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Author Topic: FSL Antennas/Ultralights/Alaska In Spectrum Monitor  (Read 921 times)

Offline Paul B. Walker, Jr.

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FSL Antennas/Ultralights/Alaska In Spectrum Monitor
« on: October 01, 2021, 1731 UTC »

If you subscribe to Spectrum Monitor magazine online, Gary Debock, the FSL's, ultralights and I are featured in this months edition.


Paul Walker
Just east of the ass end of gods creation nowhere aka McGrath Alaska
Paul B. Walker, Jr.
paul@alaskaradionerd.com

Program Director: KSKO 89.5 McGrath, Alaska www.kskopublicradio.com

Afternoon Air Talent: Hits 106 KLMI Laramie, WY 3 to 7pm Mon-Sat www.myhits106.com

Available for voiceover work, use the email listed above!

Offline NQC

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Re: FSL Antennas/Ultralights/Alaska In Spectrum Monitor
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2021, 1321 UTC »
Hey Paul,

Unfortunately, I do not subscribe to "Spectrum Monitor".

But I have gone  with the Ultra light "spirit" at times  by using pocket MW radios ( maybe "approved" types, maybe not) and something small , like a Select -A Tenna (or other air  coil) or an outboard   big single bar ferrite  antenna, etc .

I had read some years ago about FSL antennas. Some folks absolutely swear by them , others feel the cost / hassle ( even if they DO work well ) isn't worth it and that other approaches are "better".

 I have never built one ,so I can't comment one way or another.

The closest thing I  built  was a small sized "novelty" crystal radio  constructed on  a mouse  trap. #20 cotton was wound over the trap, but it just couldn't QUITE make the inductance needed.So a single ferrite rod was slipped in to make up the difference. Coil ended up sort of like a right triangle.

BUT- the all  mouse trap windings only encounter  the rod for maybe 1/4  turn or less.The FSL is similar because  each winding lays  "on" the rod for just a bit  ( nothing is wound  AROUND a rod).

The  RF / EM physics of a 360 degree  wound rod vs one that is just laid on a bit would be fascinating to hear about.

Alaska must be an awesome place to Dx when polar  conditions allow.


K
Station main receiver : Bed springs to  blue razor blade detector to 2000 ohm cans to steam  radiator. Grid FN 42