VHF Wire Antenna

[IanS]

Hello everyone, I am looking to build myself an antenna for my Bendix VHF HT. I have repaired radios and such but I can not for the life of me find any plans for a job like this.

All I am trying to do is enhance my capabilities when the quarter wave whip wont cut it ( I work for the Dept. of Forestry). Is my theory nuts or is as simple as I thought it should be (for someone who knows what they are doing, of course)? Thanks for any help you can offer.

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Ian

 

[davidmc36]

What exactly do you want to make? An external antenna?

 

[IanS]

Yes, a long wire antenna such as the field expedient MBITR coax antennas. Something I can string out when the whip is not getting out or receiving.

 

[Don_Burke]

Yes, a long wire antenna such as the field expedient MBITR coax antennas. Something I can string out when the whip is not getting out or receiving.

How much space are you willing to use up?

Build A 9dB, 70cm Collinear Antenna

 

[rfradioconsult]

Build a J pole out of 300 ohm TV twinlead with about a 12 ft RG-58 pigtail with a connector to mate with your radio. You can roll it up and stuff it into your backback and with a bit of string throw it up into a tree and enjoy.

 

[IanS]

"and with a bit of string throw it up into a tree and enjoy."

Just what I was thinking of doing. I just did a search for "building roll up j pole" and found a bunch of good info. Thanks, before I get started do you have any tips?
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Ian

 

[rfradioconsult]

Just remember that old saying; measure twice and cut once!

Antennas ar a little bit of physics and a lot of magic.

 

[prcguy]

Describe the MBITR antenna. If its the one that uses a length of RG-58 with the shield removed and snakes through a military vest its not what you want unless you are looking to waste all your transmit power heating your body.

Unless you modify your BK handheld to BNC, the best radio mounted antenna you will probably find is in Ebay auction # 290318318128.
prcguy

Yes, a long wire antenna such as the field expedient MBITR coax antennas. Something I can string out when the whip is not getting out or receiving.

 

[prcguy]

The eight half wave collinear shown in the link is only about 5dBD gain, you need 16 half wave elements to get a little more than 9dBD gain with that design. Good construction article otherwise.
prcguy

How much space are you willing to use up?

Build A 9dB, 70cm Collinear Antenna