Im a better HF ariel than - an ariel!

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 16:15

ThreadID: 33265 Views:2559 Replies:9 FollowUps:6

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Member - Davoe (Widgiemooltha)

Got my ariel back from being repaired and I havnt been getting particulary good reception. Last night I turned the radio on before screwing the ariel on. Suddenly reception was booming through. As I took my hands off the ariel it turned into a whisper. Putting my hands to the base of the ariel once again gave me booming reception. I removed the ariel and grabbed the spring base and got 100% reception.
I didnt have time to muck around with it as I fly to Nullagine tomorrow but I figure either
1) ariel needs further repairs
or 2) My Earth isnt good and my hand was acting as an earth.
As the reception was poor with the ariel on and off untouched and reception was good with the ariel on and off with me as the earth I figure this would be a good place to start on my return?

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Reply By: Gramps (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 16:35

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 16:35

So you'll be hanging on to the aerial wire while you drive from now on until it's fixed eh :)))))))))

Regards

AnswerID: 169112

Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:09

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:09

cant hang on to the ariel and drive - I need help, volanteers??

FollowupID: 424449

Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:36

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:36

hahahahaha Davoe, after reading some of your adventures on this forum I'd love to. Unfortunately SWMBO would take a dim view of the reduction in her financial resources with me away enjoying myself LOLOLOL

Regards

FollowupID: 424463

Reply By: Arkay - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 16:45

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 16:45

Need more input. Is it a hand-held radio? In either case the problem is probably that what was lacking was a decent ground plane. Hand held radios are designed to use the body of the user as a partial ground plane, whereas mobiles use the vehicle roof, bull bar, bumper bar or whatever as a ground plane. For vehicles you can get ground plane independent antennas which if you look at them have an artificial ground plane which is a little coiled bit about 1/3 the way up the antenna. Think of the capital letter L, or better still capital T upside down (can't type that one on my 'puter) the bottom bit is the (metal) ground plane and the vertical bit the antenna. No bottom bit no work so good. On the other hand you could be right, could be the SET needs a proper earth, or you have a loose connection between the antenna & the radio. If it is a mobile set it may well work properly once attached to you vehicle, same as it did when it was attached to you /your hand / your arm. Cheers

AnswerID: 169115

Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:08

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:08

Barrett 250 fully installed which did previosly work fine

FollowupID: 424448

Reply By: web-keeper-666 - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:28

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:28

Hi, I had a similar problem with my codan antenna, so I unscrewed the base & earth strap, got a wire brush and very carefully cleaned the area's where I earth from.

Low & behold, or should I say low & menohold...! everything started to work as good as the day I had fitted the unit.

It pays to have a the earthing area's removed and crashed/wirebrushed every now & then.

Good luck.

AnswerID: 169128

Reply By: Footloose - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:58

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 17:58

The reason it worked better is because your aerial was detuned. The possible reasons might be
1.crook earthing, especially under the spring base
2 wrong tap on aerial
3 crook aerial ..they have to be tested whilst flexing

AnswerID: 169142

Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 20:51

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 20:51

1) I originally had a large washer under the spring base which had been removed when I had testing done . I will be reinstating that on my return (as well as some wire brush work) and prob add an earth braid
2) Nup right tap
3) i hope not i just got it back from getting it fixed by all accounts the best guy for the job in perth

FollowupID: 424527

Follow Up By: Footloose - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 21:01

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 21:01

3. I hope so also. The problem with a lot of techs...and mechanics...and tyre guys...is that they have no idea of the conditions under which you're operating.
And I've had the "best suspension" people in Perth tell me that I needed all new suspension 10 years ago. All it needed was a screwdriver on the steering box ! I've had "expert" tyre people in Cairns put my vehicle on a machine and tell me one side is shorter than the other! The laser machines at repairers said otherwise.
An expert mechanic told me my 80's suspension was OK. Yeah, only needed a complete spring replacement and lil ol non mechanical non expert had to tell him that.
Sorry, I'm losing faith with has been spurts under pressure :)

FollowupID: 424534

Reply By: Member- Rox (WA) - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 19:01

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 19:01

Might be your Fillings in your teeth:-)

AnswerID: 169149

Reply By: The Explorer - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 20:06

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 20:06

Hello Davoe
Try it with your TV - Can you get Foxtel? If so, what is your hourly rate?
Cheers
Greg

I sent one final shout after him to stick to the track, to which he replied “All right,” That was the last ever seen of Gibson - E Giles 23 April 1874

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AnswerID: 169168

Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 20:46

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 20:46

I wouldnt go touching the PTT button when touching the aerial, those RF burns are awfully painful

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AnswerID: 169180

Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 20:52

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 20:52

thanks - aware of that

FollowupID: 424529

Reply By: Richard Kovac - Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 23:32

Wednesday, Apr 26, 2006 at 23:32

dave

It a prick when you ask a genuine question and get funnies

but go to the members file swap site under members and have a read of a file named Barrett

Richard

AnswerID: 169227