Stop RF interference in its tracks. Learn how to build two versions of the RF Current Sniffer to detect common-mode current and optimize your ham radio antenna.Every Amateur Radio operator has faced the “invisible enemy”: Common-Mode Current (CMC). It’s that stray RF energy crawling back down the outside of your coaxial cable shield, wreaking havoc on your equipment. It causes “hot” microphones that sting your lips, resets your computer during a transmission, and creates erratic SWR readings that defy logic.
To fight this, you need more than just guesswork; you need a tool that can “see” the current on the outside of the line. Based on the designs popularized in the Antentop 01-2020 journal, we are going to look at how to build two versions of a simple, non-invasive RF Current Sniffer. Whether you prefer the visual precision of an analog needle or the quick “go/no-go” simplicity of an LED, these circuits are essential additions to your workbench.
To fight this, you need more than just guesswork; you need a tool that can “see” the current on the outside of the line. Based on the designs popularized in the Antentop 01-2020 journal, we are going to look at how to build two versions of a simple, non-invasive RF Current Sniffer. Whether you prefer the visual precision of an analog needle or the quick “go/no-go” simplicity of an LED, these circuits are essential additions to your workbench.
