Bugcatcher Antenna Coil for Amateur Radio Version 2

thingiverse

This Version 2 design features a 4-turn-per-inch coil, contrasting with the 6 t.p.i. coil in Version 1, as shown on https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3848128. Version 2 also boasts an innovative bottom support that accepts banana plugs, simplifying coil tapping. My inexpensive component tester measured the inductance of this coil at 40 uh, significantly lower than the 80 uh for Version 1. The coil supports are designed to slip over a 2-inch piece of PVC pipe and secure with glue. Pipe fittings can be attached to the ends of the pipe, allowing easy connection to an antenna mast and whip. The coil supports feature numbered ends, and should be arranged counter-clockwise as viewed from the numbered ends, ensuring a neat spiral coil. The supports measure 100mm in diameter (approximately 4 inches) and, when assembled, will be around 150mm long (approximately 6 inches). The design features a 4-turn-per-inch spiral, accommodating 14 or 12 gauge wire. At the feedpoint of the antenna, I employed a 1 uh matching coil as outlined on www.k0bg.com/match.html.