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Demonstrates the construction of a **multi-band HF mobile antenna** utilizing a modified CB whip antenna base. The resource details the process of stripping a commercial CB whip, winding a new helical coil with 0.7mm insulated copper wire, and identifying tapping points for various HF bands. It emphasizes the importance of a rugged, slim design for mobile operation, discussing mechanical length, power handling (up to 200 watts), and coil diameter considerations. The article includes a graphic illustrating the antenna's operational principle, where sections of the helical coil are shorted from bottom to top to maintain efficiency and high Q. The resource presents a practical approach to achieving **band switching** without an external tuner, by manually adjusting tapping points on the coil. It provides a table with reference lengths in centimeters from the feedpoint for 7 MHz (40m) through 28.7 MHz (10m), including WARC bands. The author details mounting techniques, suggesting a Diamond bracket for secure attachment to a vehicle trunk, and stresses the critical role of proper grounding for optimal performance. The design allows for operation on 75m and 80m bands by adding a 110mm steel whip.

A 5/8 wavelength mobile whip antenna for 2 meters can be constructed from a 5-foot CB helical whip, requiring the removal of original wire and installation of a new radiating element made from coax braid. The design incorporates an 8-turn loading coil with 5mm spacing, fabricated from the original whip wire, and utilizes approximately 1400mm of RG-58 coax braid for the radiating element to enhance flexibility and bandwidth. Final whip length is approximately **1350mm** from base to braid end, with tuning adjustments made by trimming the braid. Dual-wall 12mm heat shrink, such as _Jaycar WH5643_, is recommended for weatherproofing and stabilization, costing around $4.50 per 1200mm length. Achieving a 1.1:1 VSWR may not be feasible; a 1.5:1 VSWR is considered acceptable. Optimal mobile mounting is centered on the vehicle roof to minimize radiation pattern variations.

VE3NEA presents a detailed account of designing and constructing a **helical filter** specifically for 144 MHz satellite reception, addressing severe SDR receiver overloading from nearby Land Mobile Radio Network signals between 141 MHz and 143 MHz. The author's experience with RTL-SDR, RSP1a, and Airspy Mini receivers demonstrated the necessity of a narrowband solution to enable reception in the 145.8-146 MHz range with only 3 MHz separation from strong interference. The resource delves into the theoretical underpinnings of helical resonators, drawing upon Anatol I. Zverev's "Handbook of filter synthesis." It explains the equivalent circuit of a two-resonator passband filter, highlighting the critical role of stray capacitance (C3) in determining the coupling coefficient (K) and emphasizing the importance of **critical coupling** (K=1) for optimal filter performance. Misconceptions regarding tap positions and impedance transformation are clarified, with tap placement shown to control resonator loading and the trade-off between bandwidth and losses. Construction details include sourcing materials like 1/4" copper tubing and PCB, precise assembly techniques, and the use of tuning screws for frequency and coupling adjustments. Measurements performed with a NanoVNA revealed discrepancies from initial Coil64 calculations, necessitating adjustments to helix turns and tap positions to achieve the desired 3.5 dB passband loss and 40-50 dB suppression of interference.

This online calculator will give as output the Inductance L of a coil, including the total lenght of the wire needed to wound the coil. As input, requires the Diameter, number of turns, wire diameter and turn spacing

The _G3TSO_ Mobile Antenna Page details construction and tuning methods for mobile antennas operating across **10 to 160 metres**. The content describes a Hustler-based design, optimized for RF performance and vehicle speeds, featuring centre loading. For optimal operation on various bands, the loading coil placement requires clearance from the vehicle body. Antenna resonance is critical for efficient mobile operation. A mobile antenna's base impedance may be as low as 27 ohms, requiring specific matching to achieve maximum radiation, as a minimum SWR at the transmitter does not always indicate resonance or maximum output. Tuning involves physical adjustment of antenna length to achieve resonance at the operating frequency. The _G3TSO_ page outlines a tuning procedure utilizing a low-power signal source and a field strength meter to identify maximum radiation before impedance matching. Loading coil placement, either at the base, center, or top of the antenna, influences radiation efficiency and mechanical stability for mobile installations. Centre-loaded whips, such as the Hustler design, offer a compromise between efficiency and stability, often for single-band operation. Helically wound antennas, including those for **28 MHz**, may present base impedances around 17 ohms, resulting in a 3:1 SWR at resonance. Low resistance grounding at the antenna base is also specified for optimizing performance and minimizing RFI during mobile operation. DXZone Focus: Mobile | Any | Antenna Tuning | HF