OK, I've got it.

ftp://users.aol.com/DGoncz/Antenna/

08/22/2004 05:43AM 161,463 BoomClip.JPG
08/19/2004 07:45AM 112,318 CeilingSpacer.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 180,516 ConnectionDetail.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 190,270 ConnectorDetail.JPG
08/19/2004 07:45AM 111,110 HangerAndLead.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 192,334 HangerDetail.JPG
08/22/2004 05:44AM 126,769 HangerOverall.JPG
08/19/2004 07:45AM 137,884 LeadCloseup.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 157,620 OverallConnection.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 129,931 OverallView.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 128,858 OverallView2.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 133,346 PlugCovered.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 100,341 PlugFilled.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 96,303 PlugSoldered.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 102,568 PlugTaped.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 146,279 PlugWhipped.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 172,030 ShieldClip.JPG
08/22/2004 05:43AM 199,604 StrainRelief.JPG

WHFS in stereo at 3 AM.

I note the plug has to be in just more than half way, not all the way for best
results. Maybe I should be using a balun, coax, and a phone jack adapter as
suggested.

But the original antenna was a dipole. So what did they do, ground one leg? I
have checked and the sleeve/barrel at the computer is grounded. I'll pull the
board and have another look at the traces. I'm sure tip and ring are balanced
but we'll just have a look under the hood....

The flat chisel tip did a much better job of transferring heat to the connector
lug and hardly any plastic melted this time. The lug heated quickly and the tip
drew a film of solder over it. My apprenticeship ended in 1986.

I filled the space with hot melt, and applied a little over the connection,
then taped it, drew over the braid, and whipped the braid down over the end,
with the ends of the braid falling neatly into the groove between the threads
and the flange. Then I lacquered the whipping with nail polish. I'll heat
shrink over it some day.

The boom and therefore the reflector elements are grounded, as they normally
would be. I don't know if this does anything. They are grounded from the sheild
through a clip lead to a bracket supporting a reflector element.

No active amplification is used.

It works just great. No rabbit ears, no aluminum foil, and it picks up pointed
due east as it should. All 10 FM stations on my dial read the same on the VU
meter, all are in stereo, and there is very little noise or interference.

Just one thing. There's a cable dangling from the middle of the ceiling.

For now, primary Teri can live with this. We will be sharing this whole space
soon. Right now I am renting 26 square feet of office space and paying towards
the cable modem and fax line.


Yours,
Doug Goncz ( ftp://users.aol.com/DGoncz/incoming )
Student member SAE for one year.
I love: Dona, Jeff, Kim, Mom, Neelix, Tasha, and Teri, alphabetically.
I drive: A double-step Thunderbolt with 657% range.