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#1
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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! |
#2
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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 |
#3
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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 |
#4
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"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. |
#5
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"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 |
#6
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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 |
#7
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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. |
#8
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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! |
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