PA0RDT Antenna

Useful information regarding antennas for SDR products.
M0RON
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:18 am

PA0RDT Antenna

Post by M0RON » Mon Apr 29, 2019 1:18 pm

[quote][/quote]
Hi all,
I received my PA0RDT mini whip antenna from Roelof today, posted Friday, rapid delivery.
Looks nicely made and good quality, I'll get it up this week, fed with lmr400 coax, looking forward to seeing what results it gives.
Andy
Last edited by M0RON on Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am, edited 0 times in total.
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fotoralf
Posts: 38
Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:13 pm
Location: Western Germany, near Belgian border
Contact:

Re: PA0RDT Antenna

Post by fotoralf » Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:32 pm

Got mine years ago and still happy with it. If something is good enough to receive IQ2MI in East Belgium, then it's good enough for me.

Ralf

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Mike2459
Posts: 318
Joined: Mon Jul 24, 2017 8:24 pm

Re: PA0RDT Antenna

Post by Mike2459 » Mon Apr 29, 2019 11:20 pm

I saw a significant increase in signals and a reduction in noise when the coax shield was connected to a good earth ground and an RF isolation transformer was installed. I believe the current version has the isolation transformer already installed.

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M0RON
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:18 am

Re: PA0RDT Antenna

Post by M0RON » Tue Apr 30, 2019 10:07 am

Hi Mike,
Yes, the isolation transformer is installed and has jumper to connect antenna ground to station ground, but can be taken out.
The incoming coax will be attached to a ground rod next to the house which is in turn connected to a further 4 ground rods.
73
Andy
M0RON
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ON5HB
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2018 1:07 pm

Re: PA0RDT Antenna

Post by ON5HB » Sun May 05, 2019 10:49 am

Beware that the coax is part of the antenna but if not properly isolated from common-mode-currents it can either make it receive badly or receive a lot of electrical noise from buildings nearby.
Typical the thing is placed on a wooden stick and the coax isolated at the ground level, but as far away from buildings and electrical wires as possible.
Just giving it earth is not enough in most cases.

I myself used ferrite at 10 meters from the whip on the coax.

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Kenh2os3
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu May 23, 2019 3:10 pm

Re: PA0RDT Antenna

Post by Kenh2os3 » Mon May 27, 2019 2:18 pm

I have seen Several PAORDT Antennas in various places. And several users talking about signal success.

Could someone post some links of trusted sellers of the antenna, I really don't know whos, who.

Thank You,
Kenh2os
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ON5HB
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2018 1:07 pm

Re: PA0RDT Antenna

Post by ON5HB » Mon May 27, 2019 3:04 pm

I bought mine on ebay, this exact type:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MiniWhip-Activ ... 2469570201

And I fed it with cheap cable-tv coax, double shielded 75Ohm, works great BUT beware of electrical spikes, charges and rubbish nearby as it will receive it.
About 10m away from the antenna I have made an RF-isolation by adding ferrite to the coax, to keep inhouse rubbish out.

I feed the antenna with a simple old DSL-modem switching-PSU, 12v, no problem.

Works for me and the reseller does ship pretty fast.

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M0RON
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:18 am

Re: PA0RDT Antenna

Post by M0RON » Mon May 27, 2019 3:20 pm

I bought mine direct from Roelof Bakker PA0RDT, built to order, quickly delivered and great quality. He can also supply a quiet psu.
Works great.
Andy
M0RON

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sdrom33
Posts: 128
Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2018 4:38 pm

Re: PA0RDT Antenna

Post by sdrom33 » Tue May 28, 2019 3:26 pm

Hi Andy, could you pse be more specific and upload Roelof site address? Thanks!

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M0RON
Posts: 14
Joined: Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:18 am

Re: PA0RDT Antenna

Post by M0RON » Tue May 28, 2019 5:24 pm

Hi sdrom33,
Roelof Bakker can be contacted by email,

roelof@ndb.demon.nl 

I found his email from a review of his mini whip, I have no connection to Roelof apart from being a satisfied customer.
Andy.

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