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Airplane alluminum tubing

Bandit169

Bandit169

Member
Jul 6, 2005
37
0
16
North west Indiana.
Airplane aluminum tubing

Hey hey guy's,
Well i did another goof!!!! I went to drop my tower to put up a Jo Gunn 4x4 star and broke one of the groundplane radials on the antenna i had up there. Where can i find the right size tubing to replace the one i busted? All 4 of them were 55' inch's long, or could i shorten the other 3 to the same size as the broken one? (I hate when i do that)!!Oh Yeah one more thing, Can you put a rejection wire on the back of my 4x4 star Jo Gunn? Just a thought...
Thanks a 73s to ya.
Steve aka Bandit169nwind,Bandit169,CDX169,
 
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Thanks Bob, Ok, on the wire! and i'll check on the tube, I gave the antenna to a buddy and want it to be right, know what i mean Vern' ? LOL.
73s and Peace Bro'.
Steve aka Bandit169nwind,Bandit169,CDX169
 
I can't remember the guy's name who had 'Vern' for a buddy. Really miss him!

Aircraft aluminum is stronger than other type aluminum tubing. That's about the only 'plus' it has. I think I'd replace the broken radial. As long as it's the same length and approximately the same diameter, it won't make a 'hill of beans' worth of difference, other than 'looks'. ('Looks' are sort of like that 'hill of beans' thingy, just depends on the eye/nose of the one doing the ...whatever.)

A 'rejection wire', another name for a reflector. Adding a second one ~could~ make some difference. Not very much, and maybe not desirable, but it -will- change things. 'Fixing' whatever that change amounts to will probably be more trouble than the whole thing is worth. YOU do it, I don't wanna. Just have fun at it, which is the whole point, right?
- 'Doc
 
Antenna rejection kits

u have to stop and think about it like this

there are a waste of money and time here's why

The antenna makers like Wilson / CushCraft / Mosley / Antenna Specialist's / HyGain just to name a few have spent tons and ton's of money on designs and engineering and testing to get the best out of the antenna's..

If the so called rejection kit that someone came up with in there back yard actually worked. Dont ya think that these big company's mention above who have the mean's ( like the money and the facility's ) to test it they would have incorporated the so called kit with there antenna's or even made them an option ..


There are antenna program's out there to help ya get what you maybe looking for. The best way to do that is to rearrange the element spacing's to get what you want. But remember this to get something ( like what you want or are asking about ) you have to give up something . In other words if you want a tighter backdoor you will loose forward Gain ...

I would replace the element I would call this place and order what i needed. Not really sure about the company because i have never delt with them because there are place's to buy air craft aluminum tubeing around here.

Have a look here
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/mepages/alumtube_6061t6.php

hoped this helped ya
 
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Airplane aluminum tubing

Ok , Now i don't want to sound stupid BUT!!! I know i don't have a rejection wire for my 4x4 star, it don't come with it. It was just a thought, thats why i asked. Now for the tubing, the piece i broke measures 9/16 od i don't know what the thickness is just that it was 55;inch's long. Also is the same size as the tip radials on my jo gunn. i think they are 0.80 ??? Not to sure. I also have a buddy who is a mechanic at one of the small airports around here.He is gonna' check at work monday the 3rd of march. this last site has all the right size stuff, now i have to make sure on the right size. then i can order thru there or maybe get it from his shop, I hope.
Thanks again guy's 73s and have a great weekend.
PS i keep ya'll informed.
Steve aka Bandit169nwind, Bandit169,CDX169.
 
That's him! ... Hmm, I wonder if he was related to another 'Varney', from the UK? Naaw, wrong accent. Know what I mean, Lewis... I mean Vern?
- 'Doc

Lewis.Louis.whatever...
 
Airplane aluminum tubing

Ok, I spoke to a guy i know out here. And he told me that if i cut the other three radial to match the broken one it would mess up the SWR's on the antenna. Now is this true? i thought you were able to set tha SWR's by adjusting the the vertical sections up or down, Right? Remember the piece i broke is 5/8s od and was 55inches long, ican.t tell the wall thickness (No MIC). He also told me the antenna would have a serial number on it somewhere and i can't find one anywhere. (Oh Boy what a joy)!!!!!
 
Up Date

Well the aircraft Spruce & Specialty Co. Had the tube i was looking for. I endded up buying two of them, 1 for back up incase i do something stupid again.Like break 1 more. Again, Thank's Guy's for all the help. That little antenna will be back in service soon for a long long time.
73s,Down an out for now.
Bandit169.
 
I dropped my joe gun star four and broke three of the main elements on the horz. Made a call to them and they wanted 17.99 each but offered a small discount. So I will one day do that.....

she explained the differences in length was in the tips not the main elements. all my tips streighted out real well......all the main elements are six feet.
went to the lowes and bought three sticks of ten ft. emt conduit. took a saw saw and cut one side about five inches vertically because the tips were too big....took a small hammer and tapped the tips in and they were real tight.....so tight I used no screws. bent the bends with a conduit bender and cut them at 72 " with receporcating saw.....
after three tunes....low swr everywhere....less than one.

how does it work.......just as good as it did........all I get is good reports.

I will do it right.....but right now i am talking.......

davis
 
Airplane tubing

The piece that i broke was an' outer radial piece. These are a little thinner then emt conduit tube. i also gave a piece of emt conduit tube to a buddy of mine two years ago. He did the same thing and used it for one main on his 8x8 cross Jogunn his tower had a bout with a wind storm. It is still up in the air today. I like the idea of the thick or thinness of the wall's. I am putting my 4x4 star up in two weeks still have to get the 2 inch pipe. I am going with 1 10ft piece 2' and reducing it to 1 1/2 down to the rotor. Along with repainting the tower. I think of more things to do now that it's down. Damn' i hate when i do this. Have a good one and congrats on the 4 star repair.
73's Down and out for now.
Bandit169nwind, Bandit169,CDX169.
 

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