G3XBM (Roger): 137kHz E-field probe mag-mount

Tiny E-field probe on the car roof on mag-mount

This is the schematic of my simple mag-mount based E-field probe for 137kHz reception in the car. I use a low cost MPF102 FET and a low cost 2N3904 transistor. Performance seems to be totally adequate, detecting my very low ERP QRSS3 beacon as I drive around the local area up to around 10km (yet to test at greater range) from home. The whole unit is attached at the base of a 15cm whip on a mag-mount stuck on the centre of the car roof. The coax from the EFP connects into an FT817 with the IPO button ON - this makes the sensitivity better on 137kHz, a tip worth knowing.