thevikester Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 (edited) Bought an antenna, but unsure where I should start my measurement to determine antenna length. Is it the top line or the bottom line. Pls excuse my MS Paintbrush capabilities, dealing with nerve damage so everything is with my weak hand. Edited March 25, 2013 by thevikester Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevikester Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Picture won't upload, not sure why...I will post a link instead. The antenna has a 2 inch hex collar that the antenna slides up and down, and want to know if I should measure from the top of that collar or bottom. http://www.fmdxantenna.com/proddetail.php?prod=14tun#.UGebj7e9Kc0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I presume that I was looking at the right picture. Yours is the one with the 4 drooping wires and one going straight up? If so, great antenna type. Just one problem. No two antenna installations are the same. But you are using low power so it wont matter. But to really install and tune an antenna properly, one would use a SWR meter. Telling you to cut it at a certain length is hogwash. Good for course tuning, but not fine tuning. To answer your question. Measure from the plate that all of the elements are mounted to. P.S. I used to use a SO-239 socket and solder wires directly to it and trim it for 146Mhz. Tie a string to the vertical wire and a push pin to mount it from my apartment ceiling. Great cheap little antenna. De KF0OX but then it was N5HHV and wife was N5HHU Da dit Dah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevikester Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 MP, you had the right picture, there is a little allenwrench set screw to slide the vertical antenna up and down, so no cutting involved, so based on your answer, i'm going to go with the base of the collar for my starting point. I don't have a SWR meter, but I can do the course tuning to start, and then make adjustments accordingly. Thanks for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 your welcome good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevikester Posted April 2, 2013 Author Share Posted April 2, 2013 1 more question if I may, If I am using PVC for my pole, does it matter if I run the coax on the inside vs the outside? I just set it up this weekend, 10 foot pole, in the yard, to test the clarity, and have that part ironed out, and that antenna design made a nice difference. My plan is to attach the PVC pole with brackets up the side of my house above the initial roof line several feet, and want it to be as clean as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viennaxmas Posted April 2, 2013 Share Posted April 2, 2013 It should not matter at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thevikester Posted April 3, 2013 Author Share Posted April 3, 2013 Cool....thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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