#3 discone need input

merlin-7 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-08-2005, 04:00 PM

Ok I did a bit of work today on my home built antenna, I added some 20 inch elements to the cone and some 7 inch elements to the disk.

This should give it a 1/4 wavelength down to about 120 mhz.

I found and old cb base antenna that was, well mangled and used it for parts.

Tell me what you think.

IT has 12 elements on the cone so far, I need to find parts for 4 more however I did balance them out. In other words, there are 4 elements missing 90° apart.

What would you do to change it?

I am looking at the 120 to 870 mhz range...

I am new to this, but it is so fun. even at 43 years old

nd5y · #2 (**permalink**) 01-08-2005, 05:19 PM

aluminum + copper = corrosion

corrosion + RF = lots of noise

Tom

TeRayCodA · #3 (**permalink**) 01-09-2005, 08:50 AM

corrosion..get some good enamel spray paint,paint it.
Good work Merlin! you're getting the hang of it!

TeRayCodA · #4 (**permalink**) 01-09-2005, 10:37 AM

Also,if you could use some copper tubing or brass welding rods,you could solder them to the cone,and would make better conductivity,and lessen the chance of corrosion(similar metals)

TeRayCodA · #5 (**permalink**) 01-09-2005, 11:17 AM

I don't know what your spacing is for your insulator,but I always have mine on everything I build at about 1"

merlin-7 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2005, 01:11 PM

it is 1/4 inch fiberglass, I have several sheets of it so adding a few more will not be a problem (I just cut out what I need with a hole saw)

Thanks for the input everyone, keep your ideas coming in.

I have off next week so when I get all the ideas in I will take it back down and rebuild it.

I have been playing packrat and looking for old antennas and other building materials. so far the antenna has cost me $14. I want to use just one material for it but its kinda hard to find copper or brass rods really cheap.
I did find about 25 feet of rg-8/u
Thanks again all.