Hey all, I need some guidance on making my own antenna or perhaps locating a suitable alternative. I have read through the wiki and haven’t identified anything I’ve understood to fit my use case.
I’m not particularly a radio enthusiast, but I do have an interest in buying or building equipment that maximizes usefulness for aviation. So maybe I’ve been bit by the bug and haven’t yet come to terms with it. I can solder and struggle my way through diagrams, so I’m hoping that will be enough experience to suffice.
I currently have a Sporty’s PJ2+ aviation radio. I know it isn’t as fancy or capable as a base station radio or nicer offerings from brands like ICOM, but the features/simplicity are great in the plane. I believe it has female, N type connectors.
I have some experience with the old PRC-152A radios with the bodyworn dipole antennas and would like to build something similar, foldable. Ideally I could route the antenna through my flight bag or make it from a tape measure cut to the appropriate length (1/2 or 1/4 wave, maybe). The ability to fold or deploy the antenna quickly in a cockpit with one hand would be ideal.
The use-case is for monitoring air traffic from a greater distance from the airport as well as picking up the current weather information on the ground. Occasionally, I would be transmitting from rural, untowered airstrips.
If anyone’s aware of an antenna that is already available, a resource to help a halfwit like myself make a passable “handheld”and /or mounted antenna, or information on why my idea is generally idiotic—I’d greatly appreciate your input.
Standing by for thrown books or spears.
I’m not particularly a radio enthusiast, but I do have an interest in buying or building equipment that maximizes usefulness for aviation. So maybe I’ve been bit by the bug and haven’t yet come to terms with it. I can solder and struggle my way through diagrams, so I’m hoping that will be enough experience to suffice.
I currently have a Sporty’s PJ2+ aviation radio. I know it isn’t as fancy or capable as a base station radio or nicer offerings from brands like ICOM, but the features/simplicity are great in the plane. I believe it has female, N type connectors.
I have some experience with the old PRC-152A radios with the bodyworn dipole antennas and would like to build something similar, foldable. Ideally I could route the antenna through my flight bag or make it from a tape measure cut to the appropriate length (1/2 or 1/4 wave, maybe). The ability to fold or deploy the antenna quickly in a cockpit with one hand would be ideal.
The use-case is for monitoring air traffic from a greater distance from the airport as well as picking up the current weather information on the ground. Occasionally, I would be transmitting from rural, untowered airstrips.
If anyone’s aware of an antenna that is already available, a resource to help a halfwit like myself make a passable “handheld”and /or mounted antenna, or information on why my idea is generally idiotic—I’d greatly appreciate your input.
Standing by for thrown books or spears.
