Ray_Davies
Member
I am interested in building a gable end antenna and would appreciate any information or advice.
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Gable End Antenna For CB
- Thread starter Ray_Davies
- Start date
W4AXW
A keeper of the SSB flame
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2024
- Messages
- 23
Assuming you are thinking of a Center-Fed Halfwave Dipole for your gable end, in an Inverted V config:
234/27.185 MHz= 103-1/4" For each side (or pole) of the antenna.
468/27.185 MHz= 206-1/2" Total wire length for both sides (or poles) of the antenna.
Wires cut to those lengths will likely be electrically "long", leaving you plenty of wire for attachments and tuning.
Standing the wire off from the structure as far as practical will help to improve the operation of the antenna, especially if there is any aluminum siding, soffit or fascia covering nearby. That antenna would easily cover the 11m band with a low SWR after proper tuning.
You might want to read up on some antenna basics before starting the project to make things a bit easier. Plenty of info on the internet.
I'm always happy to see someone wanting to homebrew an antenna instead of just hitting "Buy Now" for the latest and greatest. Less $$ too.
7 3 and good luck
234/27.185 MHz= 103-1/4" For each side (or pole) of the antenna.
468/27.185 MHz= 206-1/2" Total wire length for both sides (or poles) of the antenna.
Wires cut to those lengths will likely be electrically "long", leaving you plenty of wire for attachments and tuning.
Standing the wire off from the structure as far as practical will help to improve the operation of the antenna, especially if there is any aluminum siding, soffit or fascia covering nearby. That antenna would easily cover the 11m band with a low SWR after proper tuning.
You might want to read up on some antenna basics before starting the project to make things a bit easier. Plenty of info on the internet.
I'm always happy to see someone wanting to homebrew an antenna instead of just hitting "Buy Now" for the latest and greatest. Less $$ too.
7 3 and good luck
WA0CBW
Member
Have you searched Google for gable mounts? DX Engineering and Amazon have several to choose from.
BB
BB
WA0CBW
Member
You might also search for eave mount brackets.
BB
BB
There should be metal flashing under and along the edge of the shingles and a dipole will not work out with metal that close.
Ray_Davies
Member
Thank you for the detailed info. It’s great.
There is no metal flashing there, just shingles. The flashing is in the sides by the gutters.
I’m all set to go with my dipole.
There is no metal flashing there, just shingles. The flashing is in the sides by the gutters.
I’m all set to go with my dipole.
N1EXA
FT8 Huntin Mudd Duck on the deep end of the pond !
11 meter / 27 mhz 1/2 Wave Dipole Antenna for CB Radio 2KW ICAS | eBay
Rated for 2kw ICAS. The 1/2 wave dipole is a balanced antenna that needs no balun, has less RFI problems than an end fed half wave. Can be installed as an inverted vee, dipole, or a vertical. Each antenna is individually tuned slightly below the bottom of the band so you can tune to your...
www.ebay.com
Ray_Davies
Member
Ok thanks. I’m going to build one first for fun, but if it doesn’t work out and I smell smoke, then…..11 meter / 27 mhz 1/2 Wave Dipole Antenna for CB Radio 2KW ICAS | eBay
Rated for 2kw ICAS. The 1/2 wave dipole is a balanced antenna that needs no balun, has less RFI problems than an end fed half wave. Can be installed as an inverted vee, dipole, or a vertical. Each antenna is individually tuned slightly below the bottom of the band so you can tune to your...www.ebay.com
N1EXA
FT8 Huntin Mudd Duck on the deep end of the pond !
I do recommend running a 1:1 balun instead of the coax going direct to the antenna.
Why does an antenna need a 1:1 balun? - PA9X
The 1:1 balun makes the hearts of many a radio amateur beat faster. But how magical is this balun and why should you use it at all?
www.pa9x.com
Pete N1EXA
A balun is a good idea but not necessary if the antenna has a low VSWR. I’ve never noticed any difference on a CB antenna with or without a balun although I use them on lower HF bands to keep RFI from traveling up the coax from computers near the radio.
Someone else mentioned standing off the wire from the structure and that is a good idea. You can use plastic electric fence insulators for that.
Someone else mentioned standing off the wire from the structure and that is a good idea. You can use plastic electric fence insulators for that.
K6GBW
Member
Gable mounts all kind of depend on what kind of antenna you want to run. If you want to put up a big vertical there then I'd say think twice. Gable mounts aren't really able to hold heavy antennas or high wind loads. They attach to the soffit boards and those are literally just nailed on, so a good wind can just pull the whole thing off. For a heavy antenna a mast braced against the house is better, or a small tower. If you want to use a dipole on a short mast then a gable mount made from unistrut and pole straps will hold it pretty well.
Ray_Davies
Member
I thought I’d just run the wires along the bottom outside of the gable ends which would give me an inverted v dipole.
Yes, that should work but it’s better if you space the wire at least a few inches out from the gable and shingles. Wire right up against the wood or shingles will usually interact with the structure and may want to be a little shorter than calculated. Electric fence insulators are around 4” long and are a cheap way to space the wire from the structure.
Ray_Davies
Member
Ok thank you. I’ll do just that. How far away from any metal objects should the antenna be? There’s no flashing on the front, but there is some at the back of the house in case I decide to put another one there.
K6GBW
Member
There is almost always a metal flashing on the edge under the shingles. Keeping above that would really help.
Lengths of metal like 6ft or less should be ok a few feet away. Longer maybe 20ft away. Short ones may affect tuning a little but wont affect radiation pattern. Longer lengths close by can make the antenna directional.
W4AXW
A keeper of the SSB flame
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2024
- Messages
- 23
It's doubtful you'll let any magic smoke out. One antenna wire connects to the coax center conductor, the other wire hooks to the coax shield. Just be sure no wayward strands from the shield contact the center conductor.
Your Inverted V should be fine without a 1:1 Balun, but they're not difficult or terribly expensive to homebrew, and may help reduce pattern distortion caused by nearby objects. A Nema 4x junction box ($6 or $7 @ HD/Lowes) also makes a great place to connect coax to the antenna elements as well as holding the Balun toroid. Talked all over the planet on the Ham bands using this one on Inverted Vs hanging on a balcony. Cost was about $20 total.
If you want more info on making one just holler.
7 3
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Ray_Davies
Member
I figured I’d order this:
If the flashing makes it directional but doesn’t do damage that would be okay because the one gable is south facing and I’m in Canada.
If the flashing makes it directional but doesn’t do damage that would be okay because the one gable is south facing and I’m in Canada.
Ray_Davies
Member
How far above do you recommend?
K6GBW
Member
I’m assuming from all that you’ve written that your intention is to us CB (27 MH) for skip down to the US. If that’s the case then a gable mount on the end of the house with a small mast (4-6 feet) to hold the dipole would work. It would only be a few feet above the roof line but that should be okay for what you want to do. Just just don’t want the antenna wires right next to long strips of metal because they will couple with the antenna wires. This will likely make your SWR a mess and cause other problems.
