[ARDF] One difference between 2m and 80m courses...

[Joe]

If you're looking for just the rod for the elements, go to a farm supply store.

There they have fiberglass rods,, that are ohh about 5/16" or so. and about 4 feet
long.

They are made for temporary electric fences. one end is pointy so it can be stuck in
the ground!

and very cheap..like a buck each or so.

By the way,, can you send me the spec's of the beams you may design using these?

I'm always looking for new portable antennas.

Joe     WB9SBD

Charlesscharlau at aol.com wrote:

> I've built maybe a dozen of the tape measure beams following WB2HOL's design.
> See <http://home.att.net/%7Ejleggio/projects/rdf/rdf.htm>. Every one of them
> has worked as advertised. They have an excellent F/B ratio, essentially no
> side or back lobes, and are an all-around good ARDF antenna.
>
> It isn't quite true that they are indestructible. For instance, at the Region
> 2 Championships in Ohio last month, the director element on my tape measure
> beam cracked halfway through the 2m course. It wasn't a big deal, however,
> because even a 2-element version (reflector + driven element) works well enough.
>
> I am working on a different design: an antenna that uses three elements and
> spacing similar to the WB2HOL design, but instead of tape measure it will use
> fiberglass rods covered in coax braid, and then covered by a tough heat shrink
> tubing. This, I believe, is similar the design used by several members of the
> Australian ARDF team. I think the fiberglass + braid will prove to be even
> more durable than the steel tape measure, and will be less affected by wind
> (which often causes the tape measure to flutter).
>
> Right now I'm looking for a good source of thin fiberglass rod. I find lots
> of manufacturers on the web, but few distributors/retailers. Anyone know of any
> sources?
>
> Happy Hunting,
> Charles
> NZ0I
>
> In a message dated 9/20/2003 9:12:12 AM Eastern Standard Time, nss at mwt.net
> writes:
>
> > Subj: Re: [ARDF] One difference between 2m and 80m courses...
> >  Date: 9/20/2003 9:12:12 AM Eastern Standard Time
> >  From: <A HREF="mailto:nss at mwt.net">nss at mwt.net</A>
> >  To: <A HREF="mailto:aa9yh at hotmail.com">aa9yh at hotmail.com</A>
> >  CC: <A HREF="mailto:ardf at kkn.net">ardf at kkn.net</A>
> >  Sent from the Internet
> >
> >
> >
> > I have yet to try one of those tape measure yagis.
> >
> > They seem to be an excellent cure to that "Bushwhacking" problem because you
> > need not fear the breaking (or even bending) of elements.
> > Who here uses them and what size?  I've seen two, three, and four element
> > versions.
> >
> > And most importantly, what dod you think of them?
> >
> > Joe WB9SBD
> >
> > Matthew Robbins wrote:
> >
> > >I'm designing courses for my ARDF event next week, and one of the big
> > >differences between 2m and 80m struck me:
> > >
> > >On 80m, you're carrying this little box, so it's much easier to plow
> > through
> > >yagi-eating fight.
> > >
> > >And that increases the options for the course designer.
> > >
> > >Sweet.
> > >
> > >[Ken and Jen: Do you have a photo of Jen's Yagi after Ft Ancient?]
> > >
> > >[Oh.  Just joking about the course designing.  It's going to be fun.]
> > >
> > >Matthew
> > >AA9YH
> > >Cincinnati, Ohio
> > >
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