L
Lawless
Guest
I saw an article about another style dipole that used 1/2" copper pipe for the elements and I sort of copied it and added my own twists. The elements being copper and larger diameter will make a great broad banded antenna. I also ran my coax on the inside of the PVC to protect it.
The connections to the copper elements are made by the brass bolts which are in holes drilled through the threaded part of the PVC.
When the elements are tightened, the brass bolts make good weather proof contact with the threaded copper ends.
I used 1" schedule 40 PVC, 3/4" copper pipe (I already had it, 1/2" would be fine) and 2.5" long X 1/4" brass bolts.
The copper pipe was cut at 18" + the threaded ends and end caps made the elements 19".
I sweated the copper elements together and let them cool before fitting to the coax.
This length plus the tiny amount of coax exposed makes up the elements.
*edited to note*
Once I checked the SWR, the antenna elements were long. The SWR was 2.5:1....
I trimmed incrementally until I got the SWR to 1.3:1. The elements ended up exactly 16" including the threaded ends.
Got a few reports and still full quieting but I won't be stressing my super expensive Baofeng
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[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0993.jpg"}[/IMG2]
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I wound a choke, 6 turns of coax, before running the cable inside the PVC.
I wrapped it with 3M rubber tape from DX Engineering topped with 3M Super 33 vinyl tape.
I used some black RTV to very thinly coat the exposed copper from the end of the coax to the terminals.
Remember, this type antenna requires the coax to leave the elements at a 90* angle for a couple of feet.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0994.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0995.jpg"}[/IMG2]
A 3/4 pipe floor flange and a street elbow make up the mount.
A "T" at the bottom allows the coax to exit.
This whole mast setup puts the antenna a few feet above my shack's roof.
I did a quick camo job and it's up.
I added a guy rope of 550 cord to the back side to help support it so it won't sag over time.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0996.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0998.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Made a few contacts to check performance, reports came back excellent with zero static or noise.
Antennas are fun Gonna make a dedicated HF NVIS soon so I can talk with trcubed LOL
The connections to the copper elements are made by the brass bolts which are in holes drilled through the threaded part of the PVC.
When the elements are tightened, the brass bolts make good weather proof contact with the threaded copper ends.
I used 1" schedule 40 PVC, 3/4" copper pipe (I already had it, 1/2" would be fine) and 2.5" long X 1/4" brass bolts.
The copper pipe was cut at 18" + the threaded ends and end caps made the elements 19".
I sweated the copper elements together and let them cool before fitting to the coax.
This length plus the tiny amount of coax exposed makes up the elements.
*edited to note*
Once I checked the SWR, the antenna elements were long. The SWR was 2.5:1....
I trimmed incrementally until I got the SWR to 1.3:1. The elements ended up exactly 16" including the threaded ends.
Got a few reports and still full quieting but I won't be stressing my super expensive Baofeng
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0992.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0993.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0991.jpg"}[/IMG2]
I wound a choke, 6 turns of coax, before running the cable inside the PVC.
I wrapped it with 3M rubber tape from DX Engineering topped with 3M Super 33 vinyl tape.
I used some black RTV to very thinly coat the exposed copper from the end of the coax to the terminals.
Remember, this type antenna requires the coax to leave the elements at a 90* angle for a couple of feet.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0994.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0995.jpg"}[/IMG2]
A 3/4 pipe floor flange and a street elbow make up the mount.
A "T" at the bottom allows the coax to exit.
This whole mast setup puts the antenna a few feet above my shack's roof.
I did a quick camo job and it's up.
I added a guy rope of 550 cord to the back side to help support it so it won't sag over time.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0996.jpg"}[/IMG2]
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i7.photobucket.com\/albums\/y252\/ponykilr\/IMG_0998.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Made a few contacts to check performance, reports came back excellent with zero static or noise.
Antennas are fun Gonna make a dedicated HF NVIS soon so I can talk with trcubed LOL
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