I've just added a YouTube video on the new loop antenna at the bottom of the web page: https://www.crosscountrywireless.net/active_loop_antenna.htm

It shows a quick table top review and demonstration.

I also answer questions asked on various Facebook groups about the antenna.

Regards,

Chris

Yes that would sell well I expect, but would need external power..even the ftdx 10 has only one antenna port..a reason why i love my ftdx3000..3 antenna ports and a suberb rx.

That's not a bad idea.

I've got three HF transceivers that could use one so I would have no problem testing a prototype.

One possibility rather than use the radio PTT line would be to use a RF switch circuit I developed a few years ago. This was for a possible version of the Multicoupler that had one transceiver port and four receiver outputs.  It worked well and I still use the prototype but we didn't put it into production.

If I use that circuit the switch box would need a 12 V supply but that could also be used to power a bias tee circuit for an active antenna on the receive antenna port.

I'll make a prototype next week.

Regards,

Chris

--

Chris

Re rx external switching

Ones i have made in past..

Included 3 rx in..( never can have enough) switch on front off/ straight though.
Rx a, rx b, etc..if you make a unit with judt one rx in, bet you next question will be need 2 please..

Ptt AND rf switched..rf switched is a fail safe..( on mine.)
Bias T switched on all rx in’s. ( ie on/ off as some rx antennas don’t need.)

No power to unit always in straight though..


I see people on many groups asking for said units.. i think mfj make one/ dx engineering? Etc silly money though..( though some are manufacturer specific..ie yaesu, icom etc.) most rigs nowadays have a menu setting for tx delay after ptt pressed, so maybe just rf switch would be fine?

Also.. time to revive your noise cancelling unit?? Unless you go homebrew the only really decent one is nigh on £1000!!! You know people will buy a good unit at a good price (and of course a noise antenna!!) Without my noise cancelling units ( on loops and main trx) ham radio would be dead here..

Simon

Forgot to mention

With the phaser ( noise cancelling unit) it could be used to electrically steer 2 loops 360.. etc assuming the phaser is decent and fairly linear, but knowing you I expect it is..

So you then sell 2 loops not 1 plus a phaser??

I would be very interested in the multicoupler with switching.
73.
José Godinho

I have been watching this group with interest but the only reason I have not purchased one of your antennas yet has been the switching issue. The MFJ ones look rubbish and they change there products without clearly changing the names/references. The American made one looks great but costs far too much. 

So if you do made your own switching unit I would definitely be buying one along with your new double loop antenna. 

if you added a noise cancelling reference antenna and noise cancelling functions it would be an amazing all in one box of tricks

On Sat, Nov 19, 2022 at 07:10 PM, Chris Moulding wrote:

That's not a bad idea.

I've got three HF transceivers that could use one so I would have no problem testing a prototype.

One possibility rather than use the radio PTT line would be to use a RF switch circuit I developed a few years ago. This was for a possible version of the Multicoupler that had one transceiver port and four receiver outputs.  It worked well and I still use the prototype but we didn't put it into production.

If I use that circuit the switch box would need a 12 V supply but that could also be used to power a bias tee circuit for an active antenna on the receive antenna port.

I'll make a prototype next week.

Regards,

Chris

Ha! If you had done that sooner. you might have saved me £1,500... I love my FTdx101D, but probably could have settled for the FTdx10 if that had had the receive antenna management!

Martin (G8FXC)

Chris

See my point..big market there!! USA ETC.

Martin makes the point..serious dx ers especially low banders need rx antennas..more than one. So Martin buys a £3k radio rather than a £1.3k radio as it has that option..same reason i bought the ftdx3k. ( though i do have multiple switched rx on ftdx rx input.)

Go build them!! Make money! Big gap in market waiting to be taken by UK company. ML S would sell them etc..

A few months ago my partner kindly bought me an FT-991A and I really like it. But I have held onto my FTDX1200 simply because of the second antenna port. I use a CCW loop on it and it makes such a difference on the lower HF bands.

I have tried the MFJ unit and I am not a fan. I'd like something simple that, with a flick of a switch, I can choose to receive on the loop or the main antenna. PTT switching would be fine. Just an assembled PCB that I could put in my own box would keep the costs down. Personally I prefer BNC connectors as it makes swapping stuff about quick and simple. 

I think this would make a great addition to the CCW loop and would sell well.

Paul G0VKT