenna to the operating position?
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> I would invest in some ferrites.  E-bay is a good source.     I =
> would
> >>>>>> clamp the AC line to the power supply, and the  12 vdc line =
> coming
> >> out.
> >>>>>>      Also clamp everything  connected to the radio/amp (coax, =
> power,
> >>>>>> control cables, etc.).    The other school of thought is to only =
> clamp
> >>>>>> things until you find the  one that is the problem.
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> If your antenna is 5 feet from your operating position, things =
> may=20
> >>>>>> be more problematic.  As Ron suggests, antenna/feedline/balun  =
> may=20
> >>>>>> be
> >> the
> >>>>>> culprit.    Sometimes this stuff is hard to solve, glad you have =
> help
> >> on
> >>>>>> site.
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> 73, good luck, Steve KW3A
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>> On 1/14/2016 9:48 AM, Richard B. McDonald wrote:
> >>>>>>> Hi!
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>> In the process of setting up my Ameritron ALS-1306 amp with my=20=
> 
> >>>>>>> Kenwood
> >>>>>>> TS-2000 and an MFJ 998 tuner, sometimes RFI shuts down the=20
> >>>>>>> TS-2000's power supply.  My Elmer is convinced it is RFI because
> >>>>>>> 1) it seems only to
> >>>>>> happen
> >>>>>>> on 20M (so far, anyway) and 2) it only happens when we crank-up=20=
> 
> >>>>>>> the
> >>>>>>> 1306 beyond ~200W.  The 1306 is on a totally different, =
> dedicated=20
> >>>>>>> power
> >>>>> line:
> >>>>>>> 240V.  The TS-2000's power supply is on the household's 120V. =20=
> 
> >>>>>>> The power supply for the TS-2000 is an Astrin SS-30=20
> >>>>>>> <https://www.hamcity.com/store/pc/SS-30-p363.htm> .  So, what =
> can=20
> >>>>>>> I do to stop this?
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>> 73,
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>> Richard KK6MRH
> >>>>>>>=20
> >>>>>>=20
> >>>>>=20
> >>>>=20

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