"Al Dykes" wrote in message
...



A friend is telling me that PVC has crappy electrical characteristics
and having my wire against it for the entire antenna not good.

I've been making simple VHF antennas with small diameter PVC pipe cut
and glued to make the rigid structure and then taping 12ga copper wire
to the PVC to make the elements.

Should I switch to something else ?

--
a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore. A Proud signature since 2001

Hi Al

I am using 1/2 inside diameter PVC pipe ( white stuff from Home Depot) to
enclose three foot lengths of TV 300 ohm twin lead folded dipoles at 137
MHz. I have done the microwave oven test and couldnt detect any
temperature increase. I measured the antenna's input impedance with and
without the PVC cover. I detected very litle change when the PVC is
included. The antenna seems to have the same sensitivity with and without
the PVC.

I'd expect my experience to convince you that PVC is an OK covering for 2
meter dipoles. How much change do you see when you Grid Dip a dipole with
and without the PVC??

Jerry