Unit 3 — Assembly and Setup

TM-GEAR-005 — Open Handout TM Chapter: Chapter 4 ELOs: Execute assembly steps in the correct sequence; verify build quality before operation Estimated time: 20 minutes

Step 1: Read the TM

Open TM-GEAR-005. Read Chapter 4 — Construction and Assembly completely.

Then come back here.

Chapter 4 Content

  1. Cut the coax to the calculated length: L_coax = N × π × OD_former (one turn circumference times number of turns).
  2. Wind N turns of coax tightly on the former. Leave 75 mm pigtails at each end for connection to the antenna element.
  3. Strip 25 mm of jacket and braid from each pigtail end to expose only the center conductor and dielectric.
  4. At each end, connect the center conductor to the antenna element wire and the braid to the antenna element wire (both center and braid connect to the same antenna conductor — this is correct for a trap; the trap is in parallel with a short section of element).
  5. Use the trap_calculator.py script to verify the calculated resonant frequency before cutting. Input: coax type, former OD, number of turns.
  6. Seal pigtail ends with self-amalgamating tape to prevent water ingress. Coat all exposed braid with liquid electrical tape.

Assembly Quality

Chapter 4 specifies 6 construction/assembly steps.

The assembly directly determines RF performance. Common errors: - RF leads too long — lead inductance raises SWR and limits high-frequency performance - Cold solder joints on RF nodes — high resistance causes signal loss and intermittent behavior - Ground loops — multiple ground paths at different potentials cause noise and calibration errors - Ferrite winding errors — wrong turn count or direction reverses transformer polarity or changes impedance ratio - Incorrect winding direction on toroidal transformers — affects phase and common-mode rejection

If Chapter 4 specifies a verification step after assembly (e.g., "verify DC resistance = X before proceeding"), do it. Those checks exist because they are the most common failure points.

Self-Check Questions

SC3-1. How many assembly steps does Chapter 4 specify?

SC3-2. What is the first assembly step? State it exactly from the TM.

SC3-3. Does Chapter 4 specify maximum lead length anywhere? If so, what is the limit and why?

SC3-4. Does Chapter 4 require a bench verification after assembly? What does it check?

SC3-5. What would you do if a winding resistance measurement came out wrong during assembly verification?

Answer Key

SC3-1. Count the numbered steps in Chapter 4.

SC3-2. See Chapter 4, step 1. Copy it exactly.

SC3-3. RF lead length limits are typically 10–15 mm for HF circuits. Longer leads add ~1–2 nH per mm, raising inductive reactance at high frequencies.

SC3-4. Scan Chapter 4 for verification steps. Common checks: DC resistance, winding balance, null depth on test signal, impedance ratio.

SC3-5. Stop assembly. Diagnose before proceeding — a winding error found before completion is much easier to fix than one discovered after the unit is boxed.

Checkpoint

Before proceeding: - [ ] You have read Chapter 4 completely - [ ] You can state the number of assembly steps and the first and last steps - [ ] You understand how assembly quality affects RF performance

→ Proceed to Unit 4