[bars] So you wanna build an antenna...

[Matthew Curran]

Thanks for sharing Tim, made me laugh! I do some welding on the side and frequently run into the same issue of the materials costing more than buying the product I was going to build (then just buying it). Hope the new antenna works well for you!

 

Best,

Matt

AC1AU

 

From: bars <bars-bounces at w1hh.org> On Behalf Of Tim KC1RET
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2022 12:05 PM
To: bars at w1hh.org
Subject: [bars] So you wanna build an antenna...

 

I've been doing a fair bit of FT8/FT4 on 20 & 40 with my 'wire hanging from a tree' fan dipole.  I've managed pretty well there but now I want to expand my band coverage a bit.  I've tried 2m with a 5 1/2 element yagi and found exactly 3 stations - granted, the antenna is at about 10ft above the ground but still not exactly overwhelmed with contacts.  Meteor scatter?  Pfft...  MANY nights of nothing but nothing.

So, what's a new ham to do -- build a 6m antenna of course!  There is a great deal written about the 'magic band'; how could I possibly pass this up!

I find a design for a reasonable 4el yagi online and set out to get materials.  Peter, N1AO, was gracious enough to offer me the material for the boom - many thanks Peter!

Next up, element material.  Should be easy-peasy to find 1/2in aluminum tubing stock.  HA!  Silly new ham...  The two local vendors that I could find quoted me over $175 for 4 pieces of 1/2in tubing!  However, my favorite, by far, was a 'repurposed materials' vendor in AZ who quoted me $78 for the materials but... wait for it...  $4,000 for shipping.  Yes, you read that correctly, FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS.  I nearly ejected my coffee through my nose laughing.

Sooo....  Looks like I'm making a trip up to Salem to buy a complete antenna for about $180 (tax free).

73,

Tim - KC1RET

Courageously sent from a non-Apple device that includes a headphone jack.

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Tim Carter - KC1RET

 

 



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