Ham Radio Mystery Antenna: Was This $5 Flea Market Find Worth It???

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ธ.ค. 2024

ความคิดเห็น • 64

  • @bb_37
    @bb_37 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    The 6m repeaters you were trying probably had vertical antennas. Your horizontal antenna would have about 18 dB of loss when trying to work a station with a vertical antenna.

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Good point! I didn't think of that. I'll have to change the polarity and try again

  • @1crazynordlander
    @1crazynordlander ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Nice find! Our closest 6 meter repeater is 206.1 miles away. I played with 6 meter repeaters when I was in Denver visiting my daughter and family. I was able to get a response from the repeater but nobody answered.

  • @Siskiyous6
    @Siskiyous6 ปีที่แล้ว +10

    In no way can you lose getting that much metal for $5.00. I usually convert yagis to traditional dipole drivers instead of using the matching units they always are designed with.

  • @acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE
    @acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE ปีที่แล้ว +3

    A $5 antenna that works and 2 Collies, you are a lucky man! I used to train Collies to work sheep and we did dog agility for fun. Your guys would love dog agility! Thanks for taking the time to make your videos, I always enjoy them.

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว

      We are very fortunate....thanks for your support!

  • @Patriot-bn9om
    @Patriot-bn9om ปีที่แล้ว +3

    I purchased a used Cushcraft Ringo 6m vertical around 30 years ago. It might have already been 20 years olds at the time. I'm still using it today, maybe 50 years since it was made. The materials, connectors, and clamps on the Ringo all look identical to the 3-el beam in the video. I believe it's a earlier version of the Cushcraft A503S beam maybe 30 or 40 years old. Those are about $250 new today. For repeater use, the beam could be up to 30db better mounted in vertical polarization.

  • @Wa3ypx
    @Wa3ypx ปีที่แล้ว +1

    In my area of the country, the local gas company used vertical polarized yagis that seemed to be cut for maybe 40 mhz. at their compressor stations. Ive noticed over the past few years those have been replaced something looking like an antenna for EME use!

  • @SevenFortyOne
    @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I know the horizontal polarization is not ideal in this video. This was just a quick test I did Thanksgiving morning and didn't think to change it while recording these clips as I was going back and forth between the backyard and the kitchen helping my wife cook. I'll give it a try with vertical polarization in the future and see what happens.

    • @joshmyer9
      @joshmyer9 ปีที่แล้ว

      One other idea for a follow up test: turn the antenna 90° off of repeaters that you successfully open, then 180° for the ones that open. It's always fun to demonstrate that the theory actually works for newer folks, and also show that maybe they don't need a directional antenna. (I'm guessing that everything you could open in this video will open in the deepest null of a 3-el yagi, once the polarization is matching 😅. If it's any consolation, I didn't even think about it, as 6m is a band I never use.)

  • @jamesholbrook3648
    @jamesholbrook3648 ปีที่แล้ว

    Try to find some aluminum tubing with an ID to match the OD of the element tips. Cut just a small collar to push over each element tip.
    OR small aluminum angle and clamp little extensions to each element tip.
    Great find for $5, always enjoy your content 73

  • @chuckrann6282
    @chuckrann6282 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Nice find. Pretty cool design too.

  • @MowerJunkie
    @MowerJunkie ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow! that's a great deal you got on that antenna.

  • @Ron_917
    @Ron_917 ปีที่แล้ว

    That looks like a Hi-Par Hilltopper. I have one, purchased at a hamfest last year for $40 - you got a fantastic deal on that one. Not much info about them on the web. There was also a 2m version but I've never seen one. Some of the old timers in my club are familiar with them and one guy has 2 of them. Apparently they were made in the 1960s or 1970s. They were intended for portable operations - field day, VHF contesting on hilltops, etc. Would be awesome for SOTA and POTA.

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว

      Thanks for the info! I was thinking my antenna seemed like it was meant for portable use since it has those collapsible elements and wingnuts everywhere. I may give it a try on a nearby POTA park that is up on a hill at some point.

  • @phatforrest
    @phatforrest ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Doing pretty good with a horizontal antenna. Many of those repeaters have fantastic range, as you know.

    • @n1kkri
      @n1kkri ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Just think how well it would have worked with the correct poliarity

  • @JxH
    @JxH ปีที่แล้ว +1

    For wire dipoles that I've cut a bit too short, I have added a little 'flag' made with square inch or two of folded-over *aluminum* (metal) duct tape as a sort of capacitor hat. It works to lower the resonant frequency, and is a surprisingly powerful effect (since it's at a voltage peak at the end of the element). Multi-elements would be a bit of a chore, but maybe just copy the driven element solution to the other elements.

  • @joelaut12
    @joelaut12 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Add some coils to the driven element might bring it down

  • @W5IPAJASON
    @W5IPAJASON ปีที่แล้ว

    ⁠​​⁠Great find! I also noticed your license plate solution

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Bonus points for the license plate observation!

  • @Radiowild
    @Radiowild ปีที่แล้ว

    Interesting antenna. I think you got a terrific deal on it! Probably would be better like your setup on the house, using a rotor. Gotta find a 40 foot fold up to put that on!

  • @davidsradioroom9678
    @davidsradioroom9678 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    For $5, you got a real bargain. Congratulations!

  • @Oldcomputer
    @Oldcomputer ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow good find for 5bux. With the wing nuts and the way it folds up nicely Ill bet it was meant for portable/temp use. Like for field day or camping. I have a more modern Dimand 2m antenna that i like that.
    Also all the repeaters are going to be V polarization. I think thats why you had better luck with the ones far out compared to the local ones. Any luck on the 6m FM calling freq 52.525?

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว

      I didn't think to try the calling frequency. There is usually activity on the repeaters but I recorded this on Thanksgiving so things were quiet

  • @temporarilyoffline
    @temporarilyoffline ปีที่แล้ว

    If it were me, id use so hardware store clamps and dangle a few inches of wire off the ends to bring it down the band, you'd need 9 of them... Id do some research first on how that tuning stub works because I dont get it. Overall, great find and great vid!

  • @garyclark4930
    @garyclark4930 ปีที่แล้ว

    If you were to reorient your antenna to vertical polarization , might get into to some of the repeaters
    you didn't bring up due to cross polarization. Great deal either way.

  • @n0vty873
    @n0vty873 ปีที่แล้ว

    put it vertical for the repeaters. Also change the tuning capacitor to a longer and smaller tube along with the shorting bracket (make one) use vinyl tube as an insulator, to give you more tuning range. Or just live with it for $5 what the heck. It looks as if it was built for portable use, easy up and down.

  • @n4leqonthego852
    @n4leqonthego852 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Great video, maybe you could add length to the antenna by adding solid copper wire to the end of the elements.

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I thought about that but am not sure how to make it hold up in the weather

    • @n4leqonthego852
      @n4leqonthego852 ปีที่แล้ว

      If you use a heavy enough gauge wire (12-14awg) solid wire and just use a ring connector and tap a screw through the aluminum tube it should stay pretty much straight , just an idea. short of adding more aluminum tube that is about the least expansive way to accomplish it, you don't want a $5 antenna to turn into a $30 project :)

    • @Locksnut
      @Locksnut ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It probably would work, but I don't think mixing copper with aluminum, especially for outside use, would be prudent.

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Good point...I actually have some heavy gauge aluminum wire I can use

  • @nimroddiaries_
    @nimroddiaries_ ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Nice one Rob.

  • @franciscolopez3229
    @franciscolopez3229 ปีที่แล้ว

    May I ask, that dips that you saw on the nano vna, is that really normal sir, and why do you think that is? I'm new to ham and been experimenting in homebrewing a yagi for 2 meters and upon testing it via an analyzer, I'll get a 1.2 swr from 144 to 145 then goes 1.5 on 146 then dips to 1.2 again at 147. Am I doing something wrong. I'd appreciate it much for some advice. Thank you sir.

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm not an antenna expert but I think the dips might be something to do with the matching network you are using. My other Yagi, a 5 element with a hairpin match only has one SWR dip.

    • @franciscolopez3229
      @franciscolopez3229 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SevenFortyOne Oh, alright sir. I am using a Gamma Match sir. I'll do more research and I thank you sir. All the best....73.

  • @26TM034
    @26TM034 ปีที่แล้ว

    try 6 inches of wire coat hanger lol added to the driven as a test with jubilee clips... test with VnA.. simple cheap test..

  • @tommiehinman1349
    @tommiehinman1349 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just find tubing the same as the Gama match connection and use the new aluminum brasing rods that claim to weld any metal together and braze it together. Then sand/grind the weld down so the clamp slides over the weld

  • @2metercrew389
    @2metercrew389 ปีที่แล้ว

    I wish I had that many 6 meter repeaters 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

  • @dave10524
    @dave10524 ปีที่แล้ว

    Are not most repeaters vertically polarized ??? you were horizontal, correct polarization would really help

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว

      It's ok, it was just a quick test to see if the antenna would work at all.

  • @iowahank1
    @iowahank1 ปีที่แล้ว

    Anytime you can get that much aluminum for $5 that's a great deal. Even if you can't figure it out you can use it for something else.

  • @johnwest7993
    @johnwest7993 ปีที่แล้ว

    Your antenna is horizontally polarized, but I know of no repeaters that aren't vertically polarized. The loss from a horizontally polarized Yagi-Yuda attempting to hit a vertical is atrocious, as much as 30 dB, the difference between 1W and 1000W. You could easily hit with full quieting and a quarter-wave vertical any repeater you managed to key at all with the horizontal beam. I'm actually surprised you managed to key any of them. In any near-LOS communication, correct antenna polarization isn't just important, it's essential. I learned this when I was on a mountaintop Field Day site feeding a 9-element 2-meter beam with 160W. The beam was atop a 25 foot mast and was pointing directly at our club repeater 35 miles away out on the Colorado plains. With binoculars I could literally see the water tower our repeater antenna was mounted on, but I couldn't key the repeater. Meanwhile, other hams were wandering around our Field-Day site with their HT's working the repeater no problem. That's the difference polarization makes.

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks, I know about the the effect of polarization. This was just a quick little test I did Thanksgiving morning to see if the antenna worked and I think we saw that it does. I'll try it again vertically polarized when I have a chance and see what happens.

  • @Palosrob
    @Palosrob ปีที่แล้ว

    Border collies! My sister had a border collie and she was my dog niece. The most incredible dog I ever knew. It takes a lot to understand them but I took the time to understand what border Collies are all about and we were very close. She died at 12 1/2 years in July of 2022 because she came in contact with a raccoon virus that eventually shut down her kidneys. I will remember her for the rest of my life. Mollie the Border Collie

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      My dogs aren't pure border Collie...they were rescues so we aren't positive but I think they are mixed with regular Collie. They have all of the energy of a border Collie but not the intelligence. They are good pups though...very loyal and great with our family

  • @davidvincent1093
    @davidvincent1093 ปีที่แล้ว

    Instead of clamps get some really good shrink wrap ... not the crap from Harbor Freight... cut a piece so that it is about 3 inches longer than the center of the slider splice. I/A cut a 6 inch piece and slide it down to 3 inches on either side and then shrink it. I personally prefer to do it this way because it will limit and reduce the liquid between the 2 elements and you having to run up there every year to clean out the oxidation. Good luck and have fun wit your $5 toy as far as I am concerned you can never go worn with a YAGI and a compass to point it with

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      good tip!

    • @davidvincent1093
      @davidvincent1093 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have done it for more years than I can think of and never had a problem
      MQ4MRI

  • @foxman362
    @foxman362 ปีที่แล้ว

    would this antenna work on 11meters and 10 meters.

  • @capndavey1
    @capndavey1 ปีที่แล้ว

    I bought a 7 element 220 beam for 10 dollars and a 17 element 900 for 15

  • @XPFTP
    @XPFTP ปีที่แล้ว

    cut the tips off. stuff some copper tubing or rod of some sorts in the ends. shouldnt need to much .. maybe what 3 to 6 inchs .. no idea tho ..

  • @turkeyslayer63
    @turkeyslayer63 ปีที่แล้ว

    You would get much better results if you changed to a vertical polarization.

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thanks, I know about the the effect of polarization. This was just a quick little test I did Thanksgiving morning to see if the antenna worked and I think we saw that it does. I'll try it again vertically polarized when I have a chance and see what happens.

  • @jwnagy
    @jwnagy 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I have one of these...6 meters

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Cool!

    • @jwnagy
      @jwnagy 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@SevenFortyOne you can expect about 5 db gain forward...works well. 73 Jeff W3AAB

  • @foxman362
    @foxman362 ปีที่แล้ว

    don't throw away do a giveaway so your channel grows.

    • @SevenFortyOne
      @SevenFortyOne  ปีที่แล้ว

      Giveaways are governed by complicated laws related to lotteries and raffles here in CT that I don't want to get involved with.

  • @scott762mm
    @scott762mm ปีที่แล้ว

    It as $5.00 homie! We spend are money on dumber shit then that!