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Thanks. Top tube of the vertical is 0.5" diameter and I started out with a tip in the end that was tapering down to a 0.125" radius. After first testing I wondered if this was part of the problem and made the tip taper down to a radius of about 0.0625". I'll make up another at 0.25" and see what that does. Not having any plugs or coax cable here, I thought getting a shop to make that up would be the best option and so I just have used what I was given. I will source some solder plugs and remake the ends with those.

All the steel support bits are zinc plated and then painted black and all the alloy antenna bits are black anodised. (some products I make are finished this way, so getting the antenna parts done was not an issue). All the fixings on the antenna are stainless and where the coax attaches inside I have made brass lugs and soldered the cable to them. I checked continuity as I assembled it to make sure I was getting good connections etc. Apart from the coax cable and a few SS grub screws, it hasn't cost me anything to build, just my time.

Thanks for all the advice you guys have given on this.

FNH

EDIT>>

Just a comment on the cross section sketch I posted. I have noticed I have drawn it slightly wrong last night. The hole in the steel flange is slightly smaller, than the hole in the alloy base that sits above it. Also the plastic insulator cup is longer and extends down and sits on the flange. This shouldn't make any difference to the problem I am having, but just shows the parts fit together better and are better supported.

<blockquote data-quote="FNH" data-source="post: 443651" data-attributes="member: 37680">Thanks. Top tube of the vertical is 0.5&quot; diameter and I started out with a tip in the end that was tapering down to a 0.125&quot; radius. After first testing I wondered if this was part of the problem and made the tip taper down to a radius of about 0.0625&quot;. I&#039;ll make up another at 0.25&quot; and see what that does. Not having any plugs or coax cable here, I thought getting a shop to make that up would be the best option and so I just have used what I was given. I will source some solder plugs and remake the ends with those.All the steel support bits are zinc plated and then painted black and all the alloy antenna bits are black anodised. (some products I make are finished this way, so getting the antenna parts done was not an issue). All the fixings on the antenna are stainless and where the coax attaches inside I have made brass lugs and soldered the cable to them. I checked continuity as I assembled it to make sure I was getting good connections etc. Apart from the coax cable and a few SS grub screws, it hasn&#039;t cost me anything to build, just my time.Thanks for all the advice you guys have given on this.FNHEDIT&gt;&gt;Just a comment on the cross section sketch I posted. I have noticed I have drawn it slightly wrong last night. The hole in the steel flange is slightly smaller, than the hole in the alloy base that sits above it. Also the plastic insulator cup is longer and extends down and sits on the flange. This shouldn&#039;t make any difference to the problem I am having, but just shows the parts fit together better and are better supported.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="FNH, post: 443651, member: 37680"] Thanks. Top tube of the vertical is 0.5" diameter and I started out with a tip in the end that was tapering down to a 0.125" radius. After first testing I wondered if this was part of the problem and made the tip taper down to a radius of about 0.0625". I'll make up another at 0.25" and see what that does. Not having any plugs or coax cable here, I thought getting a shop to make that up would be the best option and so I just have used what I was given. I will source some solder plugs and remake the ends with those. All the steel support bits are zinc plated and then painted black and all the alloy antenna bits are black anodised. (some products I make are finished this way, so getting the antenna parts done was not an issue). All the fixings on the antenna are stainless and where the coax attaches inside I have made brass lugs and soldered the cable to them. I checked continuity as I assembled it to make sure I was getting good connections etc. Apart from the coax cable and a few SS grub screws, it hasn't cost me anything to build, just my time. Thanks for all the advice you guys have given on this. FNH EDIT>> Just a comment on the cross section sketch I posted. I have noticed I have drawn it slightly wrong last night. The hole in the steel flange is slightly smaller, than the hole in the alloy base that sits above it. Also the plastic insulator cup is longer and extends down and sits on the flange. This shouldn't make any difference to the problem I am having, but just shows the parts fit together better and are better supported. [/QUOTE]

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