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| Scanner / Receiver Antennas For discussion of any type of receiving antenna used by a scanner or receiver base, mobile or handheld. |
11-15-2012, 5:52 AM
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Antenna Paint Choice
I have been using the Larsen Tri-Bander for about 4 years. Because it is on the roof of an SUV, it gets dinged a little more than the average car antenna, to include every time I enter/exit my garage (I added the optional spring when I bought it). About a year ago, it started showing chips in the black coating from its battle damage. As the antenna gets older, the chips are getting larger and at a faster rate since wind now as a litteral edge to work against while driving. Since there is nothing wrong with the operation of the antenna, I really hate to replace it just because it has spots of silver showing on the radiator and coil. I know of stories where people have painted their antennas, but is there a preferred paint that will not affect reception, or is this pretty much all paints?
Dewey
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11-15-2012, 8:00 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Connecticut
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Well for one thing the paint (I think) has to be none metallic.
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11-15-2012, 8:39 AM
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I do not believe it would matter at all as long as it adhered to the antenna. After all, the antenna itself is metal.
You might email the manufacture and ask.
Regards
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11-15-2012, 8:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ab5r
I do not believe it would matter at all as long as it adhered to the antenna. After all, the antenna itself is metal.
You might email the manufacture and ask.
Regards
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This has been my first thought as well, but after thinking more about it, I would think that if the paint was conductive, such as, contained metal, that it could cause problems since it would bypass the coil by making it a part of the radiator instead of functioning as a coil. My feeling on asking the manufacturer is that they would sugeest that I buy a new antenna or radiator at a minimum (if the radiator is offered separately) since most manufacturers are more interested in income, not extending the life of something already bought. Not knocking the answers thus far since the intent is to help, I am just more interested in the "practicality" of just repainting the antenna.... besides being a penny pincher  .
Dewey |
11-15-2012, 9:30 AM
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Amateur Radio
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Newport, Tennessee
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__________________
Danny Harp Jr.
HAM Radio Operator: N4YEK
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11-15-2012, 10:07 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by n4yek
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Great responses and suggestions in the threads! Thanks and sorry for missing them.
Dewey |
11-15-2012, 11:06 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Oklahoma
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Keep the paint off of the insulators in an antenna and it shouldn't matter if the paint is metallic or not. It's best if you paint it pink. Electrons look back to see where they came from, see that pink thingy and are so embarrassed that they speed up to get away from it! Faster than the speed of light......
- 'Doc
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11-15-2012, 2:48 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 280
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dewey
I have been using the Larsen Tri-Bander for about 4 years. Because it is on the roof of an SUV, it gets dinged a little more than the average car antenna, to include every time I enter/exit my garage (I added the optional spring when I bought it). About a year ago, it started showing chips in the black coating from its battle damage. As the antenna gets older, the chips are getting larger and at a faster rate since wind now as a litteral edge to work against while driving. Since there is nothing wrong with the operation of the antenna, I really hate to replace it just because it has spots of silver showing on the radiator and coil. I know of stories where people have painted their antennas, but is there a preferred paint that will not affect reception, or is this pretty much all paints?
Dewey
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Go down to your local Radio Shack and purchase a length of heat shrink tubing of the right length and diameter - slip it over the antenna and shrink it. Better than paint and easy to replace.
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11-16-2012, 11:39 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,053
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LtDoc
Keep the paint off of the insulators in an antenna and it shouldn't matter if the paint is metallic or not. It's best if you paint it pink. Electrons look back to see where they came from, see that pink thingy and are so embarrassed that they speed up to get away from it! Faster than the speed of light......
- 'Doc
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Really? So it does not matter if the paint is metallic? Am thinking about the metal in the paint that will mess around with the antenna signal. Or am I wrong? |
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