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Antenna parts

by ssd, published

Antenna parts by ssd Jul 9, 2011

Description

Specialized wire antennas frequently require mounting hardware in various configurations to provide mechanical stability. This is a collection of parametric parts designed to assist with constructing various wire antennas.

All of these models are parametric and should be easily adjustable to fit your needs.

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Awesome stuff!

-- Charles WC5MC

You should get the license. Then you can legally use the radio. :)

And it's a life time hobby, it gains you nothing to wait and do it later vs. getting the license now. The sooner you jump in, the more you can do with it.

I'll think about a wire cover...interesting idea, although it won't prevent RF burns. (best way to do that is to hang the wire out of reach.) I usually just dip my wire ends in liquid electrical tape.

I will be posting a wire clip (for bundling wires) in a day or two.

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License

GNU - GPL
Antenna parts by ssd is licensed under the GNU - GPL license.

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Instructions

Parts included are:

feedpoint -- perfect for mounting the feedpoint of a moxon, loop, or quad antenna on a fiberglass spreader. The hole is tapered to fit common fiberglass rods that can be found in home improvement and hardware stores. Adjust the screw hole size to fit whatever screws you have.

adjustable spacer -- print two of these and fasten together with a non-conductive screw, and attach wire ends with ring terminals. This can be used when the antenna needs wire ends held at a specific distance apart, for example, as spacers in a moxon antenna. Adjust slotlen to a bit more than half the length you need (remember, there's two of them) and to allow for adjustment; adjust slotw and holer for your screw sizes. The teeth may need to be cleaned with a hobby knife and/or triangular file for best grip.

spreader -- use this to hold wires apart to make your own open wire transmission line. Note that these are not calibrated for any particular impedance, and are designed to snap tightly on to some random wire I found. Adjust wired (wire diameter) and spread to suit your needs. I made this part thin to minimize build time (I need a lot of them), but if you think it is too flimsy, adjust wall for a more stable part. I will use these to construct the matching section for a 20m j-pole, where the spread distance is not critical but needs to be relatively stable. The wires snap in tightly, but if that's not enough, there's a slot for small zip ties at the tip to make it tighter (and parameters to adjust the slot size if needed).

Comments

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Charles on Mar 24, 2012 said:

Awesome stuff!

-- Charles WC5MC

hintss on Jul 13, 2011 said:

also, I have a question. I kinda want a ham license. my grandfather was a ham. There is a local club where I could take the test, a local repeater, and the club welcomes young members. anyway, so, I'm 14. should I go get the license anyway, even though I probably wouldn't use it? I have a yeasu vx-7r handheld radio and a large amount of radio related books from when my grandfather died. so, should I go take a ham test and get a license?

ssd on Jul 14, 2011 said:

You should get the license. Then you can legally use the radio. :)

And it's a life time hobby, it gains you nothing to wait and do it later vs. getting the license now. The sooner you jump in, the more you can do with it.

hintss on Jul 13, 2011 said:

is there a cover for the end of a stiff wire so you don't poke your eye out then get RF burns shortly therafter?

ssd on Jul 14, 2011 said:

I'll think about a wire cover...interesting idea, although it won't prevent RF burns. (best way to do that is to hang the wire out of reach.) I usually just dip my wire ends in liquid electrical tape.

I will be posting a wire clip (for bundling wires) in a day or two.

punkerdood on Jul 10, 2011 said:

And why didnt I think of this.

eh.

Thank you!

zignig on Jul 10, 2011 said:

cool ! HAM radio stuff, I was considering making openscad yagi mounting parts a few month ago.

ssd on Jul 10, 2011 said:

I made a piece to hold pipes joined at right angles that might work for yagi's I could probably add to this collection, but I ended up not using it. If you like, I'll include it. I've been trying to figure out how to combine my two favorite hobbies for a while. Ideas for other antenna parts are welcome... (I still want to turn my parametric knob into a tuner knob...)

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