[aklug] Re: Radio antenna help

SMA is subminiature version A - a connector
HT is a series identifier for SMA connectors, I'm not sure it stands for
anything

There are some interesting YouTube videos on using the Rasberry Pi for
radio reception & transmission...even satellite

I ran across this one having to do with setting up an Outenet ground
station for supplying internet to schools in 3rd world areas. I had
forwarded it to Jim Wadell because it sounds it fits with some of the stuff
he's been working on since he retired.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24HBmRKHULs

Jim Gribbin

On Wed, Dec 7, 2016 at 12:47 PM Hans Thompson <hans.thompson1@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thanks Dave and James. What does SMA or HT stand for? There are just so
> many options when it comes to choosing an antenna and I'm new to the whole
> science of radio that it is difficult to figure out where to start.
>
> I've played around with AM/FM, reading utility meters, capturing my car
> key fob, and I'd like to now start capturing satellite transmissions but
> I'm wondering if the dinky SMA antenna I'm using needs an upgrade or
> repositioning. And then if it needs repositioning, what's the best way to
> run the cable out to the antenna. Up to now, I've only needed to run
> around with it connected to the usb in my laptop to get good reads.
>
> On Tue, Dec 6, 2016 at 7:37 PM, Dave H <dvhlgrt@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I've only played around with my sdr dongle a bit but there's some good
> exercises for gnu radio here: http://greatscottgadgets.com/sdr/
>
> Antenna design will really be driven by your desired use.
>
> -Dave
>
>
> On December 6, 2016 6:37:07 PM AKST, James Zuelow <e5z8652@zuelow.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> On 12/06/2016 04:31 PM, Hans Thompson wrote:
>
> Hi everyone. I've been a lurker for a couple months now.
>
> I'm looking for help with optimizing an antenna for software defined
> radio. I know this isn't related to linux but I'm sure there are
> folks out there with some experience that I can learn from.
>
> Thanks.
> Hans Thompson
>
>
> Hi Hans -
>
> I have a beaglebone black with a 7" LCD cape running Debian and gqrx. I
> plug a FunCube Pro+ into it.
>
> For UHF/VHF I just grab an SMA HT antenna and go. Putting gqrx into AM
> mode and walking around gives you a poor-man's RFI detector.
>
> For HF, I have a UHF -> SMA pigtail and I plug it into my HF antenna,
> but really all you need is wire, and a lot of it. One receiving antenna
> I've
> tested is a 90-foot roll of RadioShack 20-gauge black wire. Solder
> one end to the positive terminal of a UHF adapter, and put the other end
> into a convenient tree (with a little weight behind it). Thinking about
> it, I suppose that I could have soldered the wire to a male SMA adapter
> and dispensed with the pigtail, but aside from that a 90-foot roll of
> wire isn't "optimized" for much.
>
> I've thought about making a small loop for ARDF. The beaglebone could
> make a pretty decent 80m/2m combo detector just by swapping antennas.
>
> But what are you optimizing the antenna for?
>
> 73,
>
> James
> KL2ZZ
>
>
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>
> --
> Sent from my Android device with K-9 Mail. Please excuse my brevity.
>
>
>
>
> --
> Charles Hans Thompson
> Alaska Statistical Automation
> Chief Data Scientist
> (360) 628-3860
>

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Received on Wed Dec 7 18:02:50 2016