Looking for advice for my first LAA++
|
Rob Q
Hello, I've just purchased the Loop Antenna Amplifier ++ and I have no clue how I should assemble and power it. Only thing I've figured out is the bias-t needs 12V, okay so I need to find a regulated or linear power supply. Would these work?
MG Electronics MGT121AR Class II 12 VDC 1000mA MGT-121AR B&H (bhphotovideo.com) DCU120020-G2421: Jameco ReliaPro : 2.4 Watt 12 VDC 200mA Regulated Linear Wall Adapter 2.1mm Center Positive : Power Supplies & Wall Adapters Power Adapter - 100-240 VAC - 12 VDC - 1A - Progressive Automations – Progressive Automations Canada For construction of the antenna, will the supplied 8 ft wire work for MW and HF? I have an idea how to make it, might try an upside-down triangle. I don't have anything that will act as a frame to secure a loop. |
|
|
|
WA8LMF
On 11/25/2022 5:28 PM, Rob Q wrote:
Hello, I've just purchased the Loop Antenna Amplifier ++ and I have no clue how I should assemble and power it. Only thing I've figured out is the bias-t needs 12V, okay so I need to find a regulated or linear power supply. Would these work?
I would opt for the second one in your list. It's a linear, not
switching-mode, supply. Switching-mode supplies can generate a
log of wideband noise and AC hash. Using one to power an
amplified antenna could result in a lot of noise and wide-hash
being mixed with the incoming signals you are trying to
receive. I once had this problem trying to power an Icom AH-4 tuner with a
generic Chinese multi-voltage 2.5A DC switching supply. (The AH-4
has a wide-band receive preamp in it, to provide all-frequency
receive until you trigger a tune to a specific frequency.) I thought it was nice that this cheap universal supply could be
switched between 6 voltages from 3.3 VDC and 13 VDC, but I
couldn't believe how noisy the HF bands were, until I just
happened to use a different 12 VDC power source - a 10AH 12 VDC
gel cell. The supply was raising my receive noise floor by 6
S-units on all bands from 160 through 10 meters!
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com Skype: WA8LMF EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band] Home Page: http://wa8lmf.net -- APRS over FLdigi Modes -- <http://wa8lmf.net//FLdigiAPRS/index.htm> 60-Meter APRS! HF NVIS APRS Igate Now Operating <http://wa8lmf.ddns.net:14447/> Flying Digipeater! <http://WA8LMF.net/FlyingDigi> 11 Copies of UIview in Action on One Computer! Live Off-The-Air APRS Activity Maps <http://wa8lmf.net/map>
|
|
|
|
Rob Q
Thanks Stephen. I've went ahead and ordered that plug from Jameco. I really hope it will work for what the shipping and currency conversion costs where! :)
|
|
|
|
Serenade
You might also consider a LiFePO4 battery. I use one of these.
Amazon.com: Redodo 12.8V 6Ah LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Rechargeable Battery, Built-in 6A BMS, 4000-8000 Life Cycles & 10-Year lifetime, Perfect for Kids Scooters, Fish finder etc. : Health & Household |
|
|
|
Chris Moulding
I use a 3S LiPo 2200 mAh battery for portable use.
They are widely used in drones and remote control cars. If you look closely on the latest video on the v4 loop antenna you will see the battery on the table powering the Bias tee unit. Regards, Chris |
|
|
|
Rob Q
Thanks Chris. I've noticed that in one of your videos, you've had an 9v battery box that fits in your pocket? How would that work compare to having a 12V DC plug? I have plenty of 9V batteries laying around. I'd imagine there would be less RFI and you can use the antenna when the main power goes out.
|
|
|
|
WA8LMF
On 11/26/2022 10:11 AM, Chris Moulding
wrote:
I use a 3S LiPo 2200 mAh battery for portable use.
I used this 12 VDC Li-Ion battery pack from Amazon to power several of my portable radio projects. <https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7Z9Z1N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00> It can charge from 12 VDC (car, wall wart, etc) and puts out
both 12 VDC and 5 VDC, making it useful as a power bank for phones
and other small devices. The coaxial connector for 12 VDC is
bi-directional -- it's both a 12 VDC input for charging, and a 12
VDC output for powering stuff from the internal battery. It comes
with a weird coaxial Y-cable with one male and one female coaxial
end that lets you float the internal battery pack from a 12 VDC
source and take power out at the same time. (I put an Anderson
Power Pole connector on the 3rd end to connect to my various DC
power sources.) This is the project I first got it for - my portable Remote Rig
terminal. This setup connects to my TS-2000 over the Internet, usually via
the WiFi hotspot in my iPhone 6s+. The pack above will power it
for about 8-10 hours - more than enough for the usual ham fest or
swapmeet. All the pieces are stuck together with industrial
high-power Velcro. From top to bottom, the Kenwood remote-control
head for the TS-2000, the Remote Rig control box and a Monoprice
amplified speaker. The battery pack is stuck to the underside of
the Remote Rig box, behind the speaker. Behind the Kenwood head, there is a homebrew tone-activated sound
card interface that allows me to pass digimodes over the Internet
from this remote setup to the TS-2000 back home. The Remote Rig
audio codecs are clean enough to pass demanding digimodes like
EasyPal SSTV, MT63 and other modes that use multiple simultaneous
QUAM audio sub-carriers. Last year, I actually originated "SSTV
LiveCAM" pics from the Dayton Hamvention, that went to my home
station via T-Mobile cellular Internet, and then out over the air
on 2 meters in central Michigan. If Internet is available on the iPhone, this setup "automagically" connects to my home station as soon as it is powered up.
Stephen H. Smith wa8lmf (at) aol.com Skype: WA8LMF EchoLink: Node # 14400 [Think bottom of the 2-meter band] Home Page: http://wa8lmf.net -- APRS over FLdigi Modes -- <http://wa8lmf.net//FLdigiAPRS/index.htm> 60-Meter APRS! HF NVIS APRS Igate Now Operating <http://wa8lmf.ddns.net:14447/> Flying Digipeater! <http://WA8LMF.net/FlyingDigi> 11 Copies of UIview in Action on One Computer! Live Off-The-Air APRS Activity Maps <http://wa8lmf.net/map>
|
|
|
|
Thanks for all the interesting ideas on how to power the bias-tee.
My loop is on its way and still waiting to be handed over to Canada Post. I'm trying to get some ideas on how to put the antenna up. Do I set the loop up horizontally or vertically and what are the advantages/disadvantages? Should I use a wire longer than the supplied 8 ft wire? What would the circumference be with the included 8 ft wire? How thick is the supplied wire? Can it withstand 90kM/h wind gusts? Looking at the loop on the CCW page. How do I prevent the loop from clasping or folding in from the wind? What shape should I make the loop, and how do you get it to form a circle? Find a hula-hoop is so, what size? Are there any advantages/disadvantages to which shape the loop is |
|
|
