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#1
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So, where does one get aluminum tubes for antenna construction?
I'm looking to make a 2m/70cm yagi antenna for working satellites.
The plans are out there, and it seems quite simple. (Or I could pay $73 to Arrow Antenna, but I'll give it a shot myself first.) So I hit Home Depot, and the closest thing I found to the approprite beams was 1/8th inch steel rods. (Basically piano wire.) It ought to work, and is stiff enough to not bend much under gravity, but it's heavy, and I'll be holding this thing ... The local hobby shop has more piano wire that's smaller, but it's still steel, and as you get smaller, it looses the needed rigidity and it sags too much. The instructions suggest hollow alluminum tubes, which should be light and strong, and a good conductor to boot, but where can I find these? Also, I've seen Yagi instructions that suggest a that the beams not be insulated from the boom, and I've seen instructions that say they should be insulated from the boom (or the boom should be an insulator, like PVC pipe.) Does it make a big difference? Does it affect the dimensions of the antenna? Thanks in advance ... -- Doug McLaren, , AD5RH The face is familiar but i can't quite remember my name. Oh, there it is. |
#2
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aluminum tubing can be found at industrial pipe suppliers, or for short
pieces you can get tent poles to cut up. welding rod is another commonly used material, copper pipe is another one for small antennas. some people also use steel electrical conduit. Insulating the elements will change the size they need to be... or you could look at it that when you don't insulate the elements from the boom they usually get shorter because they look fatter at the middle. there are arguments for both methods, but if you use a metallic boom i wouldn't insulate them because its more work if you don't have the proper tools and insulators handy, if you use pvc or something else then they will be insulated anyway. "Doug McLaren" wrote in message ... I'm looking to make a 2m/70cm yagi antenna for working satellites. The plans are out there, and it seems quite simple. (Or I could pay $73 to Arrow Antenna, but I'll give it a shot myself first.) So I hit Home Depot, and the closest thing I found to the approprite beams was 1/8th inch steel rods. (Basically piano wire.) It ought to work, and is stiff enough to not bend much under gravity, but it's heavy, and I'll be holding this thing ... The local hobby shop has more piano wire that's smaller, but it's still steel, and as you get smaller, it looses the needed rigidity and it sags too much. The instructions suggest hollow alluminum tubes, which should be light and strong, and a good conductor to boot, but where can I find these? Also, I've seen Yagi instructions that suggest a that the beams not be insulated from the boom, and I've seen instructions that say they should be insulated from the boom (or the boom should be an insulator, like PVC pipe.) Does it make a big difference? Does it affect the dimensions of the antenna? Thanks in advance ... -- Doug McLaren, , AD5RH The face is familiar but i can't quite remember my name. Oh, there it is. |
#3
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..
The instructions suggest hollow alluminum tubes, which should be light and strong, and a good conductor to boot, but where can I find these? Also, I've seen Yagi instructions that suggest a that the beams not be insulated from the boom, and I've seen instructions that say they should be insulated from the boom (or the boom should be an insulator, like PVC pipe.) Does it make a big difference? Does it affect the dimensions of the antenna? You might try looking at a sporting goods store for the elements , that is what the Arrow antennas started out as. Texas towers is a place you can order from. The instructions must be followed exectally at 2 meters and above. The elements must be the same outside diameter. They can be solid or hollow without a change in length. If the boom is a nonconductor , that must be used, if the elements pass through and are insulated from the boom that must be done. The boom will have an effect on the elements almost as the same diameter as the boom diameter. While an inch or two might not make much differance on the low bands, it could put a 440 mhz antenna out of the band. You may be able to tune the swr to a low value but the patern will be way off and the antenna may not have much gain. The antennas are not that hard to build. |
#4
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Cut apart an old TV antenna?
Just a thought... -SSB Doug McLaren wrote: I'm looking to make a 2m/70cm yagi antenna for working satellites. The plans are out there, and it seems quite simple. (Or I could pay $73 to Arrow Antenna, but I'll give it a shot myself first.) So I hit Home Depot, and the closest thing I found to the approprite beams was 1/8th inch steel rods. (Basically piano wire.) It ought to work, and is stiff enough to not bend much under gravity, but it's heavy, and I'll be holding this thing ... The local hobby shop has more piano wire that's smaller, but it's still steel, and as you get smaller, it looses the needed rigidity and it sags too much. The instructions suggest hollow alluminum tubes, which should be light and strong, and a good conductor to boot, but where can I find these? Also, I've seen Yagi instructions that suggest a that the beams not be insulated from the boom, and I've seen instructions that say they should be insulated from the boom (or the boom should be an insulator, like PVC pipe.) Does it make a big difference? Does it affect the dimensions of the antenna? Thanks in advance ... |
#5
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Dave, buy fishing rod material
and cover with aluminum foil Art "Dave" wrote in message ... aluminum tubing can be found at industrial pipe suppliers, or for short pieces you can get tent poles to cut up. welding rod is another commonly used material, copper pipe is another one for small antennas. some people also use steel electrical conduit. Insulating the elements will change the size they need to be... or you could look at it that when you don't insulate the elements from the boom they usually get shorter because they look fatter at the middle. there are arguments for both methods, but if you use a metallic boom i wouldn't insulate them because its more work if you don't have the proper tools and insulators handy, if you use pvc or something else then they will be insulated anyway. "Doug McLaren" wrote in message ... I'm looking to make a 2m/70cm yagi antenna for working satellites. The plans are out there, and it seems quite simple. (Or I could pay $73 to Arrow Antenna, but I'll give it a shot myself first.) So I hit Home Depot, and the closest thing I found to the approprite beams was 1/8th inch steel rods. (Basically piano wire.) It ought to work, and is stiff enough to not bend much under gravity, but it's heavy, and I'll be holding this thing ... The local hobby shop has more piano wire that's smaller, but it's still steel, and as you get smaller, it looses the needed rigidity and it sags too much. The instructions suggest hollow alluminum tubes, which should be light and strong, and a good conductor to boot, but where can I find these? Also, I've seen Yagi instructions that suggest a that the beams not be insulated from the boom, and I've seen instructions that say they should be insulated from the boom (or the boom should be an insulator, like PVC pipe.) Does it make a big difference? Does it affect the dimensions of the antenna? Thanks in advance ... -- Doug McLaren, , AD5RH The face is familiar but i can't quite remember my name. Oh, there it is. |
#6
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"Doug McLaren" wrote in message ... I'm looking to make a 2m/70cm yagi antenna for working satellites. The plans are out there, and it seems quite simple. (Or I could pay $73 to Arrow Antenna, but I'll give it a shot myself first.) So I hit Home Depot, and the closest thing I found to the approprite beams was 1/8th inch steel rods. (Basically piano wire.) It ought to work, and is stiff enough to not bend much under gravity, but it's heavy, and I'll be holding this thing ... The local hobby shop has more piano wire that's smaller, but it's still steel, and as you get smaller, it looses the needed rigidity and it sags too much. The instructions suggest hollow alluminum tubes, which should be light and strong, and a good conductor to boot, but where can I find these? Also, I've seen Yagi instructions that suggest a that the beams not be insulated from the boom, and I've seen instructions that say they should be insulated from the boom (or the boom should be an insulator, like PVC pipe.) Does it make a big difference? Does it affect the dimensions of the antenna? Thanks in advance ... -- Doug McLaren, , AD5RH The face is familiar but i can't quite remember my name. Oh, there it is. Most major cities, and smaller ones too, will have recycling yards that also sell all manner of alum, steel, stainless, brass etc. Quite a variety of extrusions can be found here. Usually the price, in my area san diego, is about $2 a pound. These are great places to get stuff for building antenna Lou KE6LZS |
#7
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On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 16:58:00 GMT, "Doug McLaren"
wrote: I'm looking to make a 2m/70cm yagi antenna for working satellites. The plans are out there, and it seems quite simple. (Or I could pay $73 to Arrow Antenna, but I'll give it a shot myself first.) So I hit Home Depot, and the closest thing I found to the approprite beams was 1/8th inch steel rods. (Basically piano wire.) It ought to work, and is stiff enough to not bend much under gravity, but it's heavy, and I'll be holding this thing ... The local hobby shop has more piano wire that's smaller, but it's still steel, and as you get smaller, it looses the needed rigidity and it sags too much. The instructions suggest hollow alluminum tubes, which should be light and strong, and a good conductor to boot, but where can I find these? Also, I've seen Yagi instructions that suggest a that the beams not be insulated from the boom, and I've seen instructions that say they should be insulated from the boom (or the boom should be an insulator, like PVC pipe.) Does it make a big difference? Does it affect the dimensions of the antenna? Thanks in advance ... I believe Texas Towers in Dallas sells anything you might need in aluminum tubing appropos for antennas. Their web page doesn't come up right now; maybe later... Bob k5qwg |
#8
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"Doug McLaren" wrote in message ... I'm looking to make a 2m/70cm yagi antenna for working satellites. The plans are out there, and it seems quite simple. (Or I could pay $73 to Arrow Antenna, but I'll give it a shot myself first.) So I hit Home Depot, and the closest thing I found to the approprite beams was 1/8th inch steel rods. (Basically piano wire.) It ought to work, and is stiff enough to not bend much under gravity, but it's heavy, and I'll be holding this thing ... The local hobby shop has more piano wire that's smaller, but it's still steel, and as you get smaller, it looses the needed rigidity and it sags too much. The instructions suggest hollow alluminum tubes, which should be light and strong, and a good conductor to boot, but where can I find these? Also, I've seen Yagi instructions that suggest a that the beams not be insulated from the boom, and I've seen instructions that say they should be insulated from the boom (or the boom should be an insulator, like PVC pipe.) Does it make a big difference? Does it affect the dimensions of the antenna? Thanks in advance ... -- Doug McLaren, , AD5RH The face is familiar but i can't quite remember my name. Oh, there it is. Around here several mom&pop hardware stores carry Al tubing in 10 foot lengths up to 1-1/4 OD. Also, building supply stores; not Home Depot or Lowes. I would not use steel elements. For 432, you might be able to use chunks of Al ground wire. Of course, there is Texas Towers, but I think the longest piece you can UPS without a surcharge is 6 feet. Tam/WB2TT |
#9
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Texas Tower. Nice folks.
73, Chip N1IR |
#10
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Tam/WB2TT wrote:
"Doug McLaren" wrote in message ... I'm looking to make a 2m/70cm yagi antenna for working satellites. The plans are out there, and it seems quite simple. (Or I could pay $73 to Arrow Antenna, but I'll give it a shot myself first.) So I hit Home Depot, and the closest thing I found to the approprite beams was 1/8th inch steel rods. (Basically piano wire.) It ought to work, and is stiff enough to not bend much under gravity, but it's heavy, and I'll be holding this thing ... The local hobby shop has more piano wire that's smaller, but it's still steel, and as you get smaller, it looses the needed rigidity and it sags too much. The instructions suggest hollow alluminum tubes, which should be light and strong, and a good conductor to boot, but where can I find these? Also, I've seen Yagi instructions that suggest a that the beams not be insulated from the boom, and I've seen instructions that say they should be insulated from the boom (or the boom should be an insulator, like PVC pipe.) Does it make a big difference? Does it affect the dimensions of the antenna? Thanks in advance ... -- Doug McLaren, , AD5RH The face is familiar but i can't quite remember my name. Oh, there it is. Around here several mom&pop hardware stores carry Al tubing in 10 foot lengths up to 1-1/4 OD. Also, building supply stores; not Home Depot or Lowes. I would not use steel elements. For 432, you might be able to use chunks of Al ground wire. Of course, there is Texas Towers, but I think the longest piece you can UPS without a surcharge is 6 feet. Tam/WB2TT Also, try your nearest Welders Supply- for brazeing rods, tho, not aluminium, would believe these are superior to piano wire! and is available in different diameters, and lengths, and certainly better than most copper, or aluminium of the same gauge in non-malialibility (more weight support if a bird lands on it) Jim nn7k -- To reply, remove the NOSPAM |
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