In article E_Gkb.598055$cF.262444@rwcrnsc53, CW says...

Elfa, I hope you plonked this guy, you didn't deserve that.

It's the main reason I rarely visit this group. Too many blowhards and not
enough of those with genuine expertise.

I appreciate your offer of instructions re the ferrite bar antenna but I think
I'll just skip it for now. This was the wrong group for this kind of request.
It should have been in an electronics group.

elfa




"elfa" wrote in message
...
In article , donutbandit
says...
No...no need for the toilet training instructions. I can **** in your
face
without consulting a manual.

elfa

"elfa" wrote in message
...
I appreciate your offer of instructions re the ferrite bar antenna but I
think
I'll just skip it for now. This was the wrong group for this kind of
request.
It should have been in an electronics group.

elfa

The number of turns necessary for a loopstick antenna depends on several
factors.

1) the frequency range required
2) the permeability of the ferrite core
3) the spacing of the turns

For experimentation purposes, you might start with about 80 turns of AWG 30
enameled or cloth covered wire, contiguously spaced, near one end of the
core. With this, use a ~360 pF variable capacitor.

If you have a grid dip meter, you can easily find where this is resonant. If
you don't, then you have to poke about on the AM dial of a cheap radio, and
see where you can tune it.

Good strategy is to make a guess and wind some extra turns. Then find out
whre you are. It is easier to to remove the extra turns than wind some more.
Adding the windings expects you to make solder joints, maybe several ones.

timo


"Brenda Ann" wrote in message
...

"elfa" wrote in message
...
I appreciate your offer of instructions re the ferrite bar antenna but I
think
I'll just skip it for now. This was the wrong group for this kind of
request.
It should have been in an electronics group.

elfa

The number of turns necessary for a loopstick antenna depends on several
factors.

1) the frequency range required
2) the permeability of the ferrite core
3) the spacing of the turns

For experimentation purposes, you might start with about 80 turns of AWG
30
enameled or cloth covered wire, contiguously spaced, near one end of the
core. With this, use a ~360 pF variable capacitor.

If you have a grid dip meter, you can easily find where this is resonant.
If
you don't, then you have to poke about on the AM dial of a cheap radio,
and
see where you can tune it.

Brenda,

thanks for the info... May try it myself !

Dan

In article , "Brenda Ann"
writes:


"elfa" wrote in message
...
I appreciate your offer of instructions re the ferrite bar antenna but I
think
I'll just skip it for now. This was the wrong group for this kind of
request.
It should have been in an electronics group.

elfa

The number of turns necessary for a loopstick antenna depends on several
factors.

1) the frequency range required
2) the permeability of the ferrite core
3) the spacing of the turns

For experimentation purposes, you might start with about 80 turns of AWG 30
enameled or cloth covered wire, contiguously spaced, near one end of the
core. With this, use a ~360 pF variable capacitor.

If you have a grid dip meter, you can easily find where this is resonant. If
you don't, then you have to poke about on the AM dial of a cheap radio, and
see where you can tune it.

ELFA,

"BA" gave you some good advise.

Before you start the windings.

* Find a 6.5" to 8" Ferrite Rod Antenna (FRA).

* 10 Feet of Wire (Magnet or Litz)

* Cut a 2" X 2" piece of Typing/Copier Paper 20/24LB)

* Wrap the Copier Paper around the FRA
(About Two(2) Layers & Tape the Joint)
- - - The Copier Paper will 'form' a "Tube" that can be moved on the
FRA.

* Wrap 50-80 Wire Windings over the Copier Paper Tube to form a
"Moveable Coil Assembly (The Coil).

* Set the Windings at the very tip of one of the Ends of the FRA.

* Connect the Variable "Tuning" 360-400pf Capacitor (VTC) to the Leads
from the Windings.

# Place the FRA and VTC next to a Radio: Ideally you would use a
Radio with a Digital Frequncy Display and a "S" Meter.

* Starting-Mid-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW
Radio Station at the Middle of the AM/MW Band 800-1000 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Middle/Center Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the Tip of the FRA towards the
center of the FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.
Note: If you 'find' a "Sweet Spot" on this first try: You have
Luck-Out !

* Top-End-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW Radio
Station at the High-End of the AM/MW Band 1500-1700 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Fully "OPEN" Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the 'prior' (Starting-Mid-Point)
position towards the Tip of the FRA and then towards the center of the
FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.

* Bottom-End-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW Radio
Station at the Low-End of the AM/MW Band 550-700 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Fully "CLOSED" Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the 'prior' (Top-End-Point)
position towards the Tip of the FRA and then towards the center of the
FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.

NOTE: Ideally these three points are within a 1/8" of each other and
you would set The Coil in the the middle of the three.

However the reality is that this will not be the case and you will
have to REMOVE/ADD a few Windings and try the above process again.

TIP: If you can "Tune" the Low-End and/or Middle of the AM/MW Band
then REMOVE a few Windings. Or, if you can "Tune" the High-End and/or
Middle of the AM/MW Band then ADD a few Windings.


iane ~ RHF
..
..
= = = "Brenda Ann"
= = = wrote in message ...
"elfa" wrote in message
...
I appreciate your offer of instructions re the ferrite bar antenna but I
think
I'll just skip it for now. This was the wrong group for this kind of
request.
It should have been in an electronics group.

elfa

The number of turns necessary for a loopstick antenna depends on several
factors.

1) the frequency range required
2) the permeability of the ferrite core
3) the spacing of the turns

For experimentation purposes, you might start with about 80 turns of AWG 30
enameled or cloth covered wire, contiguously spaced, near one end of the
core. With this, use a ~360 pF variable capacitor.

If you have a grid dip meter, you can easily find where this is resonant. If
you don't, then you have to poke about on the AM dial of a cheap radio, and
see where you can tune it.

RHF,

That post just made it into my "save" file. Thanks for the excellent
instruction.

-- Stinger
"RHF" wrote in message
om...
ELFA,

"BA" gave you some good advise.

Before you start the windings.

* Find a 6.5" to 8" Ferrite Rod Antenna (FRA).

* 10 Feet of Wire (Magnet or Litz)

* Cut a 2" X 2" piece of Typing/Copier Paper 20/24LB)

* Wrap the Copier Paper around the FRA
(About Two(2) Layers & Tape the Joint)
- - - The Copier Paper will 'form' a "Tube" that can be moved on the
FRA.

* Wrap 50-80 Wire Windings over the Copier Paper Tube to form a
"Moveable Coil Assembly (The Coil).

* Set the Windings at the very tip of one of the Ends of the FRA.

* Connect the Variable "Tuning" 360-400pf Capacitor (VTC) to the Leads
from the Windings.

# Place the FRA and VTC next to a Radio: Ideally you would use a
Radio with a Digital Frequncy Display and a "S" Meter.

* Starting-Mid-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW
Radio Station at the Middle of the AM/MW Band 800-1000 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Middle/Center Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the Tip of the FRA towards the
center of the FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.
Note: If you 'find' a "Sweet Spot" on this first try: You have
Luck-Out !

* Top-End-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW Radio
Station at the High-End of the AM/MW Band 1500-1700 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Fully "OPEN" Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the 'prior' (Starting-Mid-Point)
position towards the Tip of the FRA and then towards the center of the
FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.

* Bottom-End-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW Radio
Station at the Low-End of the AM/MW Band 550-700 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Fully "CLOSED" Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the 'prior' (Top-End-Point)
position towards the Tip of the FRA and then towards the center of the
FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.

NOTE: Ideally these three points are within a 1/8" of each other and
you would set The Coil in the the middle of the three.

However the reality is that this will not be the case and you will
have to REMOVE/ADD a few Windings and try the above process again.

TIP: If you can "Tune" the Low-End and/or Middle of the AM/MW Band
then REMOVE a few Windings. Or, if you can "Tune" the High-End and/or
Middle of the AM/MW Band then ADD a few Windings.


iane ~ RHF
.
.
= = = "Brenda Ann"
= = = wrote in message ...
"elfa" wrote in message
...
I appreciate your offer of instructions re the ferrite bar antenna but
I
think
I'll just skip it for now. This was the wrong group for this kind of
request.
It should have been in an electronics group.

elfa

The number of turns necessary for a loopstick antenna depends on several
factors.

1) the frequency range required
2) the permeability of the ferrite core
3) the spacing of the turns

For experimentation purposes, you might start with about 80 turns of AWG
30
enameled or cloth covered wire, contiguously spaced, near one end of the
core. With this, use a ~360 pF variable capacitor.

If you have a grid dip meter, you can easily find where this is
resonant. If
you don't, then you have to poke about on the AM dial of a cheap radio,
and
see where you can tune it.

Stinger,

Thank You, ELFA did not indicate that he had any test equipment Grid
Dip Meter etc. So this was the simplest method by just using a basic
AM/MW Radio.

A Copy of this simple method is posted to:

* " Ferrite Rod Antenna for Experimenters" eGroup on YAHOO!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FerriteRodAntenna/

* "SWL Antennas and AM & FM Antennas" eGroup on YAHOO!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWL-AM-FM-Antenna/


~ RHF
..
..
= = = "Stinger"
= = = wrote in message ...
RHF,

That post just made it into my "save" file. Thanks for the excellent
instruction.

-- Stinger
"RHF" wrote in message
om...
ELFA,

"BA" gave you some good advise.

Before you start the windings.

* Find a 6.5" to 8" Ferrite Rod Antenna (FRA).

* 10 Feet of Wire (Magnet or Litz)

* Cut a 2" X 2" piece of Typing/Copier Paper 20/24LB)

* Wrap the Copier Paper around the FRA
(About Two(2) Layers & Tape the Joint)
- - - The Copier Paper will 'form' a "Tube" that can be moved on the
FRA.

* Wrap 50-80 Wire Windings over the Copier Paper Tube to form a
"Moveable Coil Assembly (The Coil).

* Set the Windings at the very tip of one of the Ends of the FRA.

* Connect the Variable "Tuning" 360-400pf Capacitor (VTC) to the Leads
from the Windings.

# Place the FRA and VTC next to a Radio: Ideally you would use a
Radio with a Digital Frequncy Display and a "S" Meter.

* Starting-Mid-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW
Radio Station at the Middle of the AM/MW Band 800-1000 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Middle/Center Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the Tip of the FRA towards the
center of the FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.
Note: If you 'find' a "Sweet Spot" on this first try: You have
Luck-Out !

* Top-End-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW Radio
Station at the High-End of the AM/MW Band 1500-1700 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Fully "OPEN" Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the 'prior' (Starting-Mid-Point)
position towards the Tip of the FRA and then towards the center of the
FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.

* Bottom-End-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW Radio
Station at the Low-End of the AM/MW Band 550-700 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Fully "CLOSED" Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the 'prior' (Top-End-Point)
position towards the Tip of the FRA and then towards the center of the
FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.

NOTE: Ideally these three points are within a 1/8" of each other and
you would set The Coil in the the middle of the three.

However the reality is that this will not be the case and you will
have to REMOVE/ADD a few Windings and try the above process again.

TIP: If you can "Tune" the Low-End and/or Middle of the AM/MW Band
then REMOVE a few Windings. Or, if you can "Tune" the High-End and/or
Middle of the AM/MW Band then ADD a few Windings.


iane ~ RHF
.
.
= = = "Brenda Ann"
= = = wrote in message ...
"elfa" wrote in message
...
I appreciate your offer of instructions re the ferrite bar antenna but
I
think
I'll just skip it for now. This was the wrong group for this kind of
request.
It should have been in an electronics group.

elfa

The number of turns necessary for a loopstick antenna depends on several
factors.

1) the frequency range required
2) the permeability of the ferrite core
3) the spacing of the turns

For experimentation purposes, you might start with about 80 turns of AWG
30
enameled or cloth covered wire, contiguously spaced, near one end of the
core. With this, use a ~360 pF variable capacitor.

If you have a grid dip meter, you can easily find where this is
resonant. If
you don't, then you have to poke about on the AM dial of a cheap radio,
and
see where you can tune it.

Iane:

- thanks for posting this, it is very helpful..

Dan


In article ,
(RHF) writes:

Subject: Homemade AM ferrite antenna question
From: (RHF)
Date: 20 Oct 2003 20:24:28 -0700

ELFA,

"BA" gave you some good advise.

Before you start the windings.

* Find a 6.5" to 8" Ferrite Rod Antenna (FRA).

* 10 Feet of Wire (Magnet or Litz)

* Cut a 2" X 2" piece of Typing/Copier Paper 20/24LB)

* Wrap the Copier Paper around the FRA
(About Two(2) Layers & Tape the Joint)
- - - The Copier Paper will 'form' a "Tube" that can be moved on the
FRA.

* Wrap 50-80 Wire Windings over the Copier Paper Tube to form a
"Moveable Coil Assembly (The Coil).

* Set the Windings at the very tip of one of the Ends of the FRA.

* Connect the Variable "Tuning" 360-400pf Capacitor (VTC) to the Leads
from the Windings.

# Place the FRA and VTC next to a Radio: Ideally you would use a
Radio with a Digital Frequncy Display and a "S" Meter.

* Starting-Mid-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW
Radio Station at the Middle of the AM/MW Band 800-1000 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Middle/Center Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the Tip of the FRA towards the
center of the FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.
Note: If you 'find' a "Sweet Spot" on this first try: You have
Luck-Out !

* Top-End-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW Radio
Station at the High-End of the AM/MW Band 1500-1700 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Fully "OPEN" Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the 'prior' (Starting-Mid-Point)
position towards the Tip of the FRA and then towards the center of the
FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.

* Bottom-End-Point: "Tune" the Radio to a medium strength AM/MW Radio
Station at the Low-End of the AM/MW Band 550-700 kHz.
- Set the VTC to its Fully "CLOSED" Position.
- - Very Slowly 'move' The Coil from the 'prior' (Top-End-Point)
position towards the Tip of the FRA and then towards the center of the
FRA.
- - - Try to identify by Ear or Eye an change in the Quality and
Strength of Reception.
- - - - Mark-Measure-Record this 'position'.

NOTE: Ideally these three points are within a 1/8" of each other and
you would set The Coil in the the middle of the three.

However the reality is that this will not be the case and you will
have to REMOVE/ADD a few Windings and try the above process again.

TIP: If you can "Tune" the Low-End and/or Middle of the AM/MW Band
then REMOVE a few Windings. Or, if you can "Tune" the High-End and/or
Middle of the AM/MW Band then ADD a few Windings.


iane ~ RHF
.
.
= = = "Brenda Ann"
= = = wrote in message ...
"elfa" wrote in message
...
I appreciate your offer of instructions re the ferrite bar antenna but I
think
I'll just skip it for now. This was the wrong group for this kind of
request.
It should have been in an electronics group.

elfa

The number of turns necessary for a loopstick antenna depends on several
factors.

1) the frequency range required
2) the permeability of the ferrite core
3) the spacing of the turns

For experimentation purposes, you might start with about 80 turns of AWG 30
enameled or cloth covered wire, contiguously spaced, near one end of the
core. With this, use a ~360 pF variable capacitor.

If you have a grid dip meter, you can easily find where this is resonant.
If
you don't, then you have to poke about on the AM dial of a cheap radio, and
see where you can tune it.

This was the wrong group for this kind of request.
It should have been in an electronics group.

Actually, this group has fielded ferrite, air core, active and passive loop
designs hundreds of times over the years. Do an archive search under loops, or
loop construction. Or, do the same kind of search on an engine somewhere. But
this group is a VERY good place for such info, the usual idiots
notwithstanding. In fact you'll get a better answer here than a lot of places,
even if you do have to put up with a few things in the meantime, if only
because the serious and helpful replies you DO get are coming from people with
real-world experience over many years in antenna experimentation.
I've been in this group off and on for many years, and while I've also had my
share of flame wars and idiot posts, a GREAT deal of the antenna experience I
have gained has come directly (and in some cases *exclusively*) from this
group.
Linus

don't quit the group elfa.

that question was very appropriate for rec.radio.sw

I have found this to be the best place to ask MW/AM radio and antenna
questions. Just ignore the reptiles that come out from under their
rocks. You have to sift and sort thru the replies, but there are some
very knowledgeable,helpful and friendly posters here. I have learned
a lot from them in the past several years.

73 Russ K3Pi