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| Problems, problems, problems...; A range of equipment issues that hamper my ability to get out | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Thursday, 2. June 2016, 21:42 (1,400 Views) | |
| rustysheriff | Thursday, 2. June 2016, 21:42 Post #1 |
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26 Charlie Tango 2142
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Hello, thanks for having me on board.I've returned to CB out of curiosity more than anything, after 20 years off, I fancied seeing what the airways were like again. I'm keen to get back involved, and a post here ( http://s3.zetaboards.com/copythat/topic/7866750/1/ ) linked me to some local types who I have managed to just about copy with. Having said that, I "need to do more" to get our further than 5 miles or so... So, as a second time newbie I'm after the help of some of the seasoned pros! I hope you don't mind me running through a few of the more obvious issues... 1) I live in a built up, flat, urban area, where poles towering over houses aren't really going to happen (heard that before right?). I recently bought a Sirio Boomerang 27W to strap to the house and replace the mag mount whip in the loft and give the biscuit tin a break... The boomerang is a funny thing, tunes for swr via the whip at the bottom (which does nothing), and gives me between 2-3 on the SWR meter. Clearly not ideal. I've faffed about checking the coax cable(s) which are fine and the results are higher at channel 40 at present. Grounding issue? I've adjusted the whip and it doesn't affect much. I'm loathed to cut it, as I don't know what the resulting swr will be, and maybe I'm not brave enough! Does the distance to the house have much effect on swr? I can't get it any further away, as the roof below is at an incline and difficult to access. Drilling out the window is sketchy at best... 2) What I thought was a decent second hand deal maybe might not be... I picked up a Harvard H-407 home base online, decent price, and observed that I seem to hear more breakers out and about. Good. Then, it has become apparent that I'm not getting out particularly well, again the whip in the loft/ropey swr boomerang 27W clearly have not helped this. Then after repeated call outs I dawned on me that the needle on the meter might provide a clue. When I key up the needle goes backwards, not all the way, but noticeably backwards. Shouldn't it go upwards? Hummmm. Then with the boomerang, the swr meter hardly registers... This can't be true, because... 3) Then I decided to pull out my old faithful Midland 4001 (my first rig) and try this with the different situations. It shows swr on the boomerang as high (2-3), up on channel 40, and the AWI pops on. In short, I have so many problems I don't know where to start without having to throw cash at the situation, even that won't help the antenna situation. So in short, sorry about the but any ideas are gratefully received. |
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| Deleted User | Friday, 3. June 2016, 07:15 Post #2 |
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Welcome to the CTDX group rusty,i would go down the T2LT route . Inexpensive discreet,very easy to make and tune and once its done its done.Can be raised and lowered in less than 5 minutes,i use 1 at work on a 10 meter FIBERGLASS fishing pole not carbon fibre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cant get the link up 4 some reason dam phone,any way go to youtube and type in T2LT and you will find our very own gary.Running through the whole procedure,remember measure twice cut once. . . . . . . . . . . . Good luck let us know how you get on............... LINK.... http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjvpNP5rIvNAhVCI8AKHco4BH8QtwIIGzAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DsenQ5_fc5WU&usg=AFQjCNF1q9FomeJ2QZEvZz_LvdlIPoxX2A |
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| Deleted User | Friday, 3. June 2016, 07:20 Post #3 |
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This the link ............ http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&rct=j&q=t2lt&ved=0ahUKEwjb_OClrYvNAhVoC8AKHVi3AysQtwIIITAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fm.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DGf8xeq77kkI&usg=AFQjCNHSPJHi-4beWLujsdpnlQTWI3fexA Fist link is the new 1................... |
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| rustysheriff | Friday, 3. June 2016, 11:25 Post #4 |
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26 Charlie Tango 2142
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Hiya Lagerland, It's funny you mention that video, I found the first one a few weeks back when I was researching the bazooka build (overheard a convo on Channel 38 down here regarding the build) and then saw the T2LT clip. The second build is really good, I like how I could use anything to get the length and support (I can see a trip to the car boot for a fishing rod/tent braces/something similar). I suspect something telescopic makes for an easy build/pack down. So now to buy some decent coax, waste pipe and a ferrite, and I'll give it a go. Brilliant idea, thanks. I'm disappointed the boomerang isn't a goer, but there's only so much messing around I can do with it! Now, why does that Harvard needle go backwards when I key up? Does anyone else have a H-407 that they could check with? Maybe its like that on all of them? |
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| Roy | Friday, 3. June 2016, 12:06 Post #5 |
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104 Charlie Tango 011
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Hello Rusty, The T2TL is a great homebrew antenna, I've used it around the world and it hasn't been ideally mounted.... and it has worked superbly. I'm pretty certain that I have read or someone told me on this CT forum that someone was selling the T2TL antenna readymade on EBay ? Rusty I have a video on my Youtube Channel ( SylRoyCorsica ) where I did a field test near my home on the T2TL.... I'd just completed making the antenna and was keen to try it out in less that ideal conditions regarding the mounting of it. I wanted to do it this way, because when I'm doing an activation in some part of the world I don't know what I will be faced with regarding problems mounting the T2TL properly. Sorry I cannot give you the direct link to this video as Youtube seems to be playing up with me at the moment. BTW Rusty... if you want a good laugh watch the video until the end for the "out takes"
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Roy 104DA101 & 104ET001 + 104CT011 Your Radio Friend in Corsica Island Website : My Webpage YouTube Channel : My Webpage
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| razor36 | Friday, 3. June 2016, 15:21 Post #6 |
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http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T2LT-CB-Portable-DX-Antenna-Quality-Coax-Caravan-Camping-etc-27mhz-11m-10m-/152111478040?hash=item236a8cf518:g:PFYAAOSwNSxVCJev ive just took my boomerang down as i dont use it anymore, if i remember when i got it i had to cut it and faff about getting the proper angle on the bottom rod. Edited by razor36, Friday, 3. June 2016, 15:23.
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| M0LSG | |
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| Roy | Friday, 3. June 2016, 15:53 Post #7 |
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104 Charlie Tango 011
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Hi Glynn, Thanks for the link... I was beginning to wonder if I had imagined such an item for sale =)) And from what I remember the quality is very good... at that price its hardly worth going to the trouble of gathering the materials and the work involved. |
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Roy 104DA101 & 104ET001 + 104CT011 Your Radio Friend in Corsica Island Website : My Webpage YouTube Channel : My Webpage
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| razor36 | Friday, 3. June 2016, 16:11 Post #8 |
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lot easier to buy one mate thats what i did. |
| M0LSG | |
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| rustysheriff | Friday, 3. June 2016, 16:16 Post #9 |
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26 Charlie Tango 2142
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Thanks Roy and Glynn, I'm going to have a go at the T2LT build myself, like Roy says, and observed in his very funny video, it is pretty straightforward to construct. I'm planning to enclose it inside 20mm plastic pipe which will give me something to attach it to the house with and protect it a little from the elements, all told 8 meters of the stuff which is collapsible and joins together each 2 meter strip with a coupling. I realise this won't offer much wind protection, but it's a start. I'm going to forget about the boomerang for now, I'm can't be bothered to fight the swr in the conditions at home. |
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| Deleted User | Friday, 3. June 2016, 18:32 Post #10 |
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It really isnt hard it cant be ive made 2 of them,and just think of the satisfaction you will get. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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| SilverGhost | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 13:22 Post #11 |
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26 Charlie Tango 429
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just a thought I don't suppose the radio is on low power |
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No matter where you go there you are ! Omar 26CT429 | |
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| Northern Crusader | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 14:18 Post #12 |
26 Charlie Tango 1760
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Vertical Antennas consist of two parts - the bit that sticks up in the air and a ground. If you've not got a good ground then you'll put out a crap signal. RF is AC and it'll work without a ground but poorly - if you disconnect one of the wires from your ceiling light you'll find that when you turn it on it works but it'll glow very dimly. The effect is the same when it comes to transmitting a signal if you've an antenna with a piss poor ground unless its something like a dipole which is self contained and effectively has the ground side built in. |
| 26CT1760 / M0GVZ | |
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| skipmaster | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 14:39 Post #13 |
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check the -10db on the rear of the radio the harvard might be on low power
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| rustysheriff | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 15:14 Post #14 |
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26 Charlie Tango 2142
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Silverghost and Skipmaster, spot on, the -10db switch on the back had been knocked! Now the meter flings itself to the right when I key up. Thanks lads
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| skipmaster | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 16:28 Post #15 |
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yes rusty good to hear it my friend , hope you get the antenna issues sorted too , i had a chat to a guy in switzerland on a boomerang so when conditions are good who knows where you can speak to ,so all the advice on here will help 73's mark
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| SilverGhost | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 18:05 Post #16 |
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26 Charlie Tango 429
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glad to be of help |
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No matter where you go there you are ! Omar 26CT429 | |
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| rustysheriff | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 19:17 Post #17 |
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26 Charlie Tango 2142
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So... I had a go at the T2LT build, which in itself was really easy (see pictures). The antenna went up and I went straight to swr it in. Both channels 1 and 40 pushing 3. I think I'm going to loose my mind! Why does the swr keep pushing high levels? I've tried three different rigs, three different antennas, tested coax and patch leads. I don't want to become reliant on the matcher which doesn't solve much anyway. The only common element is my home. Thankfully the rig is ok and up and running... and having said all of the above local breakers are coming in stronger, I'm just worried to tx due to the swr. Edited by rustysheriff, Saturday, 4. June 2016, 19:19.
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| Deleted User | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 19:39 Post #18 |
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Looking at where you have the antenna m8,it must be reflecting off the wall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . It has to be in free space,or as free as you can get it................... |
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| razor36 | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 19:48 Post #19 |
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easy to check if its your home take your stuff for a drive the angle on that bottom boomer pole may need pulling down a bit. Edited by razor36, Saturday, 4. June 2016, 19:50.
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| M0LSG | |
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| SilverGhost | Saturday, 4. June 2016, 20:18 Post #20 |
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26 Charlie Tango 429
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I have 1 question did you check for continuity ? |
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No matter where you go there you are ! Omar 26CT429 | |
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Hello, thanks for having me on board.
but any ideas are gratefully received.



yes rusty good to hear it my friend , hope you get the antenna issues sorted too , i had a chat to a guy in switzerland on a boomerang so when conditions are good who knows where you can speak to ,so all the advice on here will help 73's mark
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2:47 PM Jul 11