I would like to build a base antenna to mount outside on my home. I do not
have a tripod and prefer not to use one unless I have to.
I will be running a 2950 or an older cobra with a small homebuilt ( true RMS
50 watt )footwarmer.

Does anyone know of a good cheap homebuilt antenna I could make and get good
transmit and receive ?
Thanks,
Raz

The Webbers / Hilltop Cycle wrote:

I would like to build a base antenna to mount outside on my home. I do not
have a tripod and prefer not to use one unless I have to.
I will be running a 2950 or an older cobra with a small homebuilt ( true RMS
50 watt )footwarmer.

Does anyone know of a good cheap homebuilt antenna I could make and get good
transmit and receive ?
Thanks,
Raz




You could make a 1/4 wave pretty easy. Might be faster to find an old
big stick antenna. They should be cheap. They worked OK, better than a
1/4 wave. You can mount it on a few house brackets
on the side of your house using a 5 or 10 foot mast.
The link below is a frequency wavelength calculator. Scroll down and
put your center frequency in the required field
and click on 1/4, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 or full wave.
It will tell you how long to make the antenna. Pretty cool.
Use GOOD coax!!!! NOT the thin stuff if your running a long run of coax.
Good luck.


http://www.csgnetwork.com/freqwavelengthcalc.html

On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 20:44:41 -0600, "The Webbers / Hilltop Cycle"
wrote:

+I would like to build a base antenna to mount outside on my home. I do not
+have a tripod and prefer not to use one unless I have to.
+I will be running a 2950 or an older cobra with a small homebuilt ( true RMS
+50 watt )footwarmer.
+
+Does anyone know of a good cheap homebuilt antenna I could make and get good
+transmit and receive ?
+Thanks,
+Raz
+
********

If you are wanting a rather inexpensive antenna then try an inverted V
antenna. Basically a center fed dipole with the ends lower than the
feed point. Try to keep the apex angle between 90 and 120 degrees and
feed with a balun.

The major drawback of this kind of antenna is that the radiation
pattern is a figure 8 pattern. Max propogation direction is
perpendicular to the plane of the antenna. Will work adequuately for
both horizontal and vertical signals due to the slope of the arms.

IF you have room, you may also consider a phased array of quarter wave
verticals. You can use between two and as many as 10 verticals to
obtain all kinds of different patterns. Disadvantages of this system
is that you must carefully measure and cut phasing lines. Also to make
the system "steerable" you need a relay switching system. They relays
need to be able to handle the power you plan to use.

There are other designs that also work and can be done rather
inexpensively. At CB frequencies, a full wave loop is just at the
extreme of size limitations for simple construction techniques. It
also is not a bad antenna to use.


I suggest that you go to a library or obtain a copy of the Amature
Radio Antenna Handbook. A good starting point.

james

I suggest that you go to a library or obtain a copy of the Amateur
Radio Antenna Handbook. A good starting point.

I tried to build a few antennas for CB. Too big to deal with.

2 meters antennas are small, portable and get good gain.
Plus, the range on VHF-FM is incredible. 50 watts will
talk farther then 120 watts of sideband on CB.
(not including skip, tropo or other enhancements)

Look in your library in 621.384 A.

On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 21:56:56 -0500, Jack O'Neill wrote:

The Webbers / Hilltop Cycle wrote:

I would like to build a base antenna to mount outside on my home. I do not
have a tripod and prefer not to use one unless I have to.
I will be running a 2950 or an older cobra with a small homebuilt ( true RMS
50 watt )footwarmer.

Does anyone know of a good cheap homebuilt antenna I could make and get good
transmit and receive ?
Thanks,
Raz




You could make a 1/4 wave pretty easy. Might be faster to find an old
big stick antenna. They should be cheap. They worked OK, better than a
1/4 wave. You can mount it on a few house brackets
on the side of your house using a 5 or 10 foot mast.
The link below is a frequency wavelength calculator. Scroll down and
put your center frequency in the required field
and click on 1/4, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 or full wave.
It will tell you how long to make the antenna. Pretty cool.
Use GOOD coax!!!! NOT the thin stuff if your running a long run of coax.
Good luck.


http://www.csgnetwork.com/freqwavelengthcalc.html


Excellent link.

Vinnie S.

Vinnie S. wrote:
On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 21:56:56 -0500, Jack O'Neill
wrote:

The Webbers / Hilltop Cycle wrote:

I would like to build a base antenna to mount outside on my home. I do
not have a tripod and prefer not to use one unless I have to.
I will be running a 2950 or an older cobra with a small homebuilt (
true RMS 50 watt )footwarmer.

Does anyone know of a good cheap homebuilt antenna I could make and get
good transmit and receive ?
Thanks,
Raz




You could make a 1/4 wave pretty easy. Might be faster to find an old
big stick antenna. They should be cheap. They worked OK, better than a
1/4 wave. You can mount it on a few house brackets
on the side of your house using a 5 or 10 foot mast.
The link below is a frequency wavelength calculator. Scroll down and
put your center frequency in the required field
and click on 1/4, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4 or full wave.
It will tell you how long to make the antenna. Pretty cool.
Use GOOD coax!!!! NOT the thin stuff if your running a long run of
coax. Good luck.


http://www.csgnetwork.com/freqwavelengthcalc.html

Excellent link.

That is handy.

On Mon, 14 Nov 2005 18:35:36 -0500, Scott in Baltimore
wrote:

+ I suggest that you go to a library or obtain a copy of the Amateur
+ Radio Antenna Handbook. A good starting point.
+
+I tried to build a few antennas for CB. Too big to deal with.
+
******

Inverted V antennae are not so bad. I tend to agree that a full wave
loop is a bit large at CB frequencies to manage, doable if you have
patience.

+2 meters antennas are small, portable and get good gain.
*****

Quite true.

+Plus, the range on VHF-FM is incredible. 50 watts will
+talk farther then 120 watts of sideband on CB.
+(not including skip, tropo or other enhancements)
+
****
First impression on this statement makes me a bit weary as to its
validity as a general statement. Especially if you are considering
line of sight communications.

In a more specific case it may very well be so. Trying to make a
general statement that "x" power output at "y" frequency yields better
distance than "w" power at "z" frequency may not always be true. The
major effects on communication distance is determined primarily by
transmitter and reciever antenna hieghts. Given equal antennae hieght
for both bands, and equal gain, then one can better compare distance
versus power.

It maybe true in your case. It may not be true in all cases.

james

Thats right, very good audio quality, much lower noise, 2 meters is the
best, CB sucks.


"Scott in Baltimore" wrote in message
...
I suggest that you go to a library or obtain a copy of the Amateur
Radio Antenna Handbook. A good starting point.

I tried to build a few antennas for CB. Too big to deal with.

2 meters antennas are small, portable and get good gain.
Plus, the range on VHF-FM is incredible. 50 watts will
talk farther then 120 watts of sideband on CB.
(not including skip, tropo or other enhancements)

Look in your library in 621.384 A.

TNT wrote:
Thats right, very good audio quality, much lower noise, 2 meters is the
best, CB sucks.

I was on my CB last night. I used sideband and some AM. I also
made a quick 2 meter contact. The noise level on 11 meters
started out quiet, got up to about 3db, then dropped back
down an hour later. About the time the static went up, there
was a bit of DX. Not-so-local signals were wavering a bit.

My 2 meter contact was only a few miles. It was the last
radio I used. Tuesday nights are 11 meter SSB net nights.

If you're in the mid-atlantic area, try 36LSB at 1930EST.
There are check-ins from MD, PA, DC, VA and DE. We don't
get west because there are mountains in the way.

Tuesday nights are 11 meter SSB net nights.

If you're in the mid-atlantic area, try 36LSB at 1930EST.
There are check-ins from MD, PA, DC, VA and DE. We don't
get west because there are mountains in the way.

Make that 36 USB.