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"erniegalts" wrote in message ... The 2 metre band extends from 144 to 148 MHz. So if were cutting an antenna for center of this band at 146 MHz would be 75 / 146 = 0.513698630137. So a quarter-wave vertical would be roughly .513 metres long, or 513 mm. (millimeters) or 20.2244 inches. This is good math, but usually for a 1/4 wave radiator, 5% is subtracted for velocity factor, leaving the basic 1/4 wave radiator for 2m at approximately 19". |
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On Tue, 19 Aug 2003 06:34:35 +0900, "Brenda Ann"
wrote: "erniegalts" wrote in message .. . The 2 metre band extends from 144 to 148 MHz. So if were cutting an antenna for center of this band at 146 MHz would be 75 / 146 = 0.513698630137. So a quarter-wave vertical would be roughly .513 metres long, or 513 mm. (millimeters) or 20.2244 inches. This is good math, but usually for a 1/4 wave radiator, 5% is subtracted for velocity factor, leaving the basic 1/4 wave radiator for 2m at approximately 19". True, but the formula is only a rough guide anyway. Even at much lower frequencies there are a few variables, and at VHF and UHF wavelengths antenna length can be very critical. On Australian UHF CB band can make a nice little handheld 3 element Yagi out of a UHF socket and an old coathanger which will give around 3 or 4 dB gain. [Perfectionists would probably use aluminum, copper, or even silver wire, though. ] Passing thought: Will Brock rush into print claiming that copper is a better conductor than silver? :-) Corner reflectors or arrays usually a better choice for more gain, although even high gain rhrombics with theoretical 25 dB gain are a manageable size at UHF if looking for really reliable point to point communication. Can make up 9 DB collinear omnidirectional verticals for UHF from RG-8 coax and plastic electrical conduit, although fiberglass is better. Not much margin for error at these frequencies, though. Can make a pretty decent UHF TV antenna using an phased array made up of a chicken wire reflector and beer or soft drink cans as elements. Not as good as an 18 element Yagi, but cheap and easy alternative. Antennas can be great fun to play with. Was raised in a rural area, and when TV first became available some local farmers were spending a lot of money for tall masts and high gain Yagis to pull in a good VHF signal. However, I was highly amused when one old farmer who knew no antenna or propagation theory whatsoever pulled in nearly as good as signal by using a junked bedspring from a double bed, which he mounted on an old apple crate and leaned against a tree, using rubber from old inner tubes as insulation. He was just using flat 300 ohm lead in, split the antenna end and fitted with alligator clips, and played around with trial and error until found the proper feedpoint. He had no terrain advantage over the others and doubt if an expensive Yagi at a similar level would have worked much better. His neighbors who had spent a lot more on their antennas weren't quite as amused, though. :-) When I was a kid, a lot of amateurs used "home brew" equipment, but most amateurs these days seem to take their transceiver back to the dealer for anything more complicated than replacing an incandescent bulb or an LED indicator. :-) The radio scanner enthusiast might consider building a large discone antenna if has the space. No gain, but good SWR over many decades of frequency range. Simple to build, size of disk and skirt not especially critical as long as large enough to cover lowest frequency of interest. Most libraries should have a reasonably current ARRL Antenna handbook. erniegalts |
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