Wanting to build my own antenna

**NY714** · 09-09-2014, 02:56 AM

Originally Posted by halfwatt959

Howdy folks. I want to build my own base antenna just to do it. I don't expect any miracles, in fact failure on the first few tries. That said this is what I'm thinking: copper pipe in progressive sizes so they slide into each other for adjustment purposes with 4 ground radials of 3/8 copper pipe at 1/4 wave length set at 45-60 degrees. I'm currently undecided as to how to construct the gamma match. I also thought I would clear coat the whole thing to resist corrosion. Is the clear coat a bad idea? Is the whole project a bad idea? Was planning on 5/8 wave length since Ive benn informed that a full wave would have too steep of a radiation patern to be effective for practicle communication use. I am planning on using a choke at the feed point. Is this just dumb or is it semi-solid planning. There is nothing wrong with my Mako v5/8 I just want to make my own. Any help, advice and or tutoring will be greatly appreciated. Like I said I don't expect spectacular results or to reinvent the wheel just well just that I want to build my own junk. Thanks again 73s

I understand you want to build you own antenna, but unless you have plenty of extra time and access to a lot of high end aluminum parts, better off now-a days buys an antenna that was designed by a professional and made of high quality parts. They are cheap enough today, I do understand the need to make yourself, but unless your retired with plenty of time to design and access to a lot of high quality parts. It will probably work great for only a limited amount of time. Just my opinion with the low cost of antenna's and the high quality design of the antenna's on the market. Especially when spend thousands on the radio, what is a couple of hundred on an antenna.

**mjd420nova** · 09-10-2014, 09:03 PM

I like to start off simple. Working with copper wire lengths to start with on wooden dowels, the trial and error become easier until you get the proper angles and SWR match. An Ant Spec M-400 starduster was great for a high takeoff angle making for better skip. A gamma match can be sorted out by looking at the length in relation to the main mast. Ground elements can be matched the same way, but a "good" ground is essential. Lengths of ground wire between the ground and the first point should be to the antenna first and another to the equipment, filters and dummy loads first then amps and xceiver.

**BOOTY MONSTER** · 09-12-2014, 10:39 AM

hey archbishop , hope things are going well for you . i'm still plugging along spreading love and happiness wherever i can

most new CB antennas sold today were not designed by professionals , they are just older designs copied with small differences in construction with the better ones having little to no difference in performance . the sirio gain master is different , but everything else is a copy of someone elses design from decades ago . some of them are sadly just confabulations with dumb ideas/parts/construction to impress the impressionable that don't know better with eye catching do-dads and/or big words used out of context to once again ...... impress the impressionable that don't know better . there are some very heavy duty 5/8WL antennas being sold for (IMO) way more than they're worth , but they're not electrically any stronger than original designs they're based on . `

parts to make antennas are not difficult to find or make or goober .... homerbb is proof of that . he has made some great performing antennas from scrap/junk laying around . he has made some fine performing antennas from PVC tubing wrapped in aluminum tape ! starting simple is great advise , simple designs (like a dipole) have less parts to make and assemble wrong so theres less chance of errors that can occur making someone feel they can't do it or that it's too complicated . the confidence gained from making a effective simple antenna will inspire you to make more complex and/or bigger designs with more potential performance . building antennas isn't for everyone , but it can be a very enjoyable part of the hobby .