Cantenna?

[ArkTex]

Hi again,

I'm working on making a small directional antenna to be a good starting point. I'm trying to build an antenna to get the Frisco, TX site on their system and on the PAWMco system in Collin County, TX.

My whistler is suffering from the simulcast distortion, so I thought a cantenna pointed towards the tower (it's around 6 miles to the southwest) might help.

Is a cantenna even worth the time?

 

[R8000]

There's an old saying "can't hurt, might help" You can also try horizontal polarization with your cantenna to add some attenuation. Nothing wrong with experimenting !

 

[ArkTex]

There's an old saying "can't hurt, might help" You can also try horizontal polarization with your cantenna to add some attenuation. Nothing wrong with experimenting !

Since I already have a mag mount, could I punch a hole into a paint can, put the mag mount through, and jerry rig a dish? Turning it into a haphazard directional. Would this be an option too?

 

[R8000]

Sure ! You won't hurt or damage anything since it's just receive only. With your paint can idea, it'd be best of the can wasn't touching the whip of the antenna anywhere. The paint can would be a "shield" around the whip and allowing RF to enter only from the open side. You won't hurt anything by trying new ideas. And, it can be a bit fun once you find the right combination

 

[ArkTex]

Sure ! You won't hurt or damage anything since it's just receive only. With your paint can idea, it'd be best of the can wasn't touching the whip of the antenna anywhere. The paint can would be a "shield" around the whip and allowing RF to enter only from the open side. You won't hurt anything by trying new ideas. And, it can be a bit fun once you find the right combination

So, update, we have a can over the antenna end, no noticeable improvement yet, however the bottom of the antenna broke off, only the magnetic part.

 

[ArkTex]

Alright, finished build is in.

Dropbox - File Deleted - Simplify your life

www.dropbox.com

It picks up Frisco good, PAWM is good, Collin Co Public Safety good, also getting Dallas, with one or two signal bars but audible.

So all in all a good first experiment.

 

[AB5ID]

Never did try to build one but here you go.

700-900 Mhz Cantenna

Wanting rejection to fend off P25 simulcast distortion, I thought I would check out what it takes to build a cantenna for 800Mhz, based on online calculators 10" seems to be a sweet spot for a 700-900 Mhz cantenna. This seems like a good candidate for the "can"...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[ArkTex]

Never did try to build one but here you go.

700-900 Mhz Cantenna

Wanting rejection to fend off P25 simulcast distortion, I thought I would check out what it takes to build a cantenna for 800Mhz, based on online calculators 10" seems to be a sweet spot for a 700-900 Mhz cantenna. This seems like a good candidate for the "can"...

forums.radioreference.com

For some reason my makeshift cantenna is going better, it is pictured above.