Homebrew antenna plans

[KE5FUL]

Ok, anyone that has a homebrew antenna and would like to share plans, pics, schematics, etc. post them here. It would be interesting to see what's out there!


***Be sure to tell about how satisfied you are with it and how easy it was to build.***

Thanks,
JRed

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi JRed and future readers,

I suggest the ARRL Antenna Handbook for accurate information. (All you ever wanted to know about antennas but were afraid to ask.) There's nothing like a test range for accurate performance data. Then there are those modeling programs like NEC where you plug in your ideas and it spits out theoretical performance characteristics. They're not for the faint of heart, you don't need a degree in electrical engineering but it helps. (;->) Seriously, a lot of hams into experimenting use them, nice to see what you may expect before building something that just plain doesn't work the way you want it to.

Now start writing something you guys, your novel ideas are what dreams are made of. Sorry, mine won't come true kowtowing to the landlord, I was lucky to get my vertical on the fire escape and I know he won't let me grow aluminium trees in the garden.

 

[LarrySC]

I really dont want to blow the wind out your sails but I did that for years. Wore myself out trying this and that. Finally built a good HF [shortwave] windom antenna and a rather odd looking aircraft antenna. Its not worth the trouble. At the hamfest in Spartanburg May 7th I sold alum tubing and rod stock by the pound. Glad its gone. Better idea. Look at MAXRAD or Antenex NMO hardware and base adp's. With this hardware you have HUNDREDS of antennas that will mount on this hardware. Most all of these commerical antennas have GAIN. Thats the secret word for antennas. An antenna built with gain is better than any type of amp. Good Luck, Larry

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi Larry and readers,

Waddya mean not worth the trouble? It just could be you shot too many times at that black cat in a coal mine at midnight and came out disapointed? There are times when you just have to build something because either a commercially manufactured product is too expensive or doesn't exist.

In my most recent case because I can't swing a dead cat where my antennas are mounted let alone a beam and nobody makes a horizontal 6M gamma fed rigid dipole I just had to make one. To avoid complicated machining I just don't have the equipment for and if I had have no place for it (;->) I started with an old Yagi, cut down the boom and modified the driven element, instant (a couple hours instant) dipole. OK, I scrounged tubing and clamps from my aluminium farm under the bed before I was done but it's up there doing a fine job for the last three years.

Now what gets me right in the neck are these "hams" we call appliance operators who go out and buy wire dipoles and such packaged in plastic bags. GOOD GRIEF CHARLIE BROWN! I mean really, one spool of wire, three insulators and 468/F later and you have a dipole for one third the price. Oh it only gets worse, makes me wonder how they ever passed the license exam since that's one of the questions on the LOWEST class test.

Now has anybody spotted my contribution regarding antenna plans in this post? Hmmmm. Now cummon guys I can't HEAR you!

Semper Fi.

 

[loumaag]

Warren, I must admit I find it most unusual to agree with you whole-heartedly, but in this instance you and I are in complete agreement. Of course Larry has a slight bit of self-preservation built into his response, but he is correct only in that gain is important. Of course, gain can and is had by home-brew antennas.

Just about a year ago, here on the site, we got a new member who decided that he wanted to use a scanner instead of just selling them (at the time he was a RS manager). Despite not knowing how a radio wave propagated, he started researching and discovered J-Poles. He later built Yagi's and now wants to be a ham.

JRed, take a look at a couple of topics from 11 months or so ago and see what can be done with a little looking around. Here a couple of topics started by Mike (Pro-95) on antenna projects: Building them and Results.

 

[TeRayCodA]

Homebuilts are FUN! That's all I do,(in what spare time I have)and they work great.

http://hometown.aol.com/teraycoda/myhomepage/photo.html

 

[MacombMonitor]

Homebuilts are FUN! That's all I do,and they work great.

http://hometown.aol.com/teraycoda/myhomepage/photo.html

Nice work! May you be an inspiration to us all!

 

[TeRayCodA]

Thanks!

 

[KE5FUL]

FYI:
Here's a website with some very good antenna plans:

http://ac6v.com/antprojects.htm

 

[Pro-95]

JRed, take a look at a couple of topics from 11 months or so ago and see what can be done with a little looking around. Here a couple of topics started by Mike (Pro-95) on antenna projects: Building them and Results.

Thanks Lou!

Don't forget the ray gun! And the thought process that started it.

And who can pass the old classic.... Really long beam Yagi-Uda.

Ahh takes me back......

BTW, if you want a simple antenna for a first project, the flattop dipole can be strung from trees and generally doesn't need any fancy connections if you go from a 300ohm ribbon or ladder line to a 50/75 ohm coax. However the dipole is fairly narrowbandwith, meaning you don't get a lot of frequencies beyond those you have cut the ladder line to.

But that coul dlead you into multi-band dipoles of which there are many clever designs on the web and in the ARRL antenna book.

Also another wire antenna worth mentioning and seems to have fallen off of a lot of peoples radar is the T2FD or Terminated, Tilted, Folded Dipole. Check into that puppy. Boasted to have a 5:1 to 6:1 bandwith ratio. The design has been around forever and the Navy even did quite a bit of experimentation with it back in W-W-2. The Navy used it for both TX and RX using a 1kW amplifier without toasting the amp or the antenna!

So yes I'd say go for it! Build them if for nothing else the experiance. I've learned a lot just tinkering backed up with some reading.

Next project, long beam 160m yagi-uda anyone. :shock:

:wink:

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi Lou and readers,

"Warren, I must admit I find it most unusual to agree with you whole-heartedly, but in this instance you and I are in complete agreement."

AAAAK! Omagawd Lou, I'm flabberghasted! (;->)

"Just about a year ago, here on the site, we got a new member who decided that he wanted to use a scanner instead of just selling them (at the time he was a RS manager). Despite not knowing how a radio wave propagated, he started researching and discovered J-Poles. He later built Yagi's and now wants to be a ham."

Well, that's the whole idea behind many of my posts, I like to tantalize. I give a bit of background, get them interested, then once they have some practical knowledge under their belts they often go out and build by the book for a start, then a little experimenting using the book learning as a foundation.

Hmmm, maybe you've turned around one Rat Shack employee? With a bit of luck "At Rat Shack you have questions, we have blank stares." may become a thing of the past. Then too one of the main objectives of becoming a ham is this:

Subpart A--General Provisions

Sec. 97.1 Basis and purpose.

The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an
amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the
following principles:
(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service
to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service,
particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.
(b) Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to
contribute to the advancement of the radio art.
(c) Encouragement and improvement of the amateur service through
rules which provide for advancing skills in both the communication and
technical phases of the art.
(d) Expansion of the existing reservoir within the amateur radio
service of trained operators, technicians, and electronics experts.
(e) Continuation and extension of the amateur's unique ability to
enhance international goodwill.

Now that's just a bit better than listening only and not knowing how it all works, right guys?

 

[DaveH]

One advantage of building copper-pipe J antennas is that I learned how to do some plumbing. When it came time to fix to taps in the house, I had a much better idea how and how not to apply the solder etc.

Dave

 

[MacombMonitor]

One advantage of building copper-pipe J antennas is that I learned how to do some plumbing. When it came time to fix to taps in the house, I had a much better idea how and how not to apply the solder etc.

Dave

Guys...let this be a perfect example to the wives, why radio is a great hobby! :wink:

 

[KE5FUL]

What about the pictures of your homebrew antenna?
Comments, etc.

JRed

 

[KE5FUL]

It would be nice to have an area dedicated solely to homebrew antenna how to's for those of us who enjoy experimenting.

JRed

 

[Pro-95]

It would be nice to have an area dedicated solely to homebrew antenna how to's for those of us who enjoy experimenting.

I think that this forum fits the bill. Originally there wasn't even an antenna forum. I'd like to think that I am in part responsible for the creation of the Antenna Forum as a lot of people got tired of wading through my antenna ideas. :lol:

I'm pretty sure that a lot of people will be able to provide you with feedback for pretty much any design. I do however HIGHLY RECOMMEND the antenna book from ARRL. Although a lot of the book is overwhelming the first time you crack it, it gets easier as you learn more. Also antenna building can be done with odds-and-ends but there is a science to making antennas. Read the book and experiment and get some understanding of the science this will help you out immensly. Not to mention save you time, effort and frustration with non-functional attempts.

There are several tools to help you build antennas. Some cost a lot, some are inexpensive and some are free. EZNEC is a free download that can do antenna modeling for you, without actually having to build the antenna. Tools like this can save you hours of building something that just isn't going to work.

Good luck, keep us posted and happy building.

 

[loumaag]

...Originally there wasn't even an antenna forum. I'd like to think that I am in part responsible for the creation of the Antenna Forum as a lot of people got tired of wading through my antenna ideas. :lol:

Mike, I can assure you; you were a big part of it. :lol: