1 inch copper tape for antenna elements ?

[Catbrain]

just thought of this idea...... this could be wrapped around other rigid materials to for antenna elements----
1 inch could be used around finger sized tubes... so maybe gain some bandwidth (?)

what would happen if you wrapped it like a barber pole on 3/4 PVC ? PVC would get too saggy after much length though.....
also I guess it would depend on finding copper tape cheap......

would this be of any use practically ?

Tim

 

[prcguy]

just thought of this idea...... this could be wrapped around other rigid materials to for antenna elements----
1 inch could be used around finger sized tubes... so maybe gain some bandwidth (?)

what would happen if you wrapped it like a barber pole on 3/4 PVC ? PVC would get too saggy after much length though.....
also I guess it would depend on finding copper tape cheap......

would this be of any use practically ?

Tim

If you shorten an antenna with a coil it usually results in a narrower BW and less efficiency. Ok, if the original antenna was a 1/4 wave made of 26ga wire and you loaded it to 80% of its original size but with 1" wide copper it may be a wash but the end result would cost a lot more in $$ and complexity.

There are many antennas out there that use various widths of copper tape for the element from 1/8" wide copper to some 2" wide copper strap I've seen on some loaded loop antennas. In all cases its done to make the antenna smaller and you live with whatever losses that causes.

 

[EAFrizzle]

It would be a whole lot simpler, easier, and probably cheaper to just use copper or aluminum tubing. I wouldn't use something like tape or foil unless I had to have a flat form factor.

 

[mmckenna]

what would happen if you wrapped it like a barber pole on 3/4 PVC ? PVC would get too saggy after much length though.....
also I guess it would depend on finding copper tape cheap......

To add to the above:

I used an aluminum adhesive backed tape to create a ground plane under a plastic UTV roof.
Worked great for about a year, then the flexing as well as expansion and contraction from heat caused the tape to tear. Had to replace it with sheet metal.

On the other hand, I had a transit but antenna that was having issues. Turned out it was installed through a fiberglass roof with no ground plane. A careful application of the aluminum tape provided enough to make it all work correctly. But that's well inside the bus and pretty well protected.

I don't think you are going to find adhesive copper tape cheap.


Way back in the late 60's, my grandfather was working on the Lockheed YO-3A/Q-Star project. They needed a VHF antenna, but needed something that was quiet (the whole purpose of the plane). One of the solutions they tried was using foil backed tape, like they had used in window alarm circuits back then, as the elements. The tape was applied inside the canopy so an antenna whip wouldn't be whistling in the wind. Worked well enough. I think it was eventually replaced with a real antenna, but it's a solution that's been used in the past. I still have the roll of 3M adhesive foil tape he gave me about 40 years ago.

 

[Token]

If you shorten an antenna with a coil it usually results in a narrower BW and less efficiency. Ok, if the original antenna was a 1/4 wave made of 26ga wire and you loaded it to 80% of its original size but with 1" wide copper it may be a wash but the end result would cost a lot more in $$ and complexity.

There are many antennas out there that use various widths of copper tape for the element from 1/8" wide copper to some 2" wide copper strap I've seen on some loaded loop antennas. In all cases its done to make the antenna smaller and you live with whatever losses that causes.

I don't think the OPs goal sounds like a loaded antenna, but rather using copper tape to create a 100% coverage "skin" on the other material, creating an element of a non-conductive material with a conductive surface.

T!

 

[Token]

just thought of this idea...... this could be wrapped around other rigid materials to for antenna elements----
1 inch could be used around finger sized tubes... so maybe gain some bandwidth (?)

what would happen if you wrapped it like a barber pole on 3/4 PVC ? PVC would get too saggy after much length though.....
also I guess it would depend on finding copper tape cheap......

would this be of any use practically ?

Tim

Assuming you are not talking about creating a loaded antenna, but rather you are talking about skinning the non-conductive material with a conductive material, then yes, the larger the diameter of the element the broader the bandwidth.

But really, why not just use 3/4" diameter AL tubing? The cost savings (combined PVC + copper tape vs AL tubing) can't be very much, and the trade-off in mechanical rigidity is going to be significant.

T!

 

[dave3825]

I used an aluminum adhesive backed tape to create a ground plane under a plastic UTV roof.

Did you make some kind of bonded connection?

 

[mmckenna]

Did you make some kind of bonded connection?

Yes, drilled the hole in the roof first. Laid the tape down in an X pattern with the center over the hole. Removed the tape and installed the NMO so it was touching the tape.

Worked just fine for about a year.

 

[KF0NYL]

I doubt that copper or aluminum tape would last very long attached to PVC pipe at the PVC is going to flex and bend in the wind. Just as it did not last long for @mmckenna on his UTV roof.

The OP didn't state what type of antenna or what bands he is wanting it for. A friend has made j pole antennas using aluminum tubing for 6m, 10m and 11m with good success.

I forget what size aluminum he used for the 10m and 11m j pole antennas. I know it was pretty large for the strength.

 

[Catbrain]

Yes have to agree- some surplus al tubing would be better all way round. especially if I can find some at the scrap yard---

 

[VK6NCB]

I have some 1/8” wide self adhesive copper tape.

I have used it wrapped around shafts to make antennas, and built a 2M Moxon with parasitic 70cm elements on a sheet of corflute. Made my first satellite contacts using it, and a tape measure Yagi (for uplink/downlink)

I think I binned the moxon when I moved QTH, but it worked pretty well.

 

[merlin]

It works, but 1 inch tape and 3/4 inch PVC sounds not good. Perhaps 1/4 tape on 2 inch PVC, makes for a decent helix.

I doubt that copper or aluminum tape would last very long attached to PVC pipe at the PVC is going to flex and bend in the wind

Do a thin fiberglass covering, that keeps everything in place, should be fine for years.