Antenna pics?

Hello,

I don't know if you are asking for AM or FM.

Here's a link to AM pics thanks to Antenna Guy Carl.

http://antenna18431.tripod.com/antenna.htm

And here's a link for construction plans thanks to SSTRAN.

http://www.sstran.com/pages/sstran_buildant.html

Neil

Hello,

If you want to build an antenna for the AM band, you can see some pictures of my antenna built myself.

http://www.geocities.com/yvesroy.geo/mini-station-am.html

Since my webpage is in french, i will explain what i did. My vertical antenna is a copper pipe of 10 ft long and 1/2 inch diameter which i bought from the hardware store. I made also a loading coil which consists 104 turns of copper wire enameled #24 GA. My 4 radials is simply a copper wire #20 GA and are connected on the ground connection. My AM transmitter is Ramsey AM25 and is at the bottom of the christmas tree stand. I've broadcast on 1460 kHz last sunday for testing purposes and it works well (in fact, i have to resolve a small problem to connecting my 4 radials without soldering because i have no soldering skills). I plan to put my transmitter on a regular basis next spring once snows melts completely.

Good luck with your building project on your antenna.
Yves Roy

Hi,

You wrote: (in fact, i have to resolve a small problem to connecting my 4 radials without soldering because i have no soldering skills)

Just a couple of suggestions. You can bind the wires together with a wire nut and put some silicone gel (auto parts store...used for waterproofing connections) in the nut to keep water out. Don't use the silicone calk as it will corrode copper.

A better method might be to use what is called a split lug or split bolt connector. If you havn't seen them, they look like a copper bolt which has been split lengthwise. A nut compresses the wires. I like them because they squeeze all the wires securely. Your hardware store should have them.

Hope this helps. I enjoyed looking at your pictures.

Neil

Neil,

I'd like to add that trying to solder outdoors, 12 gauge and under wire just won't be possible, I've tried with two soldering irons, doesn't get the heat there... best is a propane torch, you can get these at most home hardware and the silver solder used for copper plumbing... use a paste flux as you want the best connection possible... make a ring with 6-8 gauge wire and then add the radials to the ring in a pattern of a spoke wheel... you can bury the radials 2-3 inches down, best is try to add 'cat litter' the clay type called 'Benzonite'... in the trench and add the wire then more cat litter... what does the cat litter do?.... Well in a short time it will 'bind' to the copper wire and create a radial that is not 12 gauge but larger, the size of the trench you 've made as it's conductive and it retains the moisture longer on the wire... this is an added benefit that the 'commercial' broadcasters use as a secret to get more coverage and longer lasting radials... these radials will corrode in time depending on the soil conditions, but for our use, it's forever...

Don't forget to sprinkle the radials with water and if you live in a low conductance area...

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/m3/index.html

Adding fertilizer or salt will increase your conductivity also....

Good luck...

Radiopilot

Hi Radiopilot,

Good suggestion about soldering. That's how I did mine. 10 #14 radials to a #6 ring, exept I used electronic grade solder and it worked ok. Not as strong as what you used, but OK. It is kinda tricky with a torch because the wire tends to oxidize if you over heat it. The paste flux works better.

I recall that YvesRoy was using #20 wire but stated he had no soldering skills which probably means he has no soldering tools. I would recommend solder over the mechanical methods, but the split lug will work nicely if sized properly.

Neil

Does anyone have any antenna pics that I can use as a reference for building?

I have some photos of my SSTRAN antenna and radio installation here:

http://robinvalley.org/about-photos.shtml

Regards,

Scott