Published radome for the 70cm QFE antenna on printables: Radome 70cm. The Radome is threaded so it is screwed on top of a new base that holds antenna. The base has a 28mm hole that fits broom shaft or whatever mount you would prefer.

Because I do not have Anechoic chamber I used my slightly echoing living room 🙂 to check the helical antenna. As strongest signal dominate I can maybe estimate main lobe, but maybe not side lobes due to reflections. Measuring helical antenna, transmitting antenna in corridor and tested antenna on tripod. Using nanoVNA measuring s21 (loss). The antenna on my armchair is sending fixed vertical polarisation while I turn antenna in different directions.

Got a Lora 433 MHz radio recently and configured it as ground station tinyGS on 70 cm band: SA0PEJ_70cm Connected to my Quadrifilar antenna 70cm, so it come to use again. Satellites started to drop in up to 1800km away, will leave it on.

Added antenna used for Detecting CAS A with helical antenna on printables: helical-antenna-l-band

Installed sdrangel on MacMini and started to run nightly detection for CAS A and W3 located near ’Seated Queen’ (Cassiopeia). Antenna is the Helical Antenna we built earlier. Setup is simple; MacMini <- RTLSDR <-LNA <- Antenna The antenna is pointing straight up to zenith with 90 degrees elevation. In this configuration it will follow earth rotation and scan a line on the sky from 59N and 18E.

Reading Kraus antenna book inspired me to create a 3D printable helical antenna. The model is simple, wavelength is same as height of 4 turns if each turn rise 1/4λ. Decided to create support embedded with helix and make it modular, with 4 turns on each segment, resulting 9–10 dBi. As impedance of helical is around 140-150 Ω. Matching to 50 Ω with triangular patch on base plate with reflector.

Protective caps for N and UHF connectors on Printables. Caps Capsules for protecting N and UHF connectors. N(Male) N(Female) UHF(Male) - PL259 UHF(Female) - SO239 Connector type is written on side and gender on end.

Published Racetrack Tuner - Installation Kit on printables for Build racetrack coupler. Adding structural strength to Tuner. Mounting alternatives Circular (Broomstick ) Rectangular (Wood)  Frontpanel, protecting the knobs

Finally sat down and wrote printing and building build instruction and published on printables: Racetrack Tuner with Build Racetrack Coupler

When I saw this weather proofed flower support while shopping for flowers with my wife, I could only see an antenna. So I had to buy it and filed of surface at edges to mount banana connectors. 17m antenna from flower support After connecting and tuning I got immediately two QSO from Italy. IT9FXY and IU8QGL This will be one of my favourite antennas.

Measuring inductance Published build instructions and model to printables: Variable Inductor - Variometer

Follow this link to message on Signal.

Today I experimented making a variable inductor, a variometer. Need to work more on mechanical precision and maybe add more turns. Suspect that I should change direction when winding opposite hemisphere. The 3D model in FreeCAD is parametric so #turns and radius can be changed easily. Could not find formula for spherical inductance. ChatGPT guessed 20 uH with my dimensions. …

Now with several Racetrack Loop Tuner it is possible to replace the old prototypes without counters and end protectors. Another disadvantage was the need to open suitcase to access adjustable knobs. Old tuners removed, embarrassing design when looking today. Printed holders that leave knobs inset to avoid damage on rotary knobs, still accessible from outside.