I'm building a double cross antenna to pick up NOAA satellite signals using the information on this page:
This link opens a PDF file.
https://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/DCA.pdf
The NOAA birds transmit at around 137 to 138 Mhz and I noticed that the author of these plans calls for different diameters at different frequencies.
It was my understanding (probably wrong), that the larger the diameter of the antenna element, the wider the bandwidth of the range where the SWR was lowest. At least that's my understanding but I don't know squat about antenna design.
The reason I'm asking is because instead of copper pipe or wire, I want to use 1/2 inch rigid aluminum conduit.. (yes, rare stuff but I have a bunch of it) The 1/2 inch pipe has an outside diameter of something like 0.840 inches which is far larger than the 3/8 inch conductor the plans call for.
Does it make any difference really?
I have like 300 feet of this aluminum conduit and nothing to use it for. I figured it would make for some good antenna material.
This link opens a PDF file.
https://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/DCA.pdf
The NOAA birds transmit at around 137 to 138 Mhz and I noticed that the author of these plans calls for different diameters at different frequencies.
It was my understanding (probably wrong), that the larger the diameter of the antenna element, the wider the bandwidth of the range where the SWR was lowest. At least that's my understanding but I don't know squat about antenna design.
The reason I'm asking is because instead of copper pipe or wire, I want to use 1/2 inch rigid aluminum conduit.. (yes, rare stuff but I have a bunch of it) The 1/2 inch pipe has an outside diameter of something like 0.840 inches which is far larger than the 3/8 inch conductor the plans call for.
Does it make any difference really?
I have like 300 feet of this aluminum conduit and nothing to use it for. I figured it would make for some good antenna material.
