Best wire for FM reception (car antenna)
 

Hi there

What is the best type of "wire" for making a homemade car antenna
to pick up FM radio. Is it copper? Aluminium? What thickness or
size. Lenght?

Thanks!

On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 19:51:11 -0400, "Frank" wrote:
What is the best type of "wire" for making a homemade car antenna
to pick up FM radio. Is it copper? Aluminium? What thickness or
size. Lenght?

Hi Frank,

Try welding rod.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Or "Brazeing Rod" might be more acceptable, as most welding rod have
seen is coated with flux -- Jim NN7K


Richard Clark wrote:
On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 19:51:11 -0400, "Frank" wrote:

What is the best type of "wire" for making a homemade car antenna
to pick up FM radio. Is it copper? Aluminium? What thickness or
size. Lenght?


Hi Frank,

Try welding rod.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

"Jim - NN7K" wrote in message
...
Or "Brazeing Rod" might be more acceptable, as most welding rod have seen
is coated with flux -- Jim NN7K


Richard Clark wrote:
On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 19:51:11 -0400, "Frank" wrote:

What is the best type of "wire" for making a homemade car antenna to pick
up FM radio. Is it copper? Aluminium? What thickness or size. Lenght?


Hi Frank,

Try welding rod.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Arc welding rods are usually coated. Gas welding rods are not, and could be
brass, steel etc.

"Frank" wrote:
What is the best type of "wire" for making a homemade
car antenna to pick up FM radio. Is it copper? Aluminium?

Traditional is steel (i.e. coat-hanger wire :-)

In reality, it makes no difference except mechanically.

What thickness or size.

It is a mechanical issue. What makes it self-supporting?
Electrically it is of no significance.

Lenght?

Well, the middle of the FM broadcast band is ~98MHz
and 1/4 wavelength is ~28.5 inches.
http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennagen...eqlencalc.html

Richard Crowley wrote:
"Frank" wrote:

What is the best type of "wire" for making a homemade
car antenna to pick up FM radio. Is it copper? Aluminium?


Traditional is steel (i.e. coat-hanger wire :-)

In reality, it makes no difference except mechanically.

What thickness or size.


It is a mechanical issue. What makes it self-supporting?
Electrically it is of no significance.

Lenght?


Well, the middle of the FM broadcast band is ~98MHz
and 1/4 wavelength is ~28.5 inches.
http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennagen...eqlencalc.html

The average car antenna is 31" in length.

Ed

On Thu, 8 Sep 2005 19:51:11 -0400, "Frank" wrote:

What is the best type of "wire" for making a homemade car antenna
to pick up FM radio. Is it copper? Aluminium? What thickness or
size. Lenght?


Copper will turn a pretty green colour and isn't particularly strong.
A steel coat hanger is traditional and works perfectly well.
Electrically, anything conductive will do. Your only considerations
are mechanical and appearance.

About 30 inches is an optimum length. Half that will do.

Here is the link for a site offering replacement antennae for about $10. For
the price, you may just decide this will make your job a lot simpler.

http://www.weisd.com/store2/12301.html

Wayne-
(KC8UIO)

"Frank" wrote in message
...
Hi there

What is the best type of "wire" for making a homemade car antenna to pick
up FM radio. Is it copper? Aluminium? What thickness or size. Lenght?

Thanks!