Pardon an ignorant sailor butting in here but I have a question about
antenna material. I have been experimenting with home brew QFH antennas to
receive 137.5 Mhz weather satellite images. I built one out of copper
tubing that works great. I can get good pictures from Hudson Bay to Puerto
Rico. Then I tried to duplicate it with stainless tubing to use on the
boat. The two antennas and baluns are identical but the stainless version
has less than half the range. Any suggestions on how to modify or tune it
to improve reception?

Or, failing that, what effect would powder coating the copper one have?

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com