Scotty's Funk Werks

Executive Summary You can use a relatively long 6 to 8 foot non-resonant handheld whip with the KX2 bracket and KX2 tuner.  It might outperform a 4 foot whip by 5 dB or so. Experiments showed that: 1) The KX2 tuner will tune a 7 foot whip to an SWR near 1:1 on 10 through 20 meters. 2) Adding a small Buddipole coil as a series inductor (about 6.4 uH) to the base of the 7 foot whip, the whip can be tuned to 1.3:1 on 30 meters; 3)  Adding a large Buddipole coil as a series inductor (about 18.2 uH) to the base of the same  whip, the whip can be tuned to 1.6:1 on 40 meters;  4) 60 meters was a bridge too far with the large coil and a 7 foot whip;  5) Substituting a 6 foot whip for the 7 foot whip gave similar but marginally poorer results; and 6) These results aren't limited to whips tuned by a KX2.  Resonant operation of antennas like an MFJ-1898 slider coil antenna, or a Buddistick, benefits similarly from being almost double the length of a 4 foot whip. What...

In the unlikely event you've read the last two blog entries you'll know that I'm preoccupied with brackets this month. Because the KX2 and FT-817 handheld 3/8-24 stud mounting brackets in those entries worked better than I hoped, I had to try to do something similar for the IC-705. But not even KA9P is crazy enough to try the IC-705 as a handheld.  Sure, you could make the bracket and use it for a bit, but the radio is heavy, and sideways. So it wouldn't get used much. I decided the next best thing would be a bracket that let me set the IC-705 down on a flat surface, screw in an antenna, and operate.   My hope was that the weight of the radio would counterbalance a halfway decent vertical antenna that did not require a tuner.  I rate this bracket a qualified success with the MFJ-1898 slider coil vertical, and better than that with the lightweight Buddistick shown below that uses a Featherweight whip and the small 10 - 20 meter coil. Front and side views of ...

This is a pic of my most recent KX2 whip mounting bracket.  I revised this bracket a bit to make it easy to build and use with antennas like the MFJ-1898. Why bother?   Well, blame Elecraft.   Wayne often mentions the joy of using the KX2 handheld with an AX1 or AX2 antenna.  This is a pretty sweet set-up if being able to put everything in your pocket is your most important operating criteria. But I'm fond of at least four more criteria.   PRICE - You might already have another antenna available, and not want to spend close to a hundred bucks for a 4-foot whip. MOUNTING FLEXIBILITY - I already have other short antennas I'd like to use with the KX-2, for example, the old BNC mount all-band ATX (see also MFJ-1899 clone) and an Outbacker Joey, fitted with PL-259 hardware.  These are all heavier than an AX antenna and could not be used without a better mount than the chassis mount BNC connector on the KX2. BAND FLEXIBILITY - The ATX and Joey have taps...

  Why is this man smiling?  Because he's finished his project, and it works. This FT-817 antenna bracket will accept 3/8-24 stud mount antennas, as well as BNC mount antennas and UHF connector antennas with a quick change of hardware.  This lets you use just about any type of whip antennas you have on your handheld FT-817.   As will be discussed below, the ability to double your whip length can add as much as 6 dB to your signal, not bad for a few bucks of metal and an hour's work.  And it doesn't require batteries!!😎😎 Executive Summary This blog entry will describe in the most annoying detail: 1) the origin of the FT-817 whip project; 2) some build hints for an improved Rev. 1 antenna mounting bracket, including how to use it with 3/8-24 stud mount, BNC mount and UHF mount antennas; 3) why (antenna) size matters; and 4) a brief review of the MFJ-1898, which I've settled on as the current best whip for me. Why a Whip Bracket? Because sometimes, it's the b...