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From: Darian - South Australia
Date: 14 Apr 2002
Time: 08:00:07
Remote Name: 203.134.26.93
Re the postings below on this subject - I have built two units in PVC plumbing housings, with brass fittings and 3/8" stainless whips about 1.6m long. All joins are soldered - the wire windings are made from beefy 35 amp multi strand copper wire. One unit is just for 8022 khz. Other is built for 5455khz with an 8022 khz tap. Both seem to work very well. I am happy ! Tuning was very much "bush" though (Aussie term for "a bit rough") - used fencing wire as the whip and trimmed bits off until the sound was greatest (assume this is max. resonant efficiency). The units were built purely on mathematical calulations - when "bush" tuned, both had to be shortened somewhat - one up to 400mm off. I am reluctant to buy into meters yet. Have communicated reliably up to 1500km so far. Might double that as conditions improve - have received plenty from double that distance, but transmitting is another things it seems. Thanks to those contributors. Darian (Aust. VKS737 network - mobile Sierra 586)