M7ENP Adventures & Experiments

Introduction Oscillators are fundamental components in the world of electronics, and their applications are vast, ranging from generating radio signals to powering precision clocks. In this blog post, we'll explore the inner workings of oscillators and demystify the process behind their ability to produce continuous, periodic waveforms. The Core Concept: Feedback Loop At the heart of an oscillator lies a concept known as a feedback loop. This loop is the key to understanding how oscillators work. Let's break it down step by step: 1. Amplification An oscillator begins with an initial disturbance or noise. This can be random electrical fluctuations, external signals, or even intentional triggers. The first step is to amplify this initial signal. An amplifier within the oscillator circuit boosts the signal to a level where it can sustain oscillation. 2. Feedback Network The amplified signal is then fed back into the circuit through a feedback network. This network includes compone

The world of ham radio is filled with fascinating people, ideas, and projects. One such project that caught my attention is the "continuously loaded, helically wound vertical antenna" designed by Bev AH6NF (YL). In this article, we will analyze the design, materials, and steps to build this antenna, and then we'll give it a try ourselves to see how it performs. Design The design of this antenna is simple yet effective. It is a vertical antenna that is helically wound with a 91cm stinger. The stinger can be folded along the 122cm mast for easy storage. The antenna is continuously loaded, which means that it is designed to operate on multiple bands without the need for an antenna tuner. Materials The materials needed to build this antenna are readily available and affordable. The list includes: 1.22 meters of 1.27 cm white PVC water pipe 9.14 meters of 1.63 mm² insulated electrical house wiring 2.38 mm diameter brass brazing rod, 91 cm long Miscellaneous junkbox stuff Numbe