Snap On End Fed Feed Line Choke for Non-Resonant and End Fed Half Wave Antennas, RG8X, RG8, up to 38 dB common mode suppressionProduct DetailsMPN: SOFLCSNAP On Feed Line Choke
Each end fed antenna needs a feed line choke at the radio end of the coax to stop the antenna common mode current (on the coax braid) from getting into the radio when transmitting and also to stop RFI common mode noise when receiving. A
simple easy to adjust in different places along the coax used as a counterpoise is the snap on ferrite core with a 1" ID (hole) installed as shown in the picture. (coax not included, but you can use RG-8X size for 5 turns and RG-8X size for 3 turns).
Add the Feed line choke (part # SOFLC) to your end fed antenna today today and stop the pesky RFI from getting into your radio and causing RFI, audio distortion or unexpected operation!
NOTE: Coax shown in picture is NOT INCLUDED and is shown as an installation example only. If you want a pre-wound choke check part# JC-1-1500-3 or JC-1-1500-6.
For non-resonant end fed antennas placement of the choke from 10-50 feet away from the antenna feed point to use the coax braid as the counterpoise (since these antennas are really off center fed dipoles with the short side using the coax braid as the count5erpoise. Wind 8-10 turns thru center for an effective 3-30 Mhz choke.
For End fed Half Wave antennas place 3-10 feet from antenna feed point to act as short counterpoise for these voltage fed antennas. Use 8-10 turns.
TECH NOTE: SNAP On Chokes for 80 and 160 meter end fed antennas
If you use RG-8X size cable, use 2 SOFLC if you have 5-6 turns thru the center of each.See picture on left as an example of how to wind the cable.
Measure 40 feet from the matching unun and then wind 6 turns thru the center of the SOFLC.Close it up and then wind an additional 6 turns thru another SOFLC placed adjacent to the first one and on the radio station side of the coax.See picture to left.
If you use LMR-400 or 1/2" coax cable you will only get 3 turns thru the snap on choke and you will need an additional choke (with an additional 3 turns) in series to provide enough choking on 40 and 80 meters. Part# SOFLC.
In lieu of the 2 chokes shown above, you may also use a F400-31 ring (3” ID) with 6 or more turns which provides a much higher common mode suppression and better antenna tuning on 80 meters. See picture for winding example.
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SNAP On Feed Line Choke
Each end fed antenna needs a feed line choke at the radio end of the coax to stop the antenna common mode current (on the coax braid) from getting into the radio when transmitting and also to stop RFI common mode noise when receiving. A
simple easy to adjust in different places along the coax used as a counterpoise is the snap on ferrite core with a 1" ID (hole) installed as shown in the picture. (coax not included, but you can use RG-8X size for 5 turns and RG-8X size for 3 turns).
Add the Feed line choke (part # SOFLC) to your end fed antenna today today and stop the pesky RFI from getting into your radio and causing RFI, audio distortion or unexpected operation!
NOTE: Coax shown in picture is NOT INCLUDED and is shown as an installation example only. If you want a pre-wound choke check part# JC-1-1500-3 or JC-1-1500-6.
For non-resonant end fed antennas placement of the choke from 10-50 feet away from the antenna feed point to use the coax braid as the counterpoise (since these antennas are really off center fed dipoles with the short side using the coax braid as the count5erpoise. Wind 8-10 turns thru center for an effective 3-30 Mhz choke.
For End fed Half Wave antennas place 3-10 feet from antenna feed point to act as short counterpoise for these voltage fed antennas. Use 8-10 turns.
TECH NOTE: SNAP On Chokes for 80 and 160 meter end fed antennas
If you use RG-8X size cable, use 2 SOFLC if you have 5-6 turns thru the center of each.See picture on left as an example of how to wind the cable.
Measure 40 feet from the matching unun and then wind 6 turns thru the center of the SOFLC.Close it up and then wind an additional 6 turns thru another SOFLC placed adjacent to the first one and on the radio station side of the coax.See picture to left.
If you use LMR-400 or 1/2" coax cable you will only get 3 turns thru the snap on choke and you will need an additional choke (with an additional 3 turns) in series to provide enough choking on 40 and 80 meters. Part# SOFLC.
In lieu of the 2 chokes shown above, you may also use a F400-31 ring (3” ID) with 6 or more turns which provides a much higher common mode suppression and better antenna tuning on 80 meters. See picture for winding example.
TECH NOTE: We also stock RFI kits to protect effected devices such as garage door openers, computers (laptops, desktops), dsl/cable routers, ethernet hubs and many more devices. If you run a high powered RF amplifier in your ham station also consider a linear amp RFI kit which will cut down RFI transmitted by your station. Remember there is always a “transmitter” and a “receiver” of RFI and the quest is to find and choke the “path” the RFI has selected – you need to add ferrites to both the transmitting side and the receiving side to eliminate RFI problems. The RFI-HTS kit only helps suppress RFI on the receiving side.
Typical RFI Problem/Solution:
Hello, I am Larry, a ham operator and I am having interference issues with my Direct TV system. My station is a FT450D through an Ameritron ALS-600. From the amp through a coax switch to choose between an OCF dipole or an Hustler 5BTV vertical. Any power over 100 watts and my DTV goes off the air and must completly reboot/format. Coax is RG-8. The DTV dish is pointed away from the dipole and separated by about 25'. DTV was totally useless! They suggested I not talk on the radio while she is watching TV! Please help me with a reasonable, cost effective soultion. (The wife gets really pissed when I shutdown the tv!) Thank you, Larry
Hi Larry,
Your RFI problem is quite common and is usually a sign of either a radiating coax feed line or reception of your radiated signal (source) by the Direct TV (the victim) through either the AC power lines acting as “antennas” for your ham signal or the coax braid of the satellite antenna acting as an antenna for your signal.
The solutions are straight forward:
1. To make sure your feed line is not radiating you need a feed line choke at each antenna feed point (also makes your antenna work better since it is not using the coax as part of the antenna). You can use our simple Kit 110 with 5 snap on chokes on each antenna for this purpose. Part # Kit 110 at $27.50 each – one for each antenna. These chokes will keep your feed line from radiating and coupling into your ac power lines. INFO HERE
2. The radiation from your antennas themselves may also be getting into the ac power lines and coax braid of the Direct TV antenna so you need to protect the victim receiver. Depending upon the sophistication of your direct TV setup (e.g. home theater, dvd, tape player, sub woofer speakers, etc), the path of the RFI may be coming thru the AC power lines of any connected device to the video including the video monitor itself! To help solve this problem we have a home theater RFI kit for up to 5 devices (you need a minimum of two – one for the Direct TV receiver(AC and coax input) and another for the video monitor AC power lines and HDMI or video input cable. Our kit part # is RFI-HTS. INFO HERE
These items should help reduce the RFI and let you operate on the air while your wife watches TV.
Bob Brehm, AK6R
Chief Engineer