Articles & Hints by AD5X

Amplifier Related

bulletAttenuator for transceiver/amplifier interfacing - Makes putting your amp in-line a no-brainer!  New
bulletALS-600 QSK Conversion - Simple, low cost internal QSK mod.  Also works for the ALS-500.
bulletHF Amplifier QSK Switch - External relay-based HF Amplifier QSK switch (Revised 4/6/07)

 

Antennas

bullet43-Foot Vertical 160- and 80-Meter Matching - Three matching solutions that will significantly improve performance on 160- and 80-meters.  New
bulletBuild a 12/17 Meter Trap Dipole - Includes building your own high voltage capacitors. 
bulletPortable Dipole - 40-10 meter resonant dipole for portable operation (Revised 2/26/07)
bulletVertical Travel Antenna - Compact & improved 60-10 meter portable vertical antenna (Revised 9/6/05)

Antenna Tuners and Antenna Accessories

bulletStatic Bleeders for Any Antenna:  Stop worrying about damaging your antenna analyzer.  New
bulletZ-Match Antenna Tuner:  100 watt compact unit (Revised 4/3/2009)
bulletTenna-Tune - Original, but updated Tenna-Tune article (Visual SWR indicator)
bulletTenna-Tune2 - Updated and improved SWR tuning accessory, and now IC7000 compatible (Revised 7/2/2009)
bulletTenna-Tune Audio - An audio-based SWR indicator (Revised 7/17/05)
bulletManual Switch with Limit Indicator for screwdriver antennas
bulletAntenna Matching Bases for portable and mobile antennas
bulletVW New Beetle Mobile HF Antenna Base - Useful on many other cars as well
bulletSWR Tamers - Protect your transceiver during antenna tuning
bulletTemporary HF Mobile Mount & Powering:  For occasional operating in different cars.
bulletIC-706/703 Tuning Interface Simple tuning interface for IC-70X series radios (Revised 3/17/08)
bulletSG-239 Simple SMARTLOCK - Simple, but works just like the SGC unit

Baluns, Ununs. Air-Wound Coils

bulletHF Legal Limit Current Balun:  Build a 160-10 Meter Guanella balun.  New
bulletHF Legal Limit Voltage Unun or Balun:  Build a 160-10 Meter Ruthroff unun or balun.  New
bulletK5OOR balun modifications and assembly ideas
bulletElecraft balun modifications - Make it a 1:1/4:1 switchable unit
bulletBuild your own air-wound coils and coil supports (Revised 10/3/05)
bulletMulti-Impedance Switched Transformer for Short HF Antennas (Revised 5/7/05)

Boat-Anchor Related

bulletARC5/BC455 Conversion Info:  Bring that military receiver to life (Revised 4/10/07). 
bulletInexpensive Vacuum Tube Plate Supply:  AC-isolated high voltage power supply (Revised 4/8/08).
bulletJohnson Ranger restoration project - Detailed info on updating/restoring this transmitter (Revised 6/17/2007)
bulletJohnson Ranger front panel removal - Step-by-step directions
bulletBoat-Anchor TR Switch - Uses inexpensive DPDT relay
bulletBoat-Anchor Night Light - Unique gag gift for the older ham
bulletLED Replacements for incandescent pilot lamps

DC & Powering Related

bulletDC Power through your coax - Multiplex DC voltage onto your feed line (Revised 5/13/05)
bulletVoltage Conditioner for Ham Transceivers (Revised 3/2/06)
bulletVoltage Reducer for IC-703 and other QRP transceivers
bulletIC-703 Side-Mounted battery pack - Self-contained IC-703 (Revised 6/21/05)
bulletCompact 9.6V NiMH Fast-Charger - For NiMH battery packs (Revised 4/19/2005)
bulletSG-2020 Battery Pack (Revised 5/7/05)
bulletFT-817 voltage conditioner - and more!  (Revised 9/12/05)
bulletVariable Voltage Controller - Add-on to your fixed output power supply (Revised 4/3/09)
bulletSurface-Mount your PowerPole Connectors - Simple support method for your workbench
bulletBattery Holder Voltage Drops - Home-brew battery pack considerations (Revised 5/25/05)
bulletDigital milliammeter - Inexpensive in-line unit you can easily build

Measurements

bulletPrecision Mismatches - For checking your SWR Meter and Antenna Analyzer
bulletAccurate TX Power Measurements: 30- and 200-watt precision dummy load/peak detectors.
bulletAttenuators for Receiver Tests - Attenuators and techniques to check your receiver.
bulletMeasure Inductor Q - Q Meter Adapter for your antenna analyzer.
bulletHigh Current DC Test Fixture - Switchable current steps to check power supplies & batteries
bulletSimple In-line Current/Voltage Monitoring Fixture - Get rid of your rat's nest of wiring (Revised 1/21/06)
bulletReduce RFI in your Home & Shack:  RFI minimizing techniques.

Miscellaneous

bulletUseful and inexpensive tools and supplies for the ham (Revised 5/11/05)
bulletPortable Work Area Extension - Use a portable cart to temporarily extend your work area
bulletConnectorizing RG-6 coax - How to solder a PL-259 to aluminum-shielded RG-6 coax
bulletSuitcase Portable HF Station - Entire station fits into an MFJ6404 carrying case
bulletSpeech Compressor for Dynamic Microphones - Specifically designed for the FT-817
bulletAdd a fan to the IC-706/MKII/MKIIG heatsink (Revised 9/13/05)
bulletScratch-Proof the IC-706/703 flip-up stand
bulletFT-1K MKV Memory Keyer & Tune Control - Nice replacement for the FH-1 keypad
bulletPalm Paddle portable key base - Easily built non-skid snap-on steel base
bulletSG-2020 Mobile Mount - Built with parts from yur local hardware store
bulletLow-speed DC Motor - Used for remote tuning capacitors, etc.
bulletSimple RF Detector - Good from HF through 450 MHz (Revised 5/27/06)
bulletLED Light - Great low current lighting for portable operation

RF Switching Related

bulletTransmit/Receive Antenna Switch - For separate T/R antennas and single port transceivers (Revised 4/7/07).
bullet160-6 Meter Remote Antenna Switch with control through the coax cable

Links to other pages on this website:

About the AD5X household

Links

Presentations, Product Reviews, and Equipment Modifications

Back to the Home Page