Nice video, Simon! Did you by chance get an inductance measurement? WRC claims their Sporty Forty is on the magnitude of 40 uH if I recall. I was planning on building one like yours since they are having production issues but I think I would need about 28 turns for that inductance. Thanks! de KC0DWZ
Nice job Jazz Buddy! I like what you say about gluing the ends on......and if one would do this I would also put some LockTight on the bolts and crank those things tight with a wrench. All that play action with a 17' whip I could see them coming loose and having difficulty tightening them once they are glued on. What fun! KD9MSP from the NorthWoods of Wisconsin (alto sax)
Good going Simon. This is what the hobby is all about. On the design it will change the number of turns of wire, depending on whip length, whip avg. diameter, and difference of wire size (not that critical). Making the coil tuned for the bottom of the band, you can shorten the telescopic whip to where you need to be. Have fun everyone and 73 Mike VE7HMW
Just to clarify you calculated the Q factor for this antenna with a 17 ft length whip? I plan on using a much shorter one this will be for a mobile application probably only five or six feet so I will have to have more wraps for sure of wire @@thehamjazz
Quarter wave for 40 meters is about 32.5 ft and I have a knockoff MFJ 1979 I would like to use this with. The vertical antenna is 5.9 meters or 19.2 feet.... 32.5 minus 9.5 feet coil you made... Is 23 feet.... Minus the vertical at 19.2 feet.... We're still like 3.8 feet short?
Well done Simon! A couple of suggestions, however. I’ve made a few of those over the years and I noticed the thick wall PVC can be quite weighty. Not a big deal for base mounts. I like to center mount my coils, where weight is a factor. So, to save weight, I have cut the caps in half. This would leave 2 half caps and 2 rings. However much you cut off can also be subtracted from the pipe’s length, saving a little more weight. Also, use PVC cement. It chemically welds the PVC, making for a strong joint.
Hey buddy, thanks so much for your great input/idea. I'm going to try that. I've got to build a couple more, and yes - weight is definitely a consideration, and I LOVE the idea of cutting the caps in half, so then I can still get to the wire if something goes askew which is has, and I had to hacksaw the top off, as it was glued. Cheers mate, and thanks for watching
Thanks for posting this Simon. That is essentially the procedure I followed except I wound the wire much tighter, and instead of fastening on the inside of the coil I came out through the top and bottom and fastened it on the outside. The calculator said 13 1/2 turns over 2 inches @ 2 3/8 O.D. for the amount of inductance needed (7 or 8 uH if I recall correctly) I don't recall if that is what I used or if I rounded up or down, but the best I can seem to manage with the 20m radials is about 1.7:1. Useable but not inspiring :). I've yet to find the time to play around with a single 33 ft. radial, or playing around a bit with the whip length to see if a better match is there. I've also been wanting to experiment with the wire screen thing, especially on 6m as I'm not happy with the match there either. I've got some chicken wire left from an actual non-antenna project. I need to cut off a good length of it and see what happens. So many antennas, so little time...
Hey mate thanks for your comment. I’m literally heading out the door to “once and for all” if I can hahaha find out the best radial system for this bad boy. I went and bought a 36x84 fly screen this morning and was even thinking of elevating it hahaha. Stay tuned buddy for the results…. I will say this about the 2 x 16ft radials…. I have to shorten the whip between 6-12 inches to get it resonant on 40 and it rocks. I would play around with adjusting the whip length. More soon mate
@@lawrencethompson465 there are several available online. I don't recall the specific one I used, nor did I bookmark the page for reference lol. A simple exercise of google-fu for something like loading coil calculator should get you close.
Simon. I enjoyed the video on how to build the 40 meter coil. What I'd like to know, is what part of the 40 meter band was it designed for? While I own the Sporty Forty coil from Wolf Rivers Coils, I also have an interest of making my own to go with my 17' antenna. Thanks.
Hey there Ken, thanks for your message mate. This was designed originally for the voice portion of 40 meters, as I don't really do FT8 on 40 meters. Having said that, with the 2 elevated radials you can adjust the whip to get this resonant at the bottom end of 40 as well as the top. Are you wanting this for voice SSB or digital, CW? That's awesome you're going to make your own mate. Happy building! Let me know if you have any more questions. Cheers
@@marksaunders7558 g’day Mark thanks for watching buddy. Well I’ve only run it at 100w on both digital and voice and had no problems with it at all mate. Not sure if it could handle 1Kw hahaha. 😂 happy building mate. Cheers
Simon, Great video thanks for sharing. One question that occurs to me is the 9’ and the thirteen turns. Is it the 9’ that matters to lengthen the antenna, or is there something specific with the thirteen turns? Reason for asking I have on had 1.5 pvc pipe on hand, would it matter if I used more turns on a smaller diameter pipe but had 9’ of wire when it was all done?
Hey there Harold, that's a great question mate. The length of wire will affect inductance, but more so, the amount of turns on the PVC pipe... more turns = higher inductance... Hope this makes sense, and the second question.... Yes, if you reduce the diameter of the PVC pipe while keeping the same wire length, you will typically need more turns to achieve the same inductance. Hope this helps mate and happy building.
Don't use any old glue for PVC pipe. It'll crack within minutes when subject to any loading as PVC tends to be very resistant to chemicals, so you will not get any chemical bonding, only weak mechanical bonding. PVC requires either a solvent to essentially melt the two pieces together or additional primers (solvents themselves) plus a glue. At minimum, use the blue solvent, which is normally used for drainage or guttering, or the 'belt and braces' approach, use the red primer + green cement, which needs to be used for pressure installations. You can get either for around $5 or just harass your plumber :)
I went to all 4 hardware stores in town, the only item on the list was 3/8" stainless washers😂😂 home depot, home hardware, canadian tire, and UFA. Not one carried 2" pvc pipe or pvc pipe caps, so im using the 1.5" abs i already have, i have the wire, the rest i will have to hunt for in edmonton 🤮 all part of the adventure! 😂
Only stainless bolts of any kind were national course. Maybe acklands grainger? Or good ol princess auto... which stores on the west coast did you use?
Oh and as i will be using 1.5", i imagine i will have to alter coil number, but i do have a tinyvna to test. I am only going to use it with one antenna as a more permanent set up in the backyard. I was thinking of modifying it into a "linked" design to use on 20 and 40. As those are my primary use bands
where the heck do you find all that 3/8-24 hardware and pvc pipes for 5$ ?? they cost a fortune on amazon and very difficult to find in retail stores like home depot...
Hey buddy I must admit the inflation has been insane! I found all of my pieces at a specialty irrigation store not the big box stores and also the 3/8-24 from a fastener store. It’s insane what’s happening with prices! I might have to update that thumbnail… “used to be $5” haha. Check out your local specialty stores as well mate - cheers 👍
Hey mate, thanks for watching and leaving a comment. This is a loaded coil that you use in conjunction with a 17ft whip. Hope this helps. It enables you to get 40 meters on your 17ft whip. Cheers mate
Hey Sergey thanks for your comment. The microhenries are right around 5. So technically you could go 12 turns but I’ve built 2 others of these at 13 turns and it works a treat. Happy building!
Gr8! When will your followup video be avilable?
Nice video, Simon! Did you by chance get an inductance measurement? WRC claims their Sporty Forty is on the magnitude of 40 uH if I recall. I was planning on building one like yours since they are having production issues but I think I would need about 28 turns for that inductance. Thanks! de KC0DWZ
Nice job Jazz Buddy! I like what you say about gluing the ends on......and if one would do this I would also put some LockTight on the bolts and crank those things tight with a wrench. All that play action with a 17' whip I could see them coming loose and having difficulty tightening them once they are glued on. What fun! KD9MSP from the NorthWoods of Wisconsin (alto sax)
Good going Simon.
This is what the hobby is all about.
On the design it will change the number of turns of wire, depending on whip length, whip avg. diameter, and difference of wire size (not that critical).
Making the coil tuned for the bottom of the band, you can shorten the telescopic whip to where you need to be.
Have fun everyone and 73
Mike VE7HMW
Wooohoooo thanks so much Mr Mike! 👍👍
Just to clarify you calculated the Q factor for this antenna with a 17 ft length whip? I plan on using a much shorter one this will be for a mobile application probably only five or six feet so I will have to have more wraps for sure of wire @@thehamjazz
Quarter wave for 40 meters is about 32.5 ft and I have a knockoff MFJ 1979 I would like to use this with. The vertical antenna is 5.9 meters or 19.2 feet....
32.5 minus 9.5 feet coil you made... Is 23 feet.... Minus the vertical at 19.2 feet.... We're still like 3.8 feet short?
Well done Simon! A couple of suggestions, however. I’ve made a few of those over the years and I noticed the thick wall PVC can be quite weighty. Not a big deal for base mounts. I like to center mount my coils, where weight is a factor. So, to save weight, I have cut the caps in half. This would leave 2 half caps and 2 rings. However much you cut off can also be subtracted from the pipe’s length, saving a little more weight. Also, use PVC cement. It chemically welds the PVC, making for a strong joint.
Hey buddy, thanks so much for your great input/idea. I'm going to try that. I've got to build a couple more, and yes - weight is definitely a consideration, and I LOVE the idea of cutting the caps in half, so then I can still get to the wire if something goes askew which is has, and I had to hacksaw the top off, as it was glued. Cheers mate, and thanks for watching
Thanks for posting this Simon. That is essentially the procedure I followed except I wound the wire much tighter, and instead of fastening on the inside of the coil I came out through the top and bottom and fastened it on the outside. The calculator said 13 1/2 turns over 2 inches @ 2 3/8 O.D. for the amount of inductance needed (7 or 8 uH if I recall correctly) I don't recall if that is what I used or if I rounded up or down, but the best I can seem to manage with the 20m radials is about 1.7:1. Useable but not inspiring :). I've yet to find the time to play around with a single 33 ft. radial, or playing around a bit with the whip length to see if a better match is there. I've also been wanting to experiment with the wire screen thing, especially on 6m as I'm not happy with the match there either. I've got some chicken wire left from an actual non-antenna project. I need to cut off a good length of it and see what happens. So many antennas, so little time...
Hey mate thanks for your comment. I’m literally heading out the door to “once and for all” if I can hahaha find out the best radial system for this bad boy. I went and bought a 36x84 fly screen this morning and was even thinking of elevating it hahaha. Stay tuned buddy for the results…. I will say this about the 2 x 16ft radials…. I have to shorten the whip between 6-12 inches to get it resonant on 40 and it rocks. I would play around with adjusting the whip length. More soon mate
What may I find this calculator you mention? Thanks.
@@lawrencethompson465 there are several available online. I don't recall the specific one I used, nor did I bookmark the page for reference lol. A simple exercise of google-fu for something like loading coil calculator should get you close.
@@KC3UVF Thank you fir the quick reply.
I only have 14 gauge wire hanging around the shack. I'm going to use that. Think it will change things much?
Simon. I enjoyed the video on how to build the 40 meter coil. What I'd like to know, is what part of the 40 meter band was it designed for? While I own the Sporty Forty coil from Wolf Rivers Coils, I also have an interest of making my own to go with my 17' antenna. Thanks.
Hey there Ken, thanks for your message mate. This was designed originally for the voice portion of 40 meters, as I don't really do FT8 on 40 meters. Having said that, with the 2 elevated radials you can adjust the whip to get this resonant at the bottom end of 40 as well as the top. Are you wanting this for voice SSB or digital, CW? That's awesome you're going to make your own mate. Happy building! Let me know if you have any more questions. Cheers
Thanks, Simon@@simonstribling882
Nice job Simon. What is the power handling capability of this coil for SSB, CW, and digital modes?
@@marksaunders7558 g’day Mark thanks for watching buddy. Well I’ve only run it at 100w on both digital and voice and had no problems with it at all mate. Not sure if it could handle 1Kw hahaha. 😂 happy building mate. Cheers
@@thehamjazzI’m not interested in running 1Kw through this, but I was interested in 100w for POTA activations. Thank you.
I'll try it thanks !
Simon, Great video thanks for sharing. One question that occurs to me is the 9’ and the thirteen turns. Is it the 9’ that matters to lengthen the antenna, or is there something specific with the thirteen turns? Reason for asking I have on had 1.5 pvc pipe on hand, would it matter if I used more turns on a smaller diameter pipe but had 9’ of wire when it was all done?
Hey there Harold, that's a great question mate. The length of wire will affect inductance, but more so, the amount of turns on the PVC pipe... more turns = higher inductance... Hope this makes sense, and the second question.... Yes, if you reduce the diameter of the PVC pipe while keeping the same wire length, you will typically need more turns to achieve the same inductance. Hope this helps mate and happy building.
Thanks! I think maybe even *I* could build one of these. 😁 Have you been able to see how it performs yet?
Hey Steve it performs great buddy - definitely worth building mate 👍👍
Will it work 40, 20, 15, and 10 without removing the coil?
Don't use any old glue for PVC pipe.
It'll crack within minutes when subject to any loading as PVC tends to be very resistant to chemicals, so you will not get any chemical bonding, only weak mechanical bonding.
PVC requires either a solvent to essentially melt the two pieces together or additional primers (solvents themselves) plus a glue.
At minimum, use the blue solvent, which is normally used for drainage or guttering, or the 'belt and braces' approach, use the red primer + green cement, which needs to be used for pressure installations.
You can get either for around $5 or just harass your plumber :)
haha, roger roger buddy - I learnt that the hard way a few years ago. It has to be the special primer and glue. Cheers mate and thanks for swinging by
I went to all 4 hardware stores in town, the only item on the list was 3/8" stainless washers😂😂 home depot, home hardware, canadian tire, and UFA. Not one carried 2" pvc pipe or pvc pipe caps, so im using the 1.5" abs i already have, i have the wire, the rest i will have to hunt for in edmonton 🤮 all part of the adventure! 😂
Only stainless bolts of any kind were national course. Maybe acklands grainger? Or good ol princess auto... which stores on the west coast did you use?
Oh and as i will be using 1.5", i imagine i will have to alter coil number, but i do have a tinyvna to test. I am only going to use it with one antenna as a more permanent set up in the backyard. I was thinking of modifying it into a "linked" design to use on 20 and 40. As those are my primary use bands
Would 12 gauge wire work?
Absolutely it will mate. The amount of turns may vary, but having said that - try it! Happy building Michael. Cheers mate
May I ask what's the length of the radial?
G'day mate. the radial lengths are 16ft 6 inches, and the total length of the coiled wire is 9ft 6 inches. Hope this helps mate.
where the heck do you find all that 3/8-24 hardware and pvc pipes for 5$ ?? they cost a fortune on amazon and very difficult to find in retail stores like home depot...
Hey buddy I must admit the inflation has been insane! I found all of my pieces at a specialty irrigation store not the big box stores and also the 3/8-24 from a fastener store. It’s insane what’s happening with prices! I might have to update that thumbnail… “used to be $5” haha. Check out your local specialty stores as well mate - cheers 👍
This is a minor detail perhaps but you never said what this is for ie what antenna, or perhaps i missed it.
Hey mate, thanks for watching and leaving a comment. This is a loaded coil that you use in conjunction with a 17ft whip. Hope this helps. It enables you to get 40 meters on your 17ft whip. Cheers mate
When will we see this in action?
Hey buddy I’ll take it to the grey line live stream this Wednesday and let’s rock 40 meters wooohoooo!
💯🎸🎙👌
Did you measure how many inductors were made in microgenry?
------
Sergei , UB4LDT
Hey Sergey thanks for your comment. The microhenries are right around 5. So technically you could go 12 turns but I’ve built 2 others of these at 13 turns and it works a treat. Happy building!
@@thehamjazz Thanks for the information.
Thanks Simon!!!!!!! 🦘🦘🦘Tom - WA7FLY