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  • Author Author: kmikemoo
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2 Year Antenna Project

kmikemoo

In the midst of this "work of art", is an antenna.  It's been there since March of 2023.
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In January of 2023, I read an article in QEX (a magazine published by the ARRL) by Richard Quick, W4RQ, on a 2 meter loop antenna made with an aluminum yardstick.  I was intrigued.  I'm also forgetful sometimes - so I didn't get around to buying a yardstick until the weekend before I wanted to use the antenna (late March).  Being me, I also way over thought the project.  36 inches will surely be too short - so I bought a meter stick from Ace Hardware.  But the build instructions said use a yardstick - so I went back out and bought a yardstick from Harbor Freight.  At least that way I wouldn't be out a lot of money when the antenna ended up being too short.

Over the remainder of the weekend, I build both antennas.  Bend them in thirds.  The Harbor Freight one has a hole for hanging so that means the top bends are going to be extra short.  No problem.  I have infinite faith that the meter stick antenna will work flawlessly.  I have so much faith that I paint it right away.  The antenna is for a hidden transmitter so dulling that bright aluminum seems like the right thing to do.  One coat.  Let it dry.  Two coats.  Let it dry.  Now it's Thursday night.  I need this thing for Saturday morning at 0730.  I put it on the antenna analyzer and... its resonant frequency is 136MHz.  Fantastic for US NOAA Weather Satellites but a far cry from the 147.555MHz that my transmitter is going to use.  Try this.  Try that.  If I re-bend it, I'll mar the paint.  Admit defeat and go to bed.  Throw the antenna on the garage work bench.

After work the next day, it's 4th down and long yardage.  It's time for a Hail Mary play.  I get out the Harbor Freight yardstick version and put it on the antenna analyzer.  Tweak this.  Tweak that.  It's got its lowest Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) of 1.2 at 147.56MHz.  "Are you freakin' kidding me?!" and other rants ensue.  It's bright silver.  There's no time to paint.  Besides, it's cold in the garage and I'm not going to stink the house up with spray paint.  It will have to do.  "Seriously!!"

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The bright silver Harbor Freight yardstick antenna worked great.  I had to enlist the wife's help to locate it after the event - even though I was standing right in front of the tree I hid it in.  All is well.

Except for that non-resonant antenna sitting on the workbench.

WELL... I finally made the time this week to tune it.  Two years later.  Cut.  Flatten.  Bend.  Drill.  Still too long.  Repeat.  I ended up taking off about... three inches total.  Imagine that.
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Not bad.  When you are only transmitting 50mW, every little bit helps.

Now to work on all the other stuff on the bench. Frowning2

Parents Comment Children
  • in reply to kmikemoo

    How close do you need to be to call this fox found ? 

  • in reply to robogary

     Interesting question.  If someone says they found it, I take that to mean that they actually saw the antenna and transmitter bag.  Sometimes folks will text me or Facebook Messenger me pictures.  There are no prizes so folks compete for bragging rights.  Each one of them gets praised.  "Great job!  You're the first!"  "That's fantastic!  Thanks for hunting.  Knowing that you did makes getting up early on a Saturday worth it. Thumbsup"

    I also get messages of "I was close but I just couldn't find it.", so I'll tell them where it was and what it looked like.  "Ah!  So close!  Great job!  You'll get it next month."

    My club members all have access to my cell phone number and I try to monitor our Facebook page as best I can.  The hunt starts at 0730 and ends at 1630 (sometimes later).  Part of the Rules of Engagement are not sharing the location until after noon.  Hints should guide but not ruin the hunt.  After lunch... less subtle.  Mid afternoon... blatant.  I WANT people to find the fox, but not so quickly that it isn't challenging and fun.  If folks are hunting when I show up to recover the fox, I'll coach them - or tell them - depending on where they are psychologically.  If they'll give it another go next month... we're winning.

    I guess all those Anger Management classes I had to take are finally bearing fruit - at least outside of work. LaughingThumbsup

  • in reply to kmikemoo

    Not sure about the fox but I think we do have a tree climbing monkey in the vicinity

    image

  • in reply to beacon_dave

     Great job!  On the first hunt I hosted, I did climb a tree.  My wife was not thrilled.  She made me bring a ladder on the next one.  I did that for a couple more, but those collapsible ladders aren't exactly light.  That's when I broke down and bought a telescoping painters pole.  After about 2 years of supervising me hiding the fox - and promising not to climb any more trees, she has finally allowed me to go out on my own.