{"id":42856,"date":"2020-04-15T09:26:39","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T13:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=42856"},"modified":"2020-04-15T09:29:20","modified_gmt":"2020-04-15T13:29:20","slug":"hack-a-broken-vga-cable-to-make-a-binocular-ferrite-cores-for-your-ncpl-antenna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/hack-a-broken-vga-cable-to-make-a-binocular-ferrite-cores-for-your-ncpl-antenna\/","title":{"rendered":"Hack a broken VGA cable to make a binocular ferrite cores for your NCPL antenna"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to Oscar (EA3IBC)<\/a> who shares this simple hack.<\/p>\n

I’ve gotten quite a few emails from Post<\/em> readers telling me that the only thing holding them back from building a NCPL antenna<\/strong><\/a> is the BN-73-302 binocular ferrite core needed for the 1:1 Balun. While so much of the world is sheltering at home due to Covid-19, it’s less convenient to purchase one just for this purpose.<\/p>\n

But almost everyone<\/em> has an old VGA or USB cable with ferrite cores they can cannibalize for this\u00a0 very purpose. Oscar shared this super-simple hack on Twitter<\/a>:<\/p>\n

1. Cut the cable and remove the ferrite cores<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Tape the two cores together<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

3. And wind four turns on both sides<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Admittedly, this 1:1 balun might not have the same properties as the BN-73-302 from our tutoria<\/a>l, but it seems to be working for Oscar. Check out this screenshot he shared from SDR# while hooked up to his NCPL antenna:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Thanks again!<\/p>\n

Readers, you can follow Oscar on Twitter by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to Oscar (EA3IBC) who shares this simple hack. I’ve gotten quite a few emails from Post readers telling me that the only thing holding them back from building a NCPL antenna is the BN-73-302 binocular ferrite core needed for the 1:1 Balun. While so much of the world is sheltering at home due […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3607,3194,545,627,3,43,158],"tags":[7791,8353,4339,8440,4359,4357,8413,8412,8439,157],"class_list":["post-42856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-antennas","category-guest-posts","category-ham-radio","category-how-to","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-software-defined-radio","tag-airspy-hf-discovery","tag-airspy-youloop","tag-am-passive-loop-antenna","tag-binocular-ferrite-core","tag-homebrew-mag-loop-antenna","tag-mag-loop-antennas","tag-ncpl-antenna","tag-noise-cancelling-passive-loop-antenna","tag-oscar-ea3ibc","tag-sdr"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-b9e","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":42918,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/more-about-hacking-vga-cables-to-make-binocular-ferrite-cores\/","url_meta":{"origin":42856,"position":0},"title":"More about hacking VGA cables to make binocular ferrite cores","author":"Thomas","date":"April 20, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A few days ago, we posted an a short article showing how Oscar hacked a VGA cable to make a binocular ferrite core for his homebrew NCPL\/Youloop antenna. Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Grayhat, who explored this clever hack a little further: Hi Thomas, Having some time in my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/VGA02.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/VGA02.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/VGA02.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/VGA02.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44834,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/08\/bruce-compares-two-homebrew-ncpl-antennas-to-the-airspy-youloop\/","url_meta":{"origin":42856,"position":1},"title":"Bruce compares two homebrew NCPL antennas to the Airspy Youloop","author":"Thomas","date":"August 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bruce (VE3EAR), who writes: I decided that more testing of the Noise-Cancelling Passive Loop (YouLoop) antenna was needed, but I wanted to start with a clean page. I built two identical loops using some 3\/8 inch heliax scraps I had on hand. Both are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/YouLoop2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/YouLoop2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/YouLoop2.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":43158,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/05\/patrizios-simple-homebrew-ncpl-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":42856,"position":2},"title":"Patrizio’s simple homebrew NCPL antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"May 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Patrizio Cardelli, who writes: I'm Patrizio (SWL I - 5184 \/AN) from Riva del Garda, Italy. A few days ago, I built a Noise-Cancelling Passive Loop (NCPL) antenna. I built the 1:1 balun with a couple of ferrite 175 - 285. I got a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Screen-Shot-2020-05-07-at-7.35.59-AM-e1588851426131.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Screen-Shot-2020-05-07-at-7.35.59-AM-e1588851426131.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Screen-Shot-2020-05-07-at-7.35.59-AM-e1588851426131.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Screen-Shot-2020-05-07-at-7.35.59-AM-e1588851426131.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42595,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/diy-how-to-build-a-noise-cancelling-passive-loop-ncpl-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":42856,"position":3},"title":"DIY: How to build a Noise-Cancelling Passive Loop (NCPL) antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"April 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I've gotten an number of inquiries from SWLing Post readers asking for a step-by-step guide to building the passive loop antenna I've mentioned in a number of previous posts. This antenna is the homebrew version of the commercially-available\u00a0 Airspy Youloop. It works a treat. And, yes, folks...it's fun to build.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Inked-SpyTenna3-e1585933710848.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Inked-SpyTenna3-e1585933710848.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Inked-SpyTenna3-e1585933710848.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Inked-SpyTenna3-e1585933710848.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":42815,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/beating-the-quarantine-blues-readers-build-homebrew-ncpl-antennas\/","url_meta":{"origin":42856,"position":4},"title":"Beating the Quarantine Blues: Readers build homebrew NCPL antennas","author":"Thomas","date":"April 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently, I published a step-by-step guide on building a Noise-Cancelling Passive Loop (NCPL) antenna. Evidently, this antenna project really resonated with readers! [See what I did there? If so, my apologies!] I think this passive loop antenna project has been so appealing because (1.) most of us around the world\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Antennas"","block_context":{"text":"Antennas","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/antennas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG20200408142726-197x300.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG20200408142726-197x300.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG20200408142726-197x300.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG20200408142726-197x300.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":48622,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/04\/giuseppe-is-impressed-with-the-performance-of-his-homebrew-passive-loop-antenna\/","url_meta":{"origin":42856,"position":5},"title":"Giuseppe is impressed with the performance of his homebrew passive loop antenna","author":"Thomas","date":"April 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor, Giuseppe Morl\u00e8 (IZ0GZW), who shares the following: Dear Thomas, I'm Giuseppe Morl\u00e8 from central Italy, the Tyrrhenian Sea, Formia. Today I tested my noise canceling loop inside the radio station by comparing it to the crossed loops. Again, like my medium wave T Ferrite, this loop\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Accessories"","block_context":{"text":"Accessories","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/accessories\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Giuseppe.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Giuseppe.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Giuseppe.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Giuseppe.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Giuseppe.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Giuseppe.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42856\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}