Sputnik in the sunset

[VGSMC_8520]

Anyone in AZ have love for the the venerable Radio Shack 20-176 "Sputnik" antenna?

One of the best bangs for your buck I've found; I use it as my SDR antenna, and it performs excellent on VHF & UHF, acceptably on 800 MHz.

Also in the pic, yet another great winter sunset here in Phoenix.

 

[brandon]

Great setup! Nice and high up too!

 

[VGSMC_8520]

Great setup! Nice and high up too!

About 150' up. Unfortunately nothing but thick concrete immediately behind the direction the photo is looking, but nearly a 180 degree line of sight for many miles from the NW to NE. The Sputnik antenna receives all the analog and digital systems in Phoenix very well, and I'm hearing the surrounding counties pretty good too. Despite the less than ideal location on a condo balcony, the height really helps.

 

[pjtnascar]

Not a bad dual band tx antenna for an HT either. Had one for a while and passed it on to a friend.

 

[cellphone]

I have one in the attic. I could take a picture, but the rafters and insulation in the background would not look as nice.

It's a great, cheap antenna to help out with VHF fire reception.

 

[WatnNY]

I've had two of these over the years and love them. They work fine for what I need!

And hey, can you show us a picture of how you get the coax cables through the wall, door, window, etc, into your condo???

Mike

 

[VGSMC_8520]

I've had two of these over the years and love them. They work fine for what I need!

And hey, can you show us a picture of how you get the coax cables through the wall, door, window, etc, into your condo???

Mike

Sure, not very pretty, but nobody has to see it. I have three antennas on the balcony railing, and I ran the coax along the rail and over to the sliding door. I was able to snake the cable between the window and door and run it inside like this:

Going to have to rip it out this week to get the sliding glass door repaired/replaced. It's ~50 years old and doesn't like to slide open/closed anymore.. Might be a good time to replace everything with continuous runs of RG-6 and get rid of those couplers I have on two of the lines.

 

[WatnNY]

That's a good way of doing it - I didn't think of that when I asked you. I wasn't sure with it being an apartment/condo if you would be able to drill through the wall or not.

Mike