From: cfa@... <cfa@...>
Subject: [ultralightdx] Radio choices
To: "UltralightDX"
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2011, 1:47 PM

 

I'm getting ready to buy a new radio, and I'm leaning towards the
Tecsun units. I thought I might get a PL-380, since it's gotten good
reviews and can be bought from a US-based seller. I've seen comments,
though, that the PL-310 is the most sensitive. It's only sold by
overseas distributors.

Obviously I want digital readout. I also want max sensitivity and
selectivity. Short wave is good, but not absolutely required.

Comments? Better brands/models?

Ken

From: cfa@...

To: UltralightDX

Sent: Saturday, August 13, 2011 7:47 PM

Subject: [ultralightdx] Radio choices

 

I'm getting ready to buy a new radio, and I'm leaning towards the
Tecsun units. I thought I might get a PL-380, since it's gotten good
reviews and can be bought from a US-based seller. I've seen comments,
though, that the PL-310 is the most sensitive. It's only sold by
overseas distributors.

Obviously I want digital readout. I also want max sensitivity and
selectivity. Short wave is good, but not absolutely required.

Comments? Better brands/models?

Ken

Following the J&J tape exchanges, I realise it must have
specific properties that other tapes do not have. I assumed
standard ducting tape as available in the UK could be used,
but the thread suggests otherwise. What are the critical
properties required - and what would "just about do" as a
substitute?

As posted, I hope to acquire a pile of redundant hotel-room
clock radios for their short ferrites, so hope to collect all the
items I will need in time for my basic FSL winter project.

Michael UK

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your suggested replacements for the J & J 2" Waterproof tape
(and thanks to all who have researched possible sources for the
original tape).

Some web sites show the J & J 2" tape as available, but when an order
is placed (or a call is made) they admit that none of it is really in
stock. The tape was used in all 7.5" loopsticks (MW and LW, plug-in,
fixed and Slider) made here during the past 3 years, and is the solid
white tape used as a thin coil form in between the Litz wire coils and
the ferrite bar. The J & J 1" tape can be substituted in MW loopsticks
and in all FSL's, but the 2" tape is much more convenient for the 7.5"
LW loopsticks of all types. I still have enough of the J & J 2" tape to
make about 5 more LW loopsticks, but then I'll need to switch to some
other type (it's a matter of building a test loopstick with it, then
checking its performance against a J & J taped loopstick).

73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

-----Original Message-----
From: stevew4asz <w4asz@...>
To: ultralightdx <ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, Aug 10, 2011 6:22 pm
Subject: [ultralightdx] Re: Affordable (?) 7" Diameter FSL Design

 
Make that McKesson Medi-Pak tape. I assume these are similar. Any good
EMT would know.

--- In ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com, "stevew4asz" w4asz@
wrote:

I see Kendall Wet-Pruf and McKesson Redi-Pak tapes in two inch

width are available. They may be as good.

The mp3s are most interesting.

This is sufficiently insane that I may be along in a couple of

months.

Do continue, Sirs !

-Steve
W4ASZ

&gt; --- In ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com, D1028Gary@ wrote:

&gt; > Hi Dave,

Unfortunately, the 2" J & J Waterproof tape seems to have

been

discontinued by the manufacturer, and I can't seem to find

any current

supplier on the Internet (if someone knows of a source,

please let me

know).

&gt; >

My original supply was in a 6-roll package from a medical

supply

company, which has now been almost exhausted. The J & J 1"

Waterproof

tape can be substituted for the 2" tape in most projects,

although in

the case of the 7.5" longwave loopsticks (with the long Litz

wire coil

running practically the entire length of the ferrite bar),

the 2"

waterproof tape is far preferable. If someone has an extra

roll (or

even partial roll) of the J & J 2" Waterproof tape available,

I'd sure

appreciate knowing about it (and feel free to name the

antenna
&gt; > hot-rodding project of your choice :-)

73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

-----Original Message-----
From: ne558p <clackc@>
To: ultralightdx ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, Aug 9, 2011 11:31 pm
Subject: [ultralightdx] Re: Affordable (?) 7" Diameter FSL

Design

 

&gt; > Hello Gary,

Where do you buy your 2" J & J Waterproof tape?

Thanks Dave

&gt; --- In ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com, D1028Gary@ wrote:

Hello All,

For those who have been interested in the new FSL

antennas but not

so

interested in paying many hundreds of dollars to build

one, I have

designed a relatively economic model which has effective

DX

performance, but costs much less than the LW and MW

models

previously

made for the July DXpeditions (about $350 apiece). This

smaller

model

uses Russian surplus ferrite which can be purchased for

about $90

at

current prices (including shipping), and uses the most

effective

660/46

Litz wire. The cost to build this model (including a

very high

quality

8:1 vernier-drive variable capacitor from Crystal Radio

Supply) is

under $150, and it provides a very effective inductive

coupling

boost

to stock Ultralight radios (or any other portables) on

all

frequencies

from 470-1710 kHz.

This was the compact FSL model that hometown buddy Guy

Atkins

recently

took during his recent Oregon coast vacation, where he

managed to

receive several South Pacific 9-kHz split stations with

it (and a

barefoot PL-380). A new photo of this model (showing the
specifications, and relative size) is posted at
http://www.mediafire.com/i/?pmqoacoftqgkpi1

&gt; > >

Of course the concept of "affordable" means different

things to

different people, and it's well understood that with the

current

poor

economy, even the cost mentioned above will be out of

reach for

many

DXers. That's very regrettable, and I'm sorry about this

situation. The

FSL antennas really have the potential to revolutionize

portable

DXing,

however, and I wanted to design an effective FSL that

could be

built

for the absolute minimum cost (while still maintaining

the high

performance standards that DXers deserve). Depending on

the

interest in

this 7" model, I'll write up the full DIY procedures for

construction

sometime after the next short DXpedition trip to the

Oregon coast

(August 13-16).

73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

&gt; >

--- In ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com, "ginger_92@" <ginger_92@> wrote:

I would like to thank Steve R with all his advice helping me build my first air core loop. He helped me understand these little polyvaricon caps and how to use one for my first loop antenna. I must say, WOW, this loop really helps pull in some stations that were barely there before. Now I'm addicted and have ordered a 365pf cap from midnight science for my second loop, gonna stain and really make it nice.
Ginger OKC

I will second that. Prior to joining this group I had never built anything electronics successfully in my life. My (ivory colored plastic) air core crate loop with its 6:1 reduction drive air capacitor from Midnight Science is still "rough" but is providing an amazing boost in sensitivity and in nulling out the noise produced by the US West/Qwest phone box on the outside of my duplex. The files section of this group is a gold mine.

There are still some issues with hand capacitance (and a learning curve) to master on the crate loop, but for the very few dollars I have spent on this the results are impressive and encouraging.

FWIW, the crate loop does almost nothing for my PL660. The SRF-59 however is transformed into a dx beast that blows the doors off of my Alinco DX70. I've yet to try it with my RP2100, but have hopes for good results. I'll test it with my PL-360 as soon as it is located after a bout of zealous house cleaning.

There may be a FSL gracing my table this autumn!

73,

Gordon Cooper
KE7RYM
East Bremerton WA USA

I see Kendall Wet-Pruf and McKesson Redi-Pak tapes in two inch

The mp3s are most interesting.

This is sufficiently insane that I may be along in a couple of

Do continue, Sirs !

-Steve
W4ASZ

--- In ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com, D1028Gary@ wrote:

Hi Dave,

Unfortunately, the 2" J & J Waterproof tape seems to have

discontinued by the manufacturer, and I can't seem to find

supplier on the Internet (if someone knows of a source,

know).

My original supply was in a 6-roll package from a medical

company, which has now been almost exhausted. The J & J 1"

tape can be substituted for the 2" tape in most projects,

the case of the 7.5" longwave loopsticks (with the long Litz

running practically the entire length of the ferrite bar),

waterproof tape is far preferable. If someone has an extra

even partial roll) of the J & J 2" Waterproof tape available,

appreciate knowing about it (and feel free to name the

hot-rodding project of your choice :-)

73, Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)

-----Original Message-----
From: ne558p <clackc@>
To: ultralightdx <ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, Aug 9, 2011 11:31 pm
Subject: [ultralightdx] Re: Affordable (?) 7" Diameter FSL

 

Hello Gary,

Where do you buy your 2" J & J Waterproof tape?

Thanks Dave

--- In ultralightdx@yahoogroups.com, D1028Gary@ wrote:

Hello All,

For those who have been interested in the new FSL

so

&gt; > interested in paying many hundreds of dollars to build

designed a relatively economic model which has effective

performance, but costs much less than the LW and MW

previously

made for the July DXpeditions (about $350 apiece). This

model

uses Russian surplus ferrite which can be purchased for

at
&gt; current prices (including shipping), and uses the most

660/46

Litz wire. The cost to build this model (including a

quality

8:1 vernier-drive variable capacitor from Crystal Radio

under $150, and it provides a very effective inductive

boost
&gt; to stock Ultralight radios (or any other portables) on

frequencies

from 470-1710 kHz.

This was the compact FSL model that hometown buddy Guy

recently

took during his recent Oregon coast vacation, where he

receive several South Pacific 9-kHz split stations with

barefoot PL-380). A new photo of this model (showing the
specifications, and relative size) is posted at
http://www.mediafire.com/i/?pmqoacoftqgkpi1

&gt;

Of course the concept of "affordable" means different

different people, and it's well understood that with the

poor

economy, even the cost mentioned above will be out of

many

DXers. That's very regrettable, and I'm sorry about this

situation. The

DXing,

however, and I wanted to design an effective FSL that

built

for the absolute minimum cost (while still maintaining

performance standards that DXers deserve). Depending on

interest in

&gt; > this 7" model, I'll write up the full DIY procedures for

construction

sometime after the next short DXpedition trip to the

(August 13-16).

73 and Good DX,
Gary DeBock (in Puyallup, WA, USA)