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Sotabeams Wire Antennas and Parts
SOTAbeams HF Antenna Trap Kits
SOTABEAM HF Antenna Trap Kits are a clever design with flexible mounting arrangements to make them easy to build and use. They are available in two power levels, 100 watt traps are listed here as SBM-HFAT-101 and 20 watt traps are SBM-HFAT-102. Each kit includes parts to build two (2) traps. Make your portable single band antenna into a multi-bander with our lightweight antenna traps. You decide on the frequency when you build them; recommended range 7 - 25 MHz. Alignment of each trap is accomplished easily with an antenna analyzer. For QRP super lightweight traps, see SOTAbeams PICO TRAPS for 10 Watts (DX Engineering part SBM-PITK-100). Included in each SOTABEAMS HF Antenna Trap kit: -2 x high quality trap PCBs with plated through holes -4 x 100pF 1kv capacitors (used in series or parallel to give 50pF, 100pF and 200pF options) -2 x mounting hardware for toroids -2 x toroids (T94-6 for 100W and a lighter T68-6 toroid for 20W) -Enameled copper wire to suit the power level Traps can be used in one of two ways. These SOTAbeams traps can be used either way, it's your choice: 1) By using a trap resonant on the higher frequency that you want your antenna to work on, traps work as an effective isolator. In this application, the trap needs to be resonated in the band. This configuration makes the antenna easy to adjust as the sections do not interact much. In this configuration, our traps show a loss of typically < 0.7 dB. 2) By using a trap resonant between the two bands that you want to use (typically 1 to 2 % percent below the band edge of the higher band), losses are reduced but adjusting the antenna is much more difficult as the two sections interact. In this configuration our traps show a loss of typically < 0.3dB. We recommend that you resonate your traps at the lowest edge of the band that the trap is to work at. So for a 20m-40m dipole, resonant your trap at 14.0 MHz. This tends to be a reasonable compromise between trap loss and ease of antenna adjustment. Instructions are linked in the Documents tab on the "More Detail" page. SOTAbeams HF Antenna Trap Kits Specifications: PCB Dimensions: 2.599 x 1.181 in. (66 x 30 mm) Insertion Loss: 0.3 – 0.75 dB depending upon resonant frequency Impedance at resonance: 20,000 Ohms, typical Weights: 20 W traps 0.4 oz. (10.6 g), 100 W traps 0.6 oz. (16 g)
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SOTAbeams Pico Trap Kits
SOTAbeams Pico Trap Kits are a pair of miniature antenna traps that you can build to create a super lightweight portable multiband HF wire antenna. Designed for QRP portable operations at 10 watts or less, Pico Traps allow the hobbyist to make their own two or three band dipole or end-fed halfwave. Pico Traps are: - The smallest, lightest traps on the market - Easy to adjust in series or parallel modes - Super for multi-band stealth antennas - Streamlined shape to reduce snagging on vegetation - Attachment points for antenna wire. Work great with Stealth Wire - Easily waterproofed with Liquid Electrical Tape for extended use - Can be mounted inside of 1 inch PVC conduit - Weigh less than 0.2 oz. Perfect for use with IC-705, FT-817, FT-818, KX3, KX1, HB1B and other similar radios. Instructions are linked in the Documents tab on the "More Detail" page. What do you get with a Pico Trap kit? 2 x High quality Pico Trap PCBs 2 x T50-6 toroids 2 x nylon mounting kits for toroids 2 x SMD 100pF AVX RF Capacitors, 0805 High Q, Ultra-Low ESR 22 AWG (0.6mm) wire for toroids Pico Trap Kit Specifications: Size: 1.4 x 0.6 in. (36 x 15 mm) Weight: less than 0.18 oz. (5 g) Low loss: typically less than 0.35 dB. Less than 0.75 dB worst-case. Inductor Q: > 240 @ 14 MHz [Source - MicroMetals] Capacitor Q: >> 1000 @ 14 MHz Rp: > 24,000 Ohms @ 12 MHz Suggested resonant frequency range: 10 - 25 MHz Power rating: 10 Watts Higher power SOTAbeams Trap Kits are available from DX Engineering: 100W: SBM-HFAT-101 20W: SBM-HFAT-102
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SOTAbeams Open Wire Line Spacers
SOTAbeams Open Wire Line Spacers are light and strong, heavy duty insulators made with modern materials that make it easy to build your own very low-loss ladder line! Features of these Open Wire Spacers: • Made from a specially selected mix of ABS and PVC to give great strength coupled with good UV resistance and tolerance to a wide temperature range, -58 to +194 degrees F (-50C to +90C) • Unlike heavy ceramic insulators which tend to slip with time on vertical ladder lines, these spacers are lightweight, just 0.2 oz. (5.5g) • Wire clips in easily and spacers stay in place • Suitable for insulated or uninsulated wire 12 to 18 AWG (2.5mm-1.0mm diameter) • Line spacing 4.4 in. (110mm) Spacer length 4.6 in. (120mm) • Spaced to create a feedline with a nominal impedance of 600 ohms • Recommended distance between spreaders is 27 in. (70 cm) • Hole in the center for attachment to wall stand-off or building cage dipoles • Spacers can be used to build special folded dipoles Sold in packs of five (5), it is easy to order SOTAbeams Open Wire Line Spacers in North America from DX Engineering.
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SOTAbeams Bandspringer Midi HF Portable Antennas
The SOTAbeams Bandspringer Midi HF Portable Wire Antenna is a pre-assembled random length wire antenna with counterpoise. The Bandspringer is designed for the lightweight portable specialist, it is designed to allow you to transmit and receive anywhere you go. General features: * Lightweight * Rated to 125W * Compatible with tapered-pole system or free-strung mounting * Two wire winders included (color may vary) * Two aluminum pegs (tent stakes) included What do you get? The Bandspringer is also supplied with: * Nylon carry bag * Three insulators that can be used to attach the antenna to a pole and to our own pegs (supplied attached) * Two cable ties - to give more attachment options * One 4mm to BNC Adapter * Printed web link to full instructions The Bandspringer Midi consists of two wire elements; both are made of high quality stranded wire, insulated with yellow PVC. This wire type has proved a good compromise between flexibility and performance. The yellow insulating jacket makes it easy to spot on most surfaces which makes handling much easier. The elements for the Bandspringer Midi are 42 ft. (14m). One element is the radiator the other acts as a counterpoise. The wire elements are supplied wound on a Wirewinder for easy deployment and recovery in the field. Each element is terminated in a good quality 4mm "banana plug". The radiating element has a braided nylon cord extension to make it easy to use. The extension is firmly attached to the wire at one end and has a loop at the other end. Enjoy the HF bands anywhere you go with SOTAbeams Bandspringer Midi HF Portable Wire Antennas from DX Engineering!
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SOTAbeams Band Hopper Multi-band Portable Dipole Antennas
SOTAbeams Band Hopper Multi-band Portable Dipole Antennas are pre-assembled, resonant multi-band, dipole antennas. The Band Hopper is designed for the lightweight portable specialist. With a high efficiency, full-size, half-wave dipole on each band, it's designed to allow you to transmit and receive strong signals anywhere you go. General features: -- RG174 feedline -- BNC male connector -- Rated to 125W --Includes ferrite-core, current balun -- Quick band selection with alligator clip jumpers -- Compatible with tapered-pole system or free-strung mounting -- Three wire winders included -- Pegging loops (tent stakes) included -- 33 ft. of back guy rope included -- Compact storage bag -- Lightweight -- Printed web link to instructions Choose the Band Hopper model that provides the band coverage to fit your portable operational plans. Enjoy the HF bands anywhere you go with SOTAbeams Band Hopper Multi-band Portable Dipole Antennas from DX Engineering!
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SOTAbeams Antenna Center and 4:1 Transformers
SOTAbeams Antenna Center and 4:1 Transformers are a very handy feed point for a low-power lightweight portable HF doublet antenna project. Available as a kit (SBM- ACBA-101) or already built (SBM-ACBA-102). These are very versatile dipole center insulators that include these outstanding features: • Coaxial Cable Strain-Relief Built In • BNC female Connector • Water-Resistant Construction with Integral UV Resistant Cover • Antenna Wire Strain-Relief Built-in • Binding Posts for Antenna Wire Connections • Mounting Holes for Center Support Rope • Lightweight – 3.1 oz. (88g) • High Performance by Design - Flat Response from 3-30MHz • Loss: < 0.2dB @ 14MHz • Matched SWR < 1.15:1 1.8-30MHz (< 1.50:1 0.5-60MHz) • Power Rating: 125W SSB-CW; 30W Digital The SOTAbeams Antenna Center and 4:1 Transformers are useful for pre-matching higher impedance antenna systems such as doublets and folded dipoles to bring the SWR into the matching range of internal antenna tuners. In that application, the length of the feeder between the transformer and the tuner must be kept to about 6 ft. These Antenna Centers have a 4:1 matching transformer that is sometimes referred to as a balun. This isn't a choke, so strictly speaking it's not a choke balun, but it's typically referred to as a voltage balun. This transformer is designed with a lip that can be sealed using a silicone sealant if required for use in more permanent installations. We do not supply the Balun sealed as this allows users to gain access to the enclosure and allow any buildup of moisture to drain away. Note: Whenever the DX Engineering "Documentation" tab is available, please look at the associated files for additional product information.
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