[Hackrf-dev] How to tell if antenna is faulty

[cliff palmer]

Jake, the reading between the tip of the antenna and the center pin varied
wildly - so much that I borrowed another multi-meter to confirm them.  The
readings went from zero to 160+ and back.  I did secure the antenna and the
multi-meter leads to make sure my hands weren't the cause of the variation.
It looks like the antenna is faulty.
Thanks for the hint on CQRX.

I am using the Hackrf with the Ant500 as a starting place to learn enough
about SDR to tap RF data feeds from NOAA Buoys.  These buoys measure water
temp, wind speed and direction, wave direction, height and frequency.  The
buoy data will be fed into an FPGA/RISC board to calculate and display
marine navigation conditions, much like your local weather forecast
includes a wind speed and direction display.
There's no way that the Ant500 will be the right antenna for this.  I got
it because I needed a starting place and a number of YouTube tutorials on
SDR used it with the Hackrf.  Once I know more about what I am doing I'll
be pestering you all again for advice on antennas.

Thanks again
Cliff

On Wed, Jan 30, 2019 at 11:24 PM Gavin Jacobs <apriljunkbox at hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Cliff,
> I have a hackrf and an Ant500. With the antenna fully extended, you should
> measure a very low resistance between the tip of the antenna and the center
> pin of the connector. Mine was about 2 ohms. If you have 75 ohms, then
> there is a problem. Try again between the center pin and the elbow (where
> the extensions start) - it should be very low < 1 ohm.
>
> You should be able to use GQRX to receive an FM radio station, with almost
> any antenna. Most common rookie mistake is forgetting to turn up the IF
> gain.
>
> Tell us more about your setup and we can help you get started.
>
> Jake
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* HackRF-dev <hackrf-dev-bounces at greatscottgadgets.com> on behalf
> of cliff palmer <palmercliff at gmail.com>
> *Sent:* January 30, 2019 3:15 PM
> *To:* hackrf-dev at greatscottgadgets.com
> *Subject:* [Hackrf-dev] How to tell if antenna is faulty
>
> I have a Hackrf One with an Ant500 Antenna and I am having no luck with
> multiple tutorials found on YouTube, including the ones at Great Scott
> Gadgets.  I measured the resistance on the (disconnected but fully
> extended) Ant500 Antenna using a multimeter (one lead on the metal part of
> the antenna and the other on the male lead in the connector.  The
> multi-meter measured up to 75 Ohm resistance.
> I'm really new to SDR and so I don't know if resistance should concern me,
> but it seems like an antenna should not have resistance.
> I would appreciate some advice about how to determine if this is really a
> problem (and the antenna is faulty) or if I am making a typical new-to-SDR
> mistake.
> Thanks
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>
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