Bamboo is making a resurgence. Not only might you find ideas in older
books, but newer ones as well. ARRL's 2008 "Simple and Fun Antennas
for Hams" details the use of bamboo for a wire antenna. On page 16 of
Chapter five, the author recommends using "vinyl electrical tape to
secure the wire to bamboo to make antenna elements."

In that article they are using it as a mast in an inverted-L wire
antenna. I could imagine using bamboo as spreaders for a folded
dipole, or as supports for a yagi or loop and just attaching wire to
the bamboo to create elements. Using a saw to create a notch in the
end of the bamboo would make it great for running wire across the
ends.

I wonder what the maximum support length for a piece of bamboo would
be? I would also be interested to see if someone knows of a way to
jigsaw the pieces properly and maybe use hose clamps to create
sections longer than 12 feet.

KC9PBU

Works Cited
Hutchinson, Chuck, and Dean Straw. Simple and Fun Antennas for Hams.
N.p.: The
* * *American Radio Relay League, Inc, 2008. Print.

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_MY_P_F...lding_hy17.jpg

Jimmie
Bamboo is a good resource. On the other end of the scale I recall that
Post made a good Slide Rule in the 1950's from Bamboo. I still prefer
my Dietzgen though.

I wonder if it could be cultivated in North Carolina?
John Ferrell W8CCW

On Sun, 11 Apr 2010 10:00:45 -0400, John Ferrell
wrote:

I wonder if it could be cultivated in North Carolina?

Hi John,

More's the problem of getting rid of it if it becomes a nuisance.

It probably will if you pick the wrong specie. Bamboo propagates
(imagine, talking about plants and still being "on topic") through
the roots and those roots quickly propagate far and wide. You either
have to put in deep root barriers, or have neighbors that like a
living fence (which might be another problem through CCRs). Bamboo
generally likes wet (read soggy) soil.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On Sun, 11 Apr 2010 08:52:32 -0700, Richard Clark
wrote:

On Sun, 11 Apr 2010 10:00:45 -0400, John Ferrell
wrote:

I wonder if it could be cultivated in North Carolina?

Hi John,

More's the problem of getting rid of it if it becomes a nuisance.

It probably will if you pick the wrong specie. Bamboo propagates
(imagine, talking about plants and still being "on topic") through
the roots and those roots quickly propagate far and wide.

There are two major types of bamboo. Richard's description matches the
running type. The clumping type is not highly invasive and its spread
is easy to control.

You either
have to put in deep root barriers, or have neighbors that like a
living fence (which might be another problem through CCRs). Bamboo
generally likes wet (read soggy) soil.


According to the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service
- quote -
Bamboo grows best in a fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic
matter.
- end quote -

Half inch diameter schedule 40 PVC tubing might be a better choice for
a framework than bamboo canes. Through the years I have built several
multiband VK-parasols using PVC tubing. The Oct 1984 issue of 73
descibes the VK-parasol and provides the appropriate formulas.

"John Ferrell" wrote in message
...


Bamboo is making a resurgence. Not only might you find ideas in older
books, but newer ones as well. ARRL's 2008 "Simple and Fun Antennas
for Hams" details the use of bamboo for a wire antenna. On page 16 of
Chapter five, the author recommends using "vinyl electrical tape to
secure the wire to bamboo to make antenna elements."

In that article they are using it as a mast in an inverted-L wire
antenna. I could imagine using bamboo as spreaders for a folded
dipole, or as supports for a yagi or loop and just attaching wire to
the bamboo to create elements. Using a saw to create a notch in the
end of the bamboo would make it great for running wire across the
ends.

I wonder what the maximum support length for a piece of bamboo would
be? I would also be interested to see if someone knows of a way to
jigsaw the pieces properly and maybe use hose clamps to create
sections longer than 12 feet.

KC9PBU

Works Cited
Hutchinson, Chuck, and Dean Straw. Simple and Fun Antennas for Hams.
N.p.: The
American Radio Relay League, Inc, 2008. Print.

http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_MY_P_F...lding_hy17.jpg

Jimmie
Bamboo is a good resource. On the other end of the scale I recall that
Post made a good Slide Rule in the 1950's from Bamboo. I still prefer
my Dietzgen though.

Another Dietzgen head? Probably drink chardonnay also snort Post is the
only way to go
heh heh
--Wayne

On Sun, 11 Apr 2010 09:16:25 -0700, "Wayne"
wrote:


Jimmie
Bamboo is a good resource. On the other end of the scale I recall that
Post made a good Slide Rule in the 1950's from Bamboo. I still prefer
my Dietzgen though.

Another Dietzgen head? Probably drink chardonnay also snort Post is the
only way to go
heh heh
--Wayne

K&E, then later a 5" circular Pickett for use at the bench.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

On 4/11/2010 12:32 PM, Richard Clark wrote:
On Sun, 11 Apr 2010 09:16:25 -0700,
wrote:


Jimmie
Bamboo is a good resource. On the other end of the scale I recall that
Post made a good Slide Rule in the 1950's from Bamboo. I still prefer
my Dietzgen though.

Another Dietzgen head? Probably drink chardonnay alsosnort Post is the
only way to go
heh heh
--Wayne

K&E, then later a 5" circular Pickett for use at the bench.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

I compromised with one of each (K&E and Post) and an HP-45.

tom
K0TAR

On Sun, 11 Apr 2010 10:32:50 -0700, Richard Clark
wrote:

K&E, then later a 5" circular Pickett for use at the bench.
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Agreed. K&E was the best. Part of my collection:
http://802.11junk.com/jeffl/pics/slide-rule/slides/slide-rule.html
The yellow slide rule is an aluminum Pickett and Echel "Synchro
Scale". The lower K&E is mahogany laminate.

I never really liked the bamboo or mahogany slide rules. I don't
recall the problem, but when I eventually tried an all plastic K&E, I
declared it the winner. I also couldn't get use to the circular
variety, mostly because it didn't fit in my pocket.

http://www.sliderule.ca

I've never built a quad antenna, but my uninformed and never humble
opinion is that fiberglass rod or tubing looks like the best:
http://www.mgs4u.com/fiberglass-cubical-quad-spreaders.htm
http://www.mgs4u.com/fiberglass-tube-rod.htm
However, if the bamboo is free, then it's a very suitable 2nd best.

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Jeff Liebermann wrote:


I never really liked the bamboo or mahogany slide rules.

I heard they worked really well for log functions.

- 73 de Mike N3LI -

On Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:44:28 -0400, Michael Coslo
wrote:

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
I never really liked the bamboo or mahogany slide rules.

I heard they worked really well for log functions.

Yes, and if you plant them in the ground, they grow square roots.

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

"John Ferrell" wrote in message
...


I wonder if it could be cultivated in North Carolina?
John Ferrell W8CCW

I don't know about cultivated, but in the mid part of NC it will grow like
the weed it is. If planted, you may have trouble getting rid of it.