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antenna The gain Increases by 3dB There are various ways to overcome
•very fine you double the number of this, but one of the simplest to
element* Two elements provides a gon implement is the addition of two
of 3d9 corrpored to a dpo:o. four groundptone elements at right orgies,
elements would give 6dB, eight a quarter wavelength betow the
elements 9d& eta f eedpoint These groundpkine
For the technically inclined, the elements, just like those on a
bocdwid*h is generaly defined as the conventional quarterwave ground-
part at wheh the gain degrades due plane, are a few per cent longer than
lo phase variations greater than one* a half wavelength tip-to- tip. You con
tfrth u radons on the end elements. more thon two If you wish.
i
To tfnptfy matters, ond to dtow for the <int to seal tf. thea whle the s*cone is band tNs *s tfOrrm fci the UHF C8
<xW error, cut eight lengths of RGSS, sti pWkx sfo the heatshrink tii*^ over bond 155nva Work this poM.
eoch 250mm tong for the 70cm the >^f and opply a b*ast of hot ai' (tx* Usng o 0»unt knife, or caretdy using
amateur band or 230mm long for the dryers are great for the) But don't a sharp krtfe. make two cuts around the
Dhf CB bond These length* make overdo the ho* air, though, or you're cable's outer sheoth, eoch o few
allowance for cutting ond stripping ftety to soften the outer sheath of the milmetres etther & de of this onr SV
r
bock the ends of the elements to make coax and possibly damage tt. the sheath between the two cuts ona
the joints 5) The top ek*rent needs to be remove the secton to expose the shtete
3) Prepare each end of seven seoied, Appty a dob of siicone sealant braid Jsir^aholiroaquckVondighty
elements, ond otfy one end of the to ft. slip on a 30-40rrm length of fcn the Uad
S<p two 3040mm
lengths
eighth element, o* detailed m Rgure 4. Wtppi ^oatstYinK whie it s stw scft, then of Mmm<*crr>eter heatshrK* down the
The e»j^th etement wH become the apply a short bOst of hoi air to shrink it cable, placing them either tde of the
'top* element of the anterro. n place, exposed shield orakJ
Cut the coax's outer sheath 16mm P)The next step is to attach what two lengths of tinned copper
JJJCut
bock from the end us*ig o t*jnt you've (ust completed to its support. w»e or tyazhg rod to sJze each 360nvn
penfcrrfe or hobby knife It should be Plastic ip-up coble hes are great for lorg for the 70cm amateur bam ana
blunt so os to avokJ rfeking the sh»*d trfe as ore the ptostk; zfrtock ties that 330mm long for the UHF C8 band (see
braid here. Co not unravel the shield ccme w*h pockets o* garboge bogs. F<wre 3) If you're us-ng tnned copoer
brafcl Tie the colinear to the dowel storting tf first* Ths can be cone
wt^e. straighten
4) Now cut the brc*a tt*s time using with the top etemen!. putting a tie either by clamping one end m a vise, graso^
o shoro knife. 8mm bock from the end side of eoch joint. The top element the other end wHh a pair of p:iers orx3
Take core rot to cut through the should oe tied about 50mm below the g?«*g rt a good tug I w* bow a bit after
de*ecMc to the centre conductor. top era. The other elements should Do youtokettoutof the vise, but then you
Combined use of a sharp knffe and near the >>tnts. can stroighten it eosJy by hand. Tin the
sharp pointed sidecutter* con be Whle the coftrear shcx>3 be kjkj centre of each groundpiof*e e:emenl,
effective ond restft in o neat cut. strcighT *t>en tyng K To the dowel don't 12) Now attach the prepared cctte to
5; Next, cut bock the dielectric 8mm aopfy too much tension to avod the feedoc*r. maldng a joint os per
boc* from the end to expose the fracturing the solder*ng at the }3Jit5 F*guro S, Sea* rt and cover it with
centre conductor- Do this careMly so Don't depeno on the heatshrirk for toalshrirw. Put a tie either side of the
you don't rtck the stranded centre
conductor wfre* Otherwise, later you
moy get o break in the centre
conductor, or a stray strand moy s/xxt
the joint ether way- your antenna wont
work property*
<ywm the ends of ol the elements
prepared os per Ague 4 row tin the
exposed cento conductor and shsetd
bccfcl on eoch Use a hot iroa preferably
o temperature controled type. A flat* attmnfe ona tbo joint of the
faced Cspode') ftp is best lex thb Job. feedpofott* mode ft* this
Apcty the tip to the part to be tinned
Performance
An eigh? element onay hke tr*$ rxa 9dB
ot Qor\ over o dpo*e Your K> watt rig
Aim You moke tho (youndpbne in thts manner Be sure to thoroughly
6. wil sound like an 80 wott rig on a Slim
seat the area of the exposed (you ot descried in tte text. jhx or like a lOO watt rg on a
groundpkme irs cheap golrt A
-
transistor poweramp to toke voir r*g*$
joint to secuefy to tho dowel
how teavxxafY ties and apply o little sfcoro output from K>W up to 80- or K)0
coax to the
rerrporarity tfc The seatant around the groundOane Joint. watts wil cost you S2 per won <y more.
Now.
(jowoi near the exposed sNe*d brad Whte the siicone is stili pta&nc, sip the So this ccwir>ear costs ctoout one* tenth
Tns wil secure wt*e you attach (ho
it two pieces of hoatshrtnk tubing atong the price c4 o power <yvc So. how
Qro^ndpane element* Position each to cover the groundptane jo rt and
f
leaving a stack kir*' in the cabte so that don't get the ^improvement expected
any tension is tokon by the bottom- chop off the top four elements and fry
PARTS LIST most he agon. It sounds we*d but know of one t
cjometei heatshfir* dowel degrados the coilnears I have made venous versions of
XX)mm of Wmm heats^nk performance, so use a rubber furniture aoax>c« colneors over the years, for
in^ne coox connecter to smT bung olthe right size* O. o short length both temporary, permanent and
(BNC suggested) of hootshrink tubing of the right portable appitcations A portable
80Omm ol IB gauge trned dometer. tied off and shrunk in place. coftnear b eas>y mode bv tvmg or
cocoft' wVe oi txazing rod Thai comctotos the coratructtofi Now toping the coox elements and lead
Two metre length of 127 mm or to erect it As indrvdual circi/Ttftances coOe to o length of hemp rcpe in use,
19mm dometer dowel vary widely, IK ]usi &vo <* rtn+s and the top end of the rope is tied off to
Ftve or s* caWe ftes tips somethng sutabte. *e o tree branch
Sicone sealant The tohem ©rva ot The dowel can be or other fc/rn of 'skyhook*, ona the
SokJOr ctamped to the top of a most us>^g bottom erxJ a either tied ctown or
I
Qutocxy wood ston or inseed ort
hose or muffler clamps that ore weflhted so that the array u hew
I
tightened with o worm -drive vertCal lAfhen no* «n use. jost rol it up
mechorism. Use two clomps spaced I've made four-element coax
Todi^ you'llTneed aoarta little to fxeperry support the colineois for 2m. both *hxed* and
Sharp penknife or 'hot*/ knle dowel portable versions, an eight-element
Sharp, pointed sidecutters The feedine from yojr co'bnocr to cenire-ted hor^onlal mcrater some 15
So*denng iron, pfeferabty your ng stouid be a good quatty, »ow- metres long for ?*x metres> ona LIHF
temperature controlled loss coax. The k»ge diameter -hdf.inetv versons ronging from a four-element
l shrft ng sparine variety is readily available, and job for mobilo use to o to elomonl
>f neede-TOse affo-dobie for these frequencies. phdK; symbol nearly four metres to* •