| Author |
Message |
    
Radio514
| | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 1:53 pm: | 
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Would my Balcony with metal bars serve as a good ground for a mobile whip antenna? I want to get a steel 102 inch whip because i can't put no antennas up on the roof as well as putting a base antenna on the balcony. I'm only allowed to put something as big as the 102 inch whip. If not what would you do in my situation. |
Marconi
| | Posted on Monday, August 05, 2002 - 7:19 pm: |
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Well 514 it is not like you are building a condo. Get you an L-shaped antenna bracket at RS and attach it to something on the rail. If you can do that without drilling anything it would be better as far as the landlord goes I am sure.
Hook up your radio and check out the SWR with a decent meter. If OK don't expect a lot of range unless you are at or above the second floor. It likely depends on how much metal the antenna can react with in this case. You should not even need to ground the balcony to the earth, but that would not hurt if you did.
Marconi |
Dx431
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 2:12 am: |
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I agree. But if you do need a ground, here is something to try. Now, you're going to think I'm nuts, but this does work, I have done it.Get a bolt without a head on it and place a nut on the bottom, leaving enough threads to screw in another ant pointing down to earth. Doesn't need to be a very long ant, just something to screw into the bottom of the bracket, a metal ant. works well. It beats running a mile of wire!  |
Radio514
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 8:29 am: |
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Marconi, I'm actually on the 3rd floor and I'm pretty much above the roofs of most of the buildings around me. I should get out pretty good right? Also thanks for the advice.
Dx431 thanks for the tip. |
Dx431
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 12:12 pm: |
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you're welcome.... |
Funtimebob
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 06, 2002 - 8:46 pm: |
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this shoul help you out
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1370748840
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Radio514
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 7:57 am: |
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Funtimebob, do you know anyone who had the saturn no ground antenna. If you did, how does it perform and is it worth getting it over a 102 inch whip. |
Funtimebob
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 11:52 am: |
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Dunno anybody with the saturn antenna. Just getting back into radio after an almost 11 year absence. a lotta new company names, and quite a few old companies gone 
Everybody says the longer the better I'm not exceptionaly versed in antenna design even though
I've played around with some of the more basic math.
As far as the 102" steel whip, Since it was designed to be mounted on a car instead of a balcony I would worry about what kind of match I could get and the radiation pattern with that kinda mounting. I would probably go with one of those firesticks with the adjustable top in that situation ot something like the link I posted earlier. If not running power I might also try to find something like the 'Homeing Pigeon" that Radio Shack once sold. Can find them ocasionaly on E-bay |
Radio514
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 1:41 pm: |
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Does anyone know about the Saturn no ground antenna. This antenna looks like it can solve my problems but does it really perform. Check out this link that Funtimebob gave me.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1370748840 |
Magnum410
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 07, 2002 - 9:46 pm: |
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Radio514
A friend of mine has one of those saturn antennas
and it seems to work pretty well. that antenna is ok if you can get it up in the air, you siad you are on the 3rd floor so it should work well. I think in that situation it will perform about the same as the 102" whip but I think you can get a better SWR match with the Saturn.
I hope this helps
Magnum |
Radio514
| | Posted on Thursday, August 08, 2002 - 8:39 am: |
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I think I'm going to try the Saturn antenna. I'll let everyone know how it works.
Thanks to everyone for their help.
Radio514 |
