FM Antenna

[tuberadios69]

I'm around 30 miles west of Boston and fortunate as there's a lot of good FM in the area in all directions. I just put this Stellar Labs up in the attic and did the mod where an element is added (ridiculously ez btw) .. anyway ... a huge improvement over my indoor dipole, band packed with stations, most at the far left where I live, fully quieted (NOT 'MBR which was what I was after, DOH!), I'll look into rotors in the near future. The Fisher pictured is a stop gap till I move the MAC4200 up there. Btw the 310e crushes whatever tuner Fisher put in the 400.
View attachment 2511096
View attachment 2511098

That looks great! I'd be interested in hearing more about how you accomplished the mod. Looks very well done from your picture!

 

[rmp]

Rocket,
I assume your mod to the Stellar follows the guidance at the Brian Beezley site. I'd like to see close-ups of the extension joint and the attachment of the new element.

 

[rocket_no9]

That looks great! I'd be interested in hearing more about how you accomplished the mod. Looks very well done from your picture!

Thank you, man. ham-radio.com gets all the credit. Sheesh, gentleman even included a link to exact material needed to accomplish mod! From 96" length you cut a 49 3/4" length needed for element itself, cut remaining length in half. Consult link for exact measurements but in general you're doubling up the two pieces that elongate boom 22" to support new element and then attaching element. You need a hacksaw, drill and (6) sheet metal screws. Keep in mind I've got antenna in the attic, protected from weather ... For a roof install a less lackadasical approach will surely be required.

http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/stellar.htm

edit .. rmp, seriously, I'd be embarrassed to post pics of extension joint ha. It's pretty obvious what's required once you've got antenna plus those three pieces together. I arranged angle-aluminum in such a way that they created half a square and let original boom nest within. I placed element on top of new boom kinda' completing "square", thereby keeping new element on same plane as existing ones. Again, since antenna's not on the roof I banged it out pretty quick.

 

[tuberadios69]

Thank you, man. ham-radio.com gets all the credit. Sheesh, gentleman even included a link to exact material needed to accomplish mod! From 96" length you cut a 49 3/4" length needed for element itself, cut remaining length in half. Consult link for exact measurements but in general you're doubling up the two pieces that elongate boom 22" to support new element and then attaching element. You need a hacksaw, drill and (6) sheet metal screws. Keep in mind I've got antenna in the attic, protected from weather ... For a roof install a less lackadasical approach will surely be required.

http://ham-radio.com/k6sti/stellar.htm

edit .. rmp, seriously, I'd be embarrassed to post pics of extension joint ha. It's pretty obvious what's required once you've got antenna plus those three pieces together. I arranged angle-aluminum in such a way that they created half a square and let original boom nest within. I placed element on top of new boom kinda' completing "square", thereby keeping new element on same plane as existing ones. Again, since antenna's not on the roof I banged it out pretty quick.

How did you insulate the new element from the new boom section? I'm assuming the element isn't supposed to touch or ground to the boom. Correct?

 

[rocket_no9]

That's a good Q so I googled something like "insulating elements from boom on yagi antenna" .. apparently, if antenna design calls for it, elements do not need to be isolated and in olde ham talk is referred to as "plumber's delight" . Also, insulating element is not mentioned in instructions via ham-radio.com.

 

[Pio1980]

That's a good Q so I googled something like "insulating elements from boom on yagi antenna" .. apparently, if antenna design calls for it, elements do not need to be isolated and in olde ham talk is referred to as "plumber's delight" . Also, insulating element is not mentioned in instructions via ham-radio.com.

Essentially floating dipoles with neutral centers that can be attached without effect.

 

[Catmanboo]

What's the best indoor antenna? I'm not getting on that steep pitch metal roof of mine, and I don't want to run wires and coax all over the house. Most of my stations are 30 to 80 miles away. I am guessing that the answer is ' you are **** out of luck '

If you put any antennas in attic, expect shiite results under the metal roof, especially if it happens to be grounded somewhere.