The purpose of the whole thing is just a series of lab projects to
better understand what I think I know. I went into this thinking that
I could match up 160M with just a larger coil, it is not so! The TLW
software, EZNEC and G4FGQ's programs are very clear on that subject.

I work in a frenzy for a while on given parts of the antenna and then
sit back and digest what I have done.

I will first scrounge around a bit on the capacitors and see what I
may have stashed away before I spend too much effort fabricating
anything. There is a pretty good chance I can get away with some low
voltage stuff if I limit my testing to the MFJ 269 Analyzer. That is
probably the way to go. Also, there is no real reason to run 100 watts
to test.

I have not tried the Mason jars since I was about 12 years old but it
did not work out well then. I think the glass is too thick!

I think any performance measurements are well beyond my resources.
So far I have not used more than three radials but that has been
enough to convince me that an emergency antenna is easy to assemble.

de W8CCW John

On 15 Aug 2006 04:39:27 -0700, "Denny" wrote:

John, I like your radial plugs... Good creativity...
Strapping the antenna to the wood shed will not affect the tuning...
So what are you guys going to measure? Gain/impedence/current drop
across the inductor/?
Are you going to elevated radials?
There are a few easy ways to make capacitors... Early on they lined
mason jars with foil inside and out... Not tuneable but can be
John Ferrell W8CCW

OK John,
Well if you are sticking to the MFJ analyzer then the saran wrap will
work fine as the insulator...
And scrounging up metal isn't that hard.. PCB, or aluminum from a rain
gutter company, even Reynolds wrap, etc..
Yup, I thought about the thickness of the glass reducing capacity, but
if you have enough jars?!? Fun to think about... Someone needs to do
it and post the pics...
Check the yard sales.. Maybe you will be lucky and find an old AM radio
with the dual gang 365 MMF variable caps... That will work like
gangbusters... Back in the 60's I built more than one transmitter with
those caps and a pair of 1625's...
Keep us posted...
cheers ... denny/k8do

Hmmm!
I probably have a few of those in the junk box(es).

I am not doing anything new but I am getting some details through my
thick skull.

On 16 Aug 2006 04:42:52 -0700, "Denny" wrote:

OK John,
Well if you are sticking to the MFJ analyzer then the saran wrap will
work fine as the insulator...
And scrounging up metal isn't that hard.. PCB, or aluminum from a rain
gutter company, even Reynolds wrap, etc..
Yup, I thought about the thickness of the glass reducing capacity, but
if you have enough jars?!? Fun to think about... Someone needs to do
it and post the pics...
Check the yard sales.. Maybe you will be lucky and find an old AM radio
with the dual gang 365 MMF variable caps... That will work like
gangbusters... Back in the 60's I built more than one transmitter with
those caps and a pair of 1625's...
Keep us posted...
cheers ... denny/k8do
John Ferrell W8CCW