MAGITENNA update

OK I think I have most of the issues sorted out with this antenna, none of them I have to say are the fault of the antenna but have come about through using a loft space antenna rather than a n outdoor one. The benefits of not having to go outside each time I operate are huge.

The Magitenna was giving me issues on the 20mtr PSK31 band, going back to basics and re organizing the cables in the shack sorted out this problem and I can operate on 20mtr with no issues now.

Minor issues with the 30mtr band have been resolved by making and using an Ugly Balun. This was really easy to make with a great web page that gave a great explanation of what it does and how it works. Check out this page at Hamworld I have to say Brian at Hamworld and Nigel at M0CVO antennas have been really helpful in getting my RFI issues sorted out. Now I don't know these guys personally but my emails to them have been met with really helpful answers.

My next  job is to bomb proof my heating thermostat and boiler which is shorting the contacts on the thermostat on select frequencies. Again great advice from the guys above and I am hoping to get the thermostat changed very soon and ferrite's on the boiler lead also.

Now the Ugly Balun seems to have really smoothed out the feed from the antenna to the radio and has resulted in a better SWR with the auto-tuner.

The signal reports from this little antenna have been really good and I have had some great contacts from all over Europe and even down as far as South America.

So with a little house keeping and some good advice my shack is now running pretty smooth again, there is some testing still to be done but that all part of being a Amateur Radio operator.