Questions on scanner antenna and making any money!
 

I like tinkering in my garage. I have a plan for a small "ground
radial" scanner antenna plan from an old Radio Shack book. I have
thought about changin the plan using aluminum elements.

Any thought of if I could make some "pocket money" selling them on ebay
or something? I am not looking to get rich just get some pocket money
enjoying what I do. We have just had our second child and money is hard
to come by!

Any thought of if I could make some "pocket money" selling them on
ebay
or something? I am not looking to get rich just get some pocket money
enjoying what I do. We have just had our second child and money is
hard
to come by!

Sure you can, step one would be to have a small webpage, there are
several like geocities,tripod.com etc which offer free webpage
templates and hosting. There you could put up either the designs or
some photographs of the end-product.You can then research on how to
become an ebay store and then put a few up for grabs.
Even the big antenna makers like antennawarehouse.com work like
this...they do have a direct webpage from where you can buy stuff
directly or you can buy via their store on ebay...

-Nick
P.S.:and if you can take custom orders,that should enhance your sales
too.

Go for it! But rather than try to compete with the big guys, on mass
produced, inexpensive antennas, like Radio Shack sells, build a more unique,
quality product!

For example, the Grove Scanner Beam, is an excellent design, moderately
priced, but not very sturdy, in severe weather extremes.
http://www.grove-ent.com/BEAMII.html

On the other hand, the Create Log Periodic's, are also an excellent design,
very study, even in the worst of storms, but way over priced!
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT16.html
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT17.html

Build something similar, but in-between the two, quality, and price wise,
and you will have yourself a winner! I would also offer the option of
stainless steel construction, as well as aluminum, for those who desire it.

As Nick suggested, offer custom designs, especially ones tuned to a specific
band, or requirement, such as Military Air, GMRS, MURS, Marine, WiFi,FM
Stereo, HD TV, etc.

Use Google, search the web for "antenna design", and you will find a wealth
of information, as well as some free software, to help you!

Good luck!

Bill Crocker





wrote in message
ups.com...
I like tinkering in my garage. I have a plan for a small "ground
radial" scanner antenna plan from an old Radio Shack book. I have
thought about changin the plan using aluminum elements.

Any thought of if I could make some "pocket money" selling them on ebay
or something? I am not looking to get rich just get some pocket money
enjoying what I do. We have just had our second child and money is hard
to come by!

Bill Crocker wrote:
Go for it! But rather than try to compete with the big guys, on mass

produced, inexpensive antennas, like Radio Shack sells, build a more
unique,
quality product!

For example, the Grove Scanner Beam, is an excellent design,
moderately
priced, but not very sturdy, in severe weather extremes.
http://www.grove-ent.com/BEAMII.html

On the other hand, the Create Log Periodic's, are also an excellent
design,
very study, even in the worst of storms, but way over priced!
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT16.html
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT17.html

Build something similar, but in-between the two, quality, and price
wise,
and you will have yourself a winner! I would also offer the option
of
stainless steel construction, as well as aluminum, for those who
desire it.

As Nick suggested, offer custom designs, especially ones tuned to a
specific
band, or requirement, such as Military Air, GMRS, MURS, Marine,
WiFi,FM
Stereo, HD TV, etc.

Use Google, search the web for "antenna design", and you will find a
wealth
of information, as well as some free software, to help you!

Good luck!

Bill Crocker

Thanks for you postive words. I am by no means an expert, but have been
studying alot about them.

As far as single band goes, what band do you guys use the most? What
would you like to have, something portable? something with very high
gain? I can build high gain yagi's too but they are only good generally
in one direction unless you have a rotor.

I really appreciate your guy's advice. Several other groups including
some of those in the ham group told me it would not work. I started
getting interested in all this by wanting to build my own ham antenna.





wrote in message
ups.com...
I like tinkering in my garage. I have a plan for a small "ground
radial" scanner antenna plan from an old Radio Shack book. I have
thought about changin the plan using aluminum elements.

Any thought of if I could make some "pocket money" selling them on
ebay
or something? I am not looking to get rich just get some pocket
money
enjoying what I do. We have just had our second child and money is
hard
to come by!

I would start with a base antenna, for aircraft. 108~138MHz. Most anything
available is very expensive, commercial grade, products. They treat the
aircraft band like it's a black art, or something...and in fact, it's very
simple.

I'd make it out of stainless steel, heavy enough to stand the worst of
storms. Start with an omni-directional, because you never know where the
airplanes are. Then possibly offer a directional high-gain yagi (beam)
design, for those wishing to pull in distant airports. If they're targeting
only one specific airport, they wouldn't even need a rotor.

It's unfortunate the amateur radio people are discouraging you. That's what
the hobby used to be all about...home brew. Not just antennas, but radios
too!

Bill Crocker


wrote in message
oups.com...

Thanks for you postive words. I am by no means an expert, but have been
studying alot about them.

As far as single band goes, what band do you guys use the most? What
would you like to have, something portable? something with very high
gain? I can build high gain yagi's too but they are only good generally
in one direction unless you have a rotor.

I really appreciate your guy's advice. Several other groups including
some of those in the ham group told me it would not work. I started
getting interested in all this by wanting to build my own ham antenna.

Bill Crocker wrote:
I would start with a base antenna, for aircraft. 108~138MHz. Most
anything
available is very expensive, commercial grade, products. They treat
the
aircraft band like it's a black art, or something...and in fact, it's
very
simple.

I'd make it out of stainless steel, heavy enough to stand the worst
of
storms. Start with an omni-directional, because you never know where
the
airplanes are. Then possibly offer a directional high-gain yagi
(beam)
design, for those wishing to pull in distant airports. If they're
targeting
only one specific airport, they wouldn't even need a rotor.

It's unfortunate the amateur radio people are discouraging you.
That's what
the hobby used to be all about...home brew. Not just antennas, but
radios
too!

Bill Crocker


wrote in message
oups.com...

Thanks for you postive words. I am by no means an expert, but have
been
studying alot about them.

As far as single band goes, what band do you guys use the most?
What
would you like to have, something portable? something with very
high
gain? I can build high gain yagi's too but they are only good
generally
in one direction unless you have a rotor.

I really appreciate your guy's advice. Several other groups
including
some of those in the ham group told me it would not work. I started
getting interested in all this by wanting to build my own ham
antenna.

So maybe build a ground plane cut for the center of the aircraft band?
I could build an antenna strong enough to stop a tank if I wanted to.
The problem become weight and shipping the thing.

Do you know of some examples of antennas out there? Would someone want
one tuned to the tower frequency only?

what about copy right law,s






wrote in message
oups.com...

Bill Crocker wrote:
Go for it! But rather than try to compete with the big guys, on mass

produced, inexpensive antennas, like Radio Shack sells, build a more
unique,
quality product!

For example, the Grove Scanner Beam, is an excellent design,
moderately
priced, but not very sturdy, in severe weather extremes.
http://www.grove-ent.com/BEAMII.html

On the other hand, the Create Log Periodic's, are also an excellent
design,
very study, even in the worst of storms, but way over priced!
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT16.html
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT17.html

Build something similar, but in-between the two, quality, and price
wise,
and you will have yourself a winner! I would also offer the option
of
stainless steel construction, as well as aluminum, for those who
desire it.

As Nick suggested, offer custom designs, especially ones tuned to a
specific
band, or requirement, such as Military Air, GMRS, MURS, Marine,
WiFi,FM
Stereo, HD TV, etc.

Use Google, search the web for "antenna design", and you will find a
wealth
of information, as well as some free software, to help you!

Good luck!

Bill Crocker

Thanks for you postive words. I am by no means an expert, but have been
studying alot about them.

As far as single band goes, what band do you guys use the most? What
would you like to have, something portable? something with very high
gain? I can build high gain yagi's too but they are only good generally
in one direction unless you have a rotor.

I really appreciate your guy's advice. Several other groups including
some of those in the ham group told me it would not work. I started
getting interested in all this by wanting to build my own ham antenna.





wrote in message
ups.com...
I like tinkering in my garage. I have a plan for a small "ground
radial" scanner antenna plan from an old Radio Shack book. I have
thought about changin the plan using aluminum elements.

Any thought of if I could make some "pocket money" selling them on
ebay
or something? I am not looking to get rich just get some pocket
money
enjoying what I do. We have just had our second child and money is
hard
to come by!

I dont mean copying them, I mean seeing how well or how flimsy they are
constructed, like thin or thick metal, etc.