Lee wrote:
To continue the saga......

I fitted a variable capacitor to my 10 foot circumference 1mtr loop and am
able to tune 80 to almost 15 meters...works well..but.........

How to fit a motor drive !!!.....there seems to be nowhere to acquire cogs,
pulleys or gear sets....no model shops around that carries components, that
i`ve googled for anyway..(now when i were a lad! ).... ;-)

Can you imagine how fast that electric motor turns the capacitor, even with
reduced voltage???..you have to be quick i can tell you or you miss the
sweet spot heh,heh....

Seriously, any ideas to slow the tuning rate will be most welcome .

Lots of model-making and robotics suppliers in the UK have small
plastic gearboxes, plastic shafts, couplers etc. Try some of the links
from my "Components and Suppliers" page.

As a short-cut, try to find a small battery-powered barbecue spit motor
at one of the home and leisure stores (probably in the end-of-season
bargain bin). They are still a bit fast, but will run at reduced voltage
or with pulse-width control to slow them down.


--
73 from Ian G/GM3SEK 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB)
http://www.ifwtech.co.uk/g3sek