How to make a Sidekick for the Propointer

[Ism]

I have decided to stop making the Sidekick but have a several left so if anybody wants the kit, just PM me for purchase info. However most people here are tinkerers and will have the components easily accessable to make their own. The Sidekick is simply a coil of wire and a switch. Simple concept but very difficult to work with because of the small size of the components. Instead of having to slide a metallic object toward the tip of the Propointer every time you want to super-tune, you simply press a switch completing the coil loop to supertune the Propointer. Setting up the Sidekick can be difficult but once the proper placement is located, using it in the field is effortless.

Picture #1 is an early prototype. You can see the small coil I wound and potted with a bladder type switch similar to the kind found on early TV remotes.
Picture #2 is the Sidekick schematic.
Picture #3 is the circuit board and micro switch that makes up the current version of the Sidekick.
Picture #4 is what comes with the kit now (including instructions not shown).
Picture #5 shows the Sidekick attached to the Propointer w/o heatshrink. Heatshrink ensures the integrity of the double stick tape to the Propointer.


HH
Ran

[Skippy]

Thanks for sharing. Having only read about these before, I imagined they would also have a damping resistor in them to lessen the loading. I guess the number of turns you used and the position determines whether one is needed or not. I've just tried it out, with a coil of spec: 9mm dia, 5 turns of 0.25mm ECW. Shorted out, the coil needs to be a few cm beyond the end of the pointers' ferrite rod for correct operation. With 4R7 load on the coil, the coil can be brought much closer, and fine-tuning is easier. Adding a resistor (less than 10 Ohms) might be something to consider if anyone is planning on homebrewing a device like these. Regards.