Just for "Giggles", LOL!

ka5lqj · #1 (**permalink**) 02-18-2009, 06:37 AM

Ok,

I've had a "dream concept" for a longwave antenna. I don't know IF it will work, but once I get moved, I'm going to build it anyway, LOL!

The antenna consist of 10' sections of 4" pvc drain pipe that are glued together (total height 50'). Now starting at the bottom, the length, up to 30' is close-wound with # 14, solid, insulated, copper wire. At the 30' level, the drain pipe has "holes" drilled in to accommodate pieces of 3/4 pvc, 5' long and supported inside with wood dowel to keep the pieces, "straight out". To the ends of these will be attached #6 solid copper wire wound upwards in a coil-fashion and then the top 10' will again have the close-wound, # 14 again.

At the top an "end cap" will be glued and a 24" in diameter piece of sheet metal will be attached as a "top hat. At ground level, there will be a piece of # 6 solid copper fashioned into a "ring" and radials will be attached to run in 10 degree segments, outward.

Now, with that all said, I hope to be able to listen from 13 khz upward. I do know it would make one heck of a vertical "longwire" antenna or a good lightning rod, ROFL! But, I won't know, until I build it.

Respectfully,
73,

Don/KA5LQJ/8W2308 unit 3
Grid Square EM-32

N_Jay · #2 (**permalink**) 02-18-2009, 08:22 AM

I don't even know what to say.

Seems you are starting the feed point with a really big inductor, so the upper cut off of the antenna is going to be very low.

antenna design book - Google Search

zz0468 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-18-2009, 08:50 AM

What's this design based on? I don't think I've ever seen anything even remotely like that... except maybe a tesla coil. You might make it resonant at 13 KHz, but I'm not inclined to think it would act like much of an antenna.

I'm able to receive effectively down to about 10 KHz with a square loop that's about 2' on each side. You might consider something that's a little less cumbersome and doesn't use nearly as much copper.

N_Jay · #4 (**permalink**) 02-18-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ka5lqj

Ok,

I've had a "dream concept" for a longwave antenna.

You know how when you just wake up from a dream everything makes sense, and then as you start thinking about it, everything falls apart?

Maybe you are not awake yet?

kb2vxa · #5 (**permalink**) 02-18-2009, 03:05 PM

Some say "it came to me in a dream" but frankly my best inspiration comes when I'm sitting on the toilet. One must get rid of the junk to make room for new ideas, maybe there's an abandoned railroad telegraph line or something around that would make for the ultimate Beverage antenna like this one in Wisconsin.

OK go ahead and laugh but "lowfers" do have this habit of stringing up some VERY long wires through the woods if they're lucky enough to have one in the back yard.

ka5lqj · #6 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 06:38 AM

Well?

The concept is along the lines of Henry, K5BUG's, "Bug Catcher", LOL! The antenna being "vertical" with a large number of "radials" at the bottom for a "ground reflector". Like I said, it's a "concept".

ZZ...I'd like to see the "plans" for your antenna, if you don't mind. I love to experiment with antennas and soon, when I have the "room", I'll be trying them out. It's all in fun and to learn something. Kinda like Thomas Edison. He failed at making a "light bulb" (monode or "dark sucker", LOL!) 10,000 times. When asked why he didn't quit sooner, he replied, "Well, I just learn 10,000 ways how NOT to make a light bulb."

I don't hunt, I can't fish from a boat any more because of my "balance" and I'll be damned if I'm going to spend the rest of my life in front of that 'idiot box' (TV) until I die. I simply refuse to "Go gently into that good night..."

Respectfully submitted,
73,

Don/KA5LQJ/8W2308 unit 3
Grid Square: EM-32

zz0468 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ka5lqj

Well?

The concept is along the lines of Henry, K5BUG's, "Bug Catcher", LOL! The antenna being "vertical" with a large number of "radials" at the bottom for a "ground reflector". Like I said, it's a "concept".

The bug-catcher antennas have large loading coils, you're describing a continuously loaded helical antenna. That part of the concept isn't bad, but your implementation (continuously tightly would coil) does not lend itself to that application.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ka5lqj

ZZ...I'd like to see the "plans" for your antenna, if you don't mind. I love to experiment with antennas and soon, when I have the "room", I'll be trying them out. It's all in fun and to learn something. Kinda like Thomas Edison. He failed at making a "light bulb" (monode or "dark sucker", LOL!) 10,000 times. When asked why he didn't quit sooner, he replied, "Well, I just learn 10,000 ways how NOT to make a light bulb."

Mine is a commercial product, so I can't steer you to a set of construction plans. However, if you google shielded loop antenna construction plans, there are over 46,000 hits, with many good ones on the first page alone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ka5lqj

I don't hunt, I can't fish from a boat any more because of my "balance" and I'll be damned if I'm going to spend the rest of my life in front of that 'idiot box' (TV) until I die. I simply refuse to "Go gently into that good night..."

That's good. Besides, antennas are a lot of fun to play with.

k9rzz · #8 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 04:18 PM

Make sure to put in just as much effort into your ground system (rods + radials). That's where you'll make the real difference in how it plays. Better yet, elevated the bottom off the ground 6 to 8 ft.

THEN ... be sure to report what you hear!

k9rzz · #9 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb2vxa

... maybe there's an abandoned railroad telegraph line or something around that would make for the ultimate Beverage antenna like this one in Wisconsin.

Hey, I'll be up there on Saturday, about 30 miles from that site. Maybe I should bring some wire and log what I can from the mobile!