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Post by homerbb on Oct 31, 2012 10:45:57 GMT -5
A 5/8 wave uses only the coil. You will need a set of radials for it, however. These 1/2 wave end fed antennas do very well. Start with your length a minimum of 18' and have enough tubing to make shorter and longer adjustments. The capacitor bars materials does not have to be so long, what matters is the amount of over lap each has. Smaller diameter wire can be used for the coil, too. It seems 1-1/4" by 15 wraps makes tapping and tuning easier, but you can experiment with other dimensions. You can use the plastic from the top of a margarine tub for the spacer between the capacitor bars.
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Post by homerbb on Jan 8, 2013 22:12:50 GMT -5
Because it was cold. And I was sick, and couldn't go outdoors for several days, and having some really odds and ends of things, I cooked up this ridiculous antenna in the garage that has tuned out quite well as an EFHW: It is made of PVC fittings, a piece of 3/4" EMT, a fishing pole with wire in it, a 3/4" x 4' wood Dowel, some wire that makes up a cage as part of the radiator ( I wondered how it might affect bandwidth), and the GP radial set I have had laying around. The entire thing is 17' long from about 16" below the GP radials to the tip of the fishing pole wire. It is sitting at 26' currently. It held its own talking to Brazil and Colombia with the 5/8 @ 33' FP, and the Merlin @ 36' FP this afternoon.
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Post by Night Ranger on Jan 8, 2013 22:20:45 GMT -5
That is one butt ugly and comical antenna. ha ha
Night Ranger
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Post by homerbb on Jan 8, 2013 22:59:02 GMT -5
Tell me aout it. What it's made of:
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Sandbagger
Administrator/The Boss
Posts: 6,247
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Post by Sandbagger on Jan 9, 2013 8:02:24 GMT -5
Because it was cold. And I was sick, and couldn't go outdoors for several days, and having some really odds and ends of things, I cooked up this ridiculous antenna in the garage that has tuned out quite well as an EFHW: It is made of PVC fittings, a piece of 3/4" EMT, a fishing pole with wire in it, a 3/4" x 4' wood Dowel, some wire that makes up a cage as part of the radiator ( I wondered how it might affect bandwidth), and the GP radial set I have had laying around. The entire thing is 17' long from about 16" below the GP radials to the tip of the fishing pole wire. It is sitting at 26' currently. It held its own talking to Brazil and Colombia with the 5/8 @ 33' FP, and the Merlin @ 36' FP this afternoon. That is a bizarre looking antenna setup. Is this an actual design or are you just "winging it" for fun? Something like that though, is the kind of thing that attracts CB buyers. They see something that complex looking and they think it just HAS to work better.....
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Post by homerbb on Jan 9, 2013 17:44:36 GMT -5
No, not an actual design. I had been looking at the Folded Umbrella antennas for 40/20 meters, and thought about scaling the design for 11 meters. So the diamond shaped thing was generated by that thought. Otherwise, it was just a bunch of spare items thrown together and it works.
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