How To Build A 2 Meter Vertical Antenna?

I needed to change my old 2 Meter 1/4 wave vertical antenna for the 146 mHz. amateur radio band. The old one had lost its radials as well as I wasn't able to strike the numerous amateur radio repeaters around. So being one that likes to construct antennas, below is what I developed. The picture below programs the products you will certainly need to develop a 2 meter 1/4 wave vertical antenna for the 146 mHz. amateur radio band.

Below is the checklist of components required to construct a 2 meter vertical antenna:

• 3/4 ″ PVC pipe-- Length to suit
• 3/4 ″ adapter 8xMPT
• 3/4 ″ THD Dome Cap
• SO-239 port
• 6ft. 14 GA Romex cable
• qty. 4 4-40 stainless screws
• qty 8 4-40 stainless nuts
• 50 ohm coax Length to match

An inexpensive and also easily offered way to get 14 ga. copper wire is to go to the equipment store and get some Romex cable. The first thing to do is to remove the copper cord out of the Romex cable sheath, after that you will certainly see a bare cord, a black and white cable. then strip off the insulation from the black and white cables also. When you are ended up, you should have 3 bare copper cables 6 ft. in size. 12 GA. cable may have most likely been much better, as it is bigger as well as stiffer, however I utilized what I carried hand. Cut 5 pieces of cable, each 22 in. long.

I then corrected each cord as ideal I could, yet they still weren't right. So I laid a piece of timber on the floor a bit longer than the cables, laid one wire on the board, and also placed an additional board in addition to the wire. Then I depended on the board as well as rolled the cable between the boards. This made them quite right with no of those bothersome little twists in the cord.

Next, I took the 3/4 ″ THD Dome Cap and drilled a 5/8 ″ hole with it. I began with a 5/32 ″ drill as a pilot opening, then finished off with a 5/8 ″ speedbor spade bit.When you are done, it needs to look like the picture left wing.

Then I took 4 items of the copper cable, which will certainly be utilized for the antenna's radials, and also bent a little hook in one end, and afterwards moved one 4-40 screw in the hook of the cable after that kinky down the cable around the screw as seen in this picture.

Take the wire/ screw assembly you just made, and placed the screw into a corner of the SO-239 connector. Do this each of the corners of the SO-239 connector. When completed, it ought to appear like the photo listed below. Make certain the cords are protruding perpendicular to the facility of the SO-239 port, like in the photo below.

Following you will need to solder the upright element of the 2 meter antenna A valuable tool for this is what is referred to as a 3rd Hand, or a helping hand. I think you can obtain them on Amazon. If you do not have one, I suggest you obtain one. They are really practical when you are doing such points as soldering.

After you are done soldering, your adapter for your 2 meter antenna need to resemble this:

After that glide the coax via the other end of the pipeline and also with the adapter. I was making use of RG-8U coax on my 2 meter antenna, I suggest you do the very same. After that take the 3/4 ″ THD Dome Cap as well as slide on the end of the SO-239 adapter, and also link the coax to the antenna like in the picture listed below:

As you can see, since I used a screw kind PVC adapter, it is very easy to take it back apart to service the antenna if requirement be.

After the 2 meter vertical antenna is put together, flex the radials down 45 levels. Currently its time to cut it into the 2 meter amateur radio band. To do this, I used my workmate to hold the antenna in position. For me, I intended to tune the antenna for the center of the 2 meter band. Generally there suffices transmission capacity for the antenna to cover almost the whole 2 meter band.

To calculate the size of the antenna's upright component, utilize the adhering to formula:

Size (in.) = 2808/ F.

Where F= 146 mHz.

If you want your 2 meter antenna to resonate at a various frequency, after that make use of the above formula accordingly. For me the length I desire is 19.25 ″ so I make the vertical component a bit much longer. This enables me to tune it in with an SWR bridge.

For the radials, you desire them to be 5% longer than the vertical component, so for me, they would be 20.25 in. So I cut mine to 20.5 in. and afterwards took a pair of pliers and put a little hook on completion of each radial. This will offer some eye protection if a person obtains struck in the eye. (very little though! so beware!!).

When your 2 meter upright antenna is tuned, it requires to be weather sealed with silicone sealant. Don't be reluctant regarding placing it on. In this situation, more is better! Make certain it covers the upright component at the solder joint and all over the top of the SO-239 adapter, along with the screws that hold the radials on. Likewise make sure the bottom of the SO-239 port and also the PVC pipe satisfy is totally sealed too.

I am very pleased with the results of my brand-new 2 meter vertical antenna. I can currently conveniently hit several of the regional 2 meter amateur repeaters in the location.