Hello Cecil,

Thank you for the interest, and the question. Last time I had the RF
amplier on the scope and sig generator, it was giving me approximately 100
mV output with something that *looked* like a millivolt or two input
(possibly at much as 5 mV but no more), at 5 and again at 10 MHz. Now, I am
enough of an RF newbie that I *think* this is what you are asking, but if
not then please enlighten me. I think I understand the need for a low-loss
antenna tuner, which I am trying to improvise with a 25 ohm wire-wound pot
acting as an autotransformer, ala The Miracle Whip (QST, July 2001 PP
32-35.) And it seems to be working to some extent, just not in the ideal
way I need. I am able to pick up Radio Nederlands on 6145 kHz (I *think*
that's the frequency) off of the whip, but not BBC Africa on 7160 kHz, even
if the radio stops there and seems to realize that there is something going
on, but just can't pull it out of the mud. I am able to pull in BBC Africa
on 7160 kHz with the external 110' random-wire antenna, and that with a bare
minumun of noise. The whip however, just gives me the noise. I am about to
do some more experimenting with different WW pots to see if I can get
anything better. If all of this sounds totally bat-****, please forgive.
It does seem to work at least half as good as I need however, and I am
hoping to tease out the rest.

Please let me know if I am headed up the wrong creek with my answers. Hate
to say it, but am honestly making this up as I go along (obviously).

Thanks again,

Dave

"Cecil Moore" wrote in message
...
Dave wrote:
It's a 43 inch collapsable antenna (7 segments.) Maybe I just need more
amplification...

For maximum power transfer from the antenna to the
receiving load, you need a matching network, i.e.
a low-loss antenna tuner. What is the dynamic gain
range of the receiving load device?
--
73, Cecil http://www.w5dxp.com