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Antenna Feedpoint Coax Choke

slowmover

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Feedpoint Choke

Mobile, it’s a nicely impressive addition to add a feedpoint choke in my experience.

Reduction of CMC with another coax choke at transceiver end.

I’ve used a somewhat expensive version that’s been difficult to mount on the exterior of the big truck. Time for simpler.

Buried in a big truck dipole discussion:

Post in thread 'Big Truck: Dipole Antenna Install'
Big Truck: Dipole Antenna Install

Post in thread 'Big Truck: Dipole Antenna Install'
Big Truck: Dipole Antenna Install

Have ordered a pair of FT240-61 and believe I have enough slack in tne cophase harness ends on the big truck to wind these correctly.

Without question this’ll be easier to attach to the mirror mounts. Less susceptibly to damage/vibration, elimination of extra joins, and cleaner overall appearance.

Goes to Signal-to-Noise Ratio


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slowmover

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IMG_4143.jpeg

We’ll see how it goes using 9T of RG-59 on twinned toroids at each antenna.

I’ve changed every factor in the install shown at least a dozen times. Interference with door swing is just one part of the desire to change this:

IMG_3895.jpeg

This device below to go at radio end (a step up from current device in use):


Common Mode Choke discussion:

CB-land tends to want no tech discussion (“I jes wanna radio in ma truck”) but, believe me, the water ain’t that deep or cold the extent help is desirable to get above and beyond “simple” problems to fix.

More, below, in how all parts of an install work together:


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slowmover

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Received the other end yesterday:

IMG_4170.jpeg


Happily, smaller dimensions than I was imagining, and a heftier weight than I’d have guessed. It’ll also be an easier install for my pickup.

A fellow driver added same to his radio rig — a thru-hole circuit board radio with DSP-controlled speaker though yet without feedpoint choke — and reports tidings of great joy. I’ll be removing a pair of noise filters from the passenger seat erector-set station to install this as my thanks-giving today.

FT240-61s hadn’t arrived, but I’ve not yet enough RG59/RG6 to wind them as jumper additions to cophase system.

DSP — and even a single choke — lift ordinary CB into a rarified atmosphere re performance. Best ears of any mobile around you given decent antenna system.


IMG_3970.jpeg


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slowmover

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IMG_2477.jpeg

This is what’s being replaced at feedpoint with wound FT240-61. Difficult to mount as connectors become weak links.

I never asked Bob if they’d survive constant 100-MPH wind & rain or the terrifically rough ride of a Class 8 tractor. (I wound them with TEMFLEX and a couple layers of 88 then drilled two small vent holes in base at opposite corners).

Didn’t want to put him on the spot as CB doesn’t usually pursue these ends.

Yet,

They’ve served admirably the past 200k miles in that service.

FWIW, if it’ll meet your need it has my approval. (They’d mount to West Coast mirror arms with ease).

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prcguy

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View attachment 151754

This is what’s being replaced at feedpoint with wound FT240-61. Difficult to mount as connectors become weak links.

I never asked Bob if they’d survive constant 100-MPH wind & rain or the terrifically rough ride of a Class 8 tractor. (I wound them with TEMFLEX and a couple layers of 88 then drilled two small vent holes in base at opposite corners).

Didn’t want to put him on the spot as CB doesn’t usually pursue these ends.

Yet,

They’ve served admirably the past 200k miles in that service.

FWIW, if it’ll meet your need it has my approval. (They’d mount to West Coast mirror arms with ease).

.
The MyAntennas choke is heavy because there are 4 or 5 separate chokes in series inside the tube. I was at a ham friends house for a party and Bob from Palomar was there. I had been asked to bring some chokes and other items to the party and I showed my MyAntennas CMC-130-3K to Bob and asked why he didn’t have a product like that with superior specs to his stuff. He looked it over and we discussed the multiple wound multiple ferrite mix large beads inside. A few months later he was advertising a very similar product called the Maxi-Choker.
 

slowmover

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Have made quite a few purchases from P-E.

One item being removed is his CMNF-1500HF as it’s larger than what I desire for a mobile unit. No question it works well.

The Maxi-Choker is listed as MC-1-3000.

Was purchased five years ago for base station not yet put together. Have it currently between tuner and final coax run. Tuner slated to go bye-bye at some point (antenna system “ground” still a work in progress).

“Coax Filters” well worth the expense from this truck driver perspective. SNR in mobile a big deal as it’s constantly changing.


A BPF will remain. The one below or an upgrade:



IMG_1922.jpeg

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slowmover

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Had some RG59 jumpers made yesterday (Clays Radio, San Antonio). Hoping to find toroids have arrived once back in FTW.

— As before, the weak link of the antenna system has been the connectors and mount position of the current feedpoint chokes.

The large & small radio end filters have been removed and the MyAntenna transceiver choke installed. Have been able to modify (lower) noise reduction features in radio dependent on conditions versus before.

Local is noticeably better. Distant (Skip) has a wider range of problems to be alleviated. Local only it’s easier to run wide open at this stage.

Have more work to do with antenna mount efficiency, so that’ll blur efficacy notes on last chokes installed.

Radio — CMC-30 — BPF — Amp — Tuner — twin coax runs to Ft240-61’s.

Tuner to come out once antenna mounts bettered (analyzer).

Component reduction a changing target.

Once the above satisfactory then a custom-length “co-phase” antenna coax harness to be built.

Much fun as is the whole system, it needs to be easier to install & remove.

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slowmover

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Removed tuner and current feedpoint chokes as saw no point in waiting.

NRC Radio — CMC-30 —411cb BPF — Amp — (to antennas).

Few would find this rig needs help as these radios are so good (with transceiver filter help it’s impressive).

Experience shows it can be bettered.

— Now getting close to being able to install radio system without Tac Radio Carrier. (Will go into overhead at factory location).

Glad to see the RigExpert 55 down to a price I find affordable (order soon).


And (ha!) learn best how to use it:


FT240-61 set should have arrived next time I’m thru the house.

“Coax Filter” has wound up as finish work (as a new custom harness for coax is anticipated; possibly for power. Overhead has room for 12VDC distribution, too).

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prcguy

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12 turns on a single FT240-61 would be best for CB and should handle at least 300-400 watts.
FYI, on the G3TXQ ferrite chart you want the deepest green range for the highest choking impedance but you also want it to be within a black line making it more resistive to absorb rather than reflect. That's why 12 turns on a single core should be better than 9 turns on two cores.
 

slowmover

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Umm, no you don't need a laptop.

I’ve not Android nor PC, zero desire for either. And these devices seem to go thru updates and revisions quicker than a roll of toilet paper gets used.

Half the price isn’t an incentive enough. May appeal more to others. More features, I get, . . same as I do shorter shelf life.

Thx for recommendation. Just doesn’t appeal now any more than it did when it first came about.

Doesn’t appear as “hardy”, to me.

I feel the same way about radio. No Net.
No extraneous dependency.

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slowmover

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FYI, on the G3TXQ ferrite chart you want the deepest green range for the highest choking impedance but you also want it to be within a black line making it more resistive to absorb rather than reflect. That's why 12 turns on a single core should be better than 9 turns on two cores.

I see the “why” and am grateful for clarification. I’ve read that presentation a couple of times as well as another . . but no guarantee it’ll stick.

Since I have ordered (4), was thinking — given a 50’ or 100’ roll of RG59 to play with — winding in the second pair at a distance of a quarter-wave back from first per a suggestion read.

Legs from split are long no matter what’s done.

Worth the effort?

I’ll have to cut custom RG59 legs at some point anyway, so the install of another pair doesn’t seem onerous.

I work from a premise that small changes add up. Call big ones “quantity” and lesser ones “quality”.


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devicelab

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I’ve not Android nor PC, zero desire for either. And these devices seem to go thru updates and revisions quicker than a roll of toilet paper gets used. Half the price isn’t an incentive enough. May appeal more to others. More features, I get, . . same as I do shorter shelf life.

Thx for recommendation. Just doesn’t appeal now any more than it did when it first came about.
You need to turn your brain off for a second. You don't have any clue what you're talking about.

The NanoVNA has been around for years and you likely will never need to update it. I can't say for certain but it's doubtful. The current firmware is very stable.

There's no PC or any other device needed. It's a standalone device. You might want to watch a few videos.

Here's a good starter video:

Some of the videos are frankly quite poor. Smith charts are not user friendly and turn people off -- you don't have to use them. It's just the default viewing mode. Watch the above video and you'll get it. The device is super simple to use. I can't tell you how much you'll learn from just using this device. It's far more interesting than an over-priced antenna analyzer.

FWIW, here's a NanoVNA video showing live tuning using the smith chart:

BTW, here's what I was thinking of. I thought I had linked it before: https://a.co/d/gO43vsd

For what you're doing you don't need the more expensive model.
 

slowmover

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Have a couple other drivers interested in what I’ve tried, this subject being one of them.

High performance mobile CB a handy description. They’ve also found that once experienced there’s no going back.

The antithesis is that many drivers don’t want a set of ears that’ll clarify distant Skip.

— I see “Coax Filter” as a subject might interest them nonetheless. Local noise.

Dalhart, Texas a place not on the mental map of 80-90% or more. Yet (like Cushing, OK) it is a location integral to what they consider their comforts and well-being.

The container & coal trains which pass thru Dalhart E-W and N-S are mirrored by meat & dairy highway transport also to the four compass points.

Rolled into town pre-dawn and was struck by how much louder are the LED traffic devices without feedpoint chokes.

The Plains may be CB nirvana, but it’s not without challenges. The man one wants to hear is gonna fade out faster at these important junctions as but 5% of Americans are in The Great Desert he’s much harder to find.

FT240-61 on a jumper ain’t gonna kill anyone’s paycheck that week. Or wind them in at both ends.

You need to turn your brain off for a second. You don't have any clue what you're talking about.

The NanoVNA has been around for years and you likely will never need to update it. I can't say for certain but it's doubtful. The current firmware is very stable.

There's no PC or any other device needed. It's a standalone device. You might want to watch a few videos.

Here's a good starter video:

Some of the videos are frankly quite poor. Smith charts are not user friendly and turn people off -- you don't have to use them. It's just the default viewing mode. Watch the above video and you'll get it. The device is super simple to use. I can't tell you how much you'll learn from just using this device. It's far more interesting than an over-priced antenna analyzer.

FWIW, here's a NanoVNA video showing live tuning using the smith chart:

BTW, here's what I was thinking of. I thought I had linked it before: https://a.co/d/gO43vsd

For what you're doing you don't need the more expensive model.

I see you’re recipient of a degree in diplomacy same school as I.

No need to talk past each other (where we’re starting to go).

Thanks for links and detail. (Sincerely). I’ll enjoy going thru. Glad for it as thread addition (add more as it occurs to you).


Market for these is bewildering, and constant updates & revisions is a turn-off.

Features a distinct appeal. I don’t find the idea of learning to use a Smith Chart daunting, instead I am irritated by “tech” supposedly makes it easy and doesn’t (glitches, not hardy, needs update).

These NANOVNA have been throwaway devices in main. That’s evident.

It’s not “ability”, it’s reliability.

Radios — in my world — suffer enough insult. But are hardy, generally (given tech access for problems).

Others in my shoes may be more comfortable with NANOVNA, I’m not.

Rig Expert has a track record in big truck world. Not as much as stone-age MFJ-259, but both seem to last.

Had I the luxury of a home station (someday) and was in my pickup more often (someday), it’d be more attractive. I’m in this big truck 300-days/year and am simply tired of tail-chasing big truck mobile antenna problems.

Making a random stop to help another hand is foreseen. Quick & dirty as may be to get him a baseline. (Bad weather and tired men).

There’s no leisure in this. There’s next-to-no-one I’ve found cutting trail out ahead. We’re all at work. Or trying to keep up with what’s at home. In this world, if you’re awake, you’re at work. It’s that simple.

$260 vs $130 isn’t a value question seen from my viewpoint. Features don’t trump hardiness.

When it was $360 vs $90, it looked better (throwaway).



There are those more inclined to circuitry than I in this visibly invisible world of truck driving. Any luck and I’ll someday run into a driver will hook up his latest device to my system with better intuition. My strengths are elsewhere.

In this field it’s perseverance I’m given.
Half a handhold.

You remember this you ever wander into my world thinking you already know a little something. (I don’t mean truck driving).


My end (my goal) is to have provided a model for others. A reference. I’m not expert, nor will I be. To use the parlance of our world, hey, I’m just a dumb truck driver, do with it what you will.

“Coax Filter” a subject unknown or ignored. Tying that to the larger plan is context (tuning).

Emotional resistance is huge.
Thats the gist of things.

A model (the guy who tried X).

.
 

slowmover

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My toroid order got delayed. Gives me an excuse to order up some RG240UF for the personal vehicle. Hide it under the headliner.
 

slowmover

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Finally got 12T of 75-ohm RG59 on FT240-61 done; pair. Oriented port & starboard. Was unable to assemble with split-loom cover in place.

Took pretty much the whole of 6’ jumper to accommodate bend-radius restriction (60mm). It also took time to figure out how to thread cable without inducing torsional twist.

Still need a thumb-size piece of wood dowel or pvc pipe to go in center: no cable overlap, and also against ring interior.

IMG_4749.jpeg

IMG_4748.jpeg

Its predecessor was a tad bulky to fit and to be secured under antenna mount in use without constant revision. But proved concept over broad range of conditions.

— A “better” coax choice for 75-ohm (didn’t uncover that) which could be wrapped almost tight around ferrite toroid might use but 3.5’ of cable as reports of those using RG400 in 50-ohm apps suggest.

The addition of these jumpers causes the coax run to radio (each side) to now be 24’. Depending on which truck I’m in — if new coax run needed — I’m definitely going to cut down the harness leg lengths to what’s needed versus bundling up some of it.

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