Homemade dipole antennas for 2.4ghz

[Matts175]

Was looking over this post because I wanted to check out the repair I did to my broken dipole. When I got the complete opposite results, not only on the repaired one but also on all my other dipoles. They all had continuity at all points checked, no zero ohms. Come to realize the dipole you made was a "simple dipole" and the one we started talking about in the other thread (the $50 one) was a Bazooka dipole antenna. Wired completely differently, something like this.

Ahh. I see. This is how the "Birdside version 2" are wired up also. It is also known as a "folded dipole". Thanks for sharing.

 

[shanek]

Great work. My cable will be here tomorrow and I have Tuesday off work, so you know what I'll be doing. LOL

I wanted to do a "before" test tonight, out over the lake..... but it's crazy foggy here today. I just drove home 3 miles and you couldn't even see 20 feet in front of the truck. Very unusual for my area.

Anybody know if it would be ok to continue making dipoles like this.
The cable has no jacket but the outer shield is like a solid tube that i can solder to. Would make for far more accurate construction.
Does the outer shield need to have a jacket and would it cause any problems not having one.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Matts175]

Yes, they will work fine like that.

 

[shanek]

Yes, they will work fine like that.

Thanks for confirming that pal.

A **** up with the post had me waiting 3 months for the cables. I ordered when this thread was active and they just arrived today and guess what, murphys law,chinaRF put replacements in the post... TODAY.
Not even sure if i want to install them now

 

[Matts175]

Wow. 3 months? Crazy. Sorry that that happened. I'd be upset too.

 

[N017RW]

Anybody know if it would be ok to continue making dipoles like this.
The cable has no jacket but the outer shield is like a solid tube that i can solder to. Would make for far more accurate construction.
Does the outer shield need to have a jacket and would it cause any problems not having one.

Thanks in advance.View attachment 81577View attachment 81578

Agree it's fine. In fact we often go beyond and use rigid coax for constructing our reference antennas.
The only risk, in rare cases, is shorting to other circuits in some applications due to the lack of external insulation.

 

[shanek]

Agree it's fine. In fact we often go beyond and use rigid coax for constructing our reference antennas.
The only risk, in rare cases, is shorting to other circuits in some applications due to the lack of external insulation.

Sorry to keep reviving an old thread but i need more info. I quoted you no17rw in the hope youll reply.
Is there a maximum thickness i can make the shield of my dipoles/will thicker shields reduce effectivness?

The first ones i made are quite flimsey,a piece of cable tie heatshrinked along the antennas to keep them in line, so i made more a more sturdy set,
Hot glued antenna to cable tie then larger,thicker heatshrink and when heated the glue and heatshrink kinda combined to give a solid shield around the antenna.
Do you see any issues with this regarding penetration?

Thanks for any replies

 

[N017RW]

Sorry to keep reviving an old thread but i need more info. I quoted you no17rw in the hope youll reply.
Is there a maximum thickness i can make the shield of my dipoles/will thicker shields reduce effectivness?

The first ones i made are quite flimsey,a piece of cable tie heatshrinked along the antennas to keep them in line, so i made more a more sturdy set,
Hot glued antenna to cable tie then larger,thicker heatshrink and when heated the glue and heatshrink kinda combined to give a solid shield around the antenna.
Do you see any issues with this regarding penetration?

Thanks for any replies

So long as the materials are non-metallic it's not a problem. Anything can be overdone but this should be fine.

 

[shanek]

Thanks for that,quick n all.
I mounted differently than drilling.

 

[N017RW]

Thanks for that,quick n all.
I mounted differently than drilling.

Looks nice. Good luck!

 

[Matts175]

Lookin' good.

 

[shanek]

Lookin' good.

Thanks Matt. Im not goint to do birdside v2, i quite like the way i have it now. Im a bit behind the times huh, lol

 

[G Tek Fab]

One year old BUMP! Matt are you still making these?

 

[Matts175]

One year old BUMP! Matt are you still making these?

I'm not. Shortly after this, I determined that PRO antennas work on the standard... and IMO work better than my homemade ones.

Full details are here: Birdside antenna mod version 2.0.

 

[G Tek Fab]

I'm not. Shortly after this, I determined that PRO antennas work on the standard... and IMO work better than my homemade ones.

Full details are here: Birdside antenna mod version 2.0.

I’m on it! Can’t go wrong for a buck!

Thanks for gettin back, hope all is well.