• You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
  • Click here to find out how to win free radios from Retevis!

HOMEBREW ANTENNA

rockenranger

W9WDX Amateur Radio Club Member
Dec 17, 2011
104
3
28
51
Where is a good place to buy antenna whips. I am wanting to make me a 2 meter mobile antenna. I have looked for some whips but im not haveing any luck finding any i need them to be min 38.5" or longer anyone know where to get them. i have tried running adds for old cb antennas but no luck. thanks
 

for the money I would just get a cheap 2m, 5/8 magmount, they can be had coax and all new for less than $30

or if you are hell bent on making something then get a magmount CB antenna with a whip on top, like the lil' wil' and open it up make it direct feed (remove any coils and the like) then cut the whip to around 19.5", check the SWR and adjust from there

if you want to go hard mount use a 102" whip and cut it down to 19.5", OR cut it down to 5/8 wave and build a proper matching section for it.
 
Google 48" Stainless Steel Whip Antenna and you'll find several sources.

The standard lengths for most whips are 24", 36", 48", 56", and 62", plus the 102" CB whip. Some come as straight whips, others are available as tapered whips. It seems the 48" lengths come either way.

73,
Mike
 
If the SWR on a homebrew (or any antenna) is 1.3 or less, does the use of an antenna tuner (manual or auto) further enhance performance?
 
You won't see any difference in performance at all if the SWR is that low. I would keep the tuner out of line in that case just to avoid losses which would be minimal in any event.
 
You won't see any difference in performance at all if the SWR is that low. I would keep the tuner out of line in that case just to avoid losses which would be minimal in any event.


Thanks, Capt. That's kinda what I was thinking but wasn't for sure.
 

dxChat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
  • dxBot:
    Greg T has left the room.
  • @ BJ radionut:
    EVAN/Crawdad :love: ...runna pile-up on 6m SSB(y) W4AXW in the air
    +1
  • @ Crawdad:
    One of the few times my tiny station gets heard on 6m!:D
  • @ Galanary:
    anyone out here familiar with the Icom IC-7300 mods