Ground plane antenna welding rod. Basically, just about every antenna is a dipole.

Ground plane antenna welding rod When radio waves are transmitted or received by an antenna, they interact with the surrounding environment Materials: Quantity of 5 brazing rod 3/32” diameter approximately 20” in length. Aug 23, 2025 · A ground plane antenna uses a vertical element and conductive radials, creating an efficient, omnidirectional signal. Simple Ground Plane Antennas for 2 Meters, 1. Nice work on the antenna. First off you’ll notice the radiating element. Jan 20, 2021 · Good Morning O-B-1. Basically, just about every antenna is a dipole. Fig 25—Simple ground-plane antenna for the 144, 222 and 440-MHz bands. you are mounting the antenna on a roof) then you will need to look at I've used the NMO mount on my truck for two antennas for about 6 years now and it's a solid design. If a separate ground rod is used, it must be connected to the GES with a minimum 6 AWG copper conductor. Jul 24, 2021 · If you use solid 12 or 14 AWG electrical wire like that one I showed you can work it to be straight-ish but for more permanent antennas you might experiment with welding filler rod, coat hangers, metal rods you find at a hardware or hobby shop. Prefabricated ground mesh from nVent ERICO is a convenient, efficient and economical means of improving grounding systems at facilities with high voltage installations and wherever large area grounds are required. Nov 29, 2015 · Experimenting With 6 Meter Ground Plane AntennasThe inductive near field is much larger, which can create coupling to household wiring. Antenna Ground Plane: theory & design Using an antenna ground plane can enable a simulated ground to be made and allow the antenna to be mounted above ground. The radiation pattern is limited to above the ground plane of the antenna. May 29, 2017 · My concern is that the galvanized steel mesh presents greater resistance than would copper wire radials. Common types of monopole antenna are the whip, rubber ducky, umbrella, inverted-L and T-antenna, inverted-F, folded unipole antenna, mast radiator, and ground plane antennas. Aug 10, 2023 · The ground plane is a critical component in antenna design. Use clamps to secure the wire to the rods, ensuring a tight connection. vertical radiator element, and 4 20. If ground conductivity is fair to good, a short metal stake or rod may provide a sufficiently good ground connection for resonant and low SWR The vertical element and radials are 3/32 or 1/16-inch brass welding rod. Although 3 /32-in. Why Is It Necessary to Ground a TV Antenna? Nov 6, 2020 · This is a simple 2 meter/70 centimeter dual band ground plane antenna. 1/16” diameter would also work, but it was not available at the time I was purchasing Oct 3, 2014 · A scanner ground plane antenna can be made from coat hanger wire or welding rod, or even small pipe. The most common type is a quarter-wave monopole where the antenna is approximately 1/4 of wavelength of radio waves. The seller Portable Ground Rod with 5. The horizontal radials of a ground plane are connected to the braid of your coax and provide the "other side" of your dipole. The MKII version of the ground plane was not published when I put this together but I think I would not have needed the base cap. They tuned up quite nice. Run an additional length of copper wire in a circle around the tower connecting it to each ground rod. Keep reading because this article explains the fundamentals of antenna grounding. Conversely, the ground plane is a metal sheet or radials installed beneath the antenna. Technical: Thebasic "J" is reported to have >3dB of gain over a l ground plane antenna and 6dB over an isotropic (theoretical)antenna. 17 (If you can't find aluminum rod or wire or welding rods, try metal coat hangers - they work too. One way to think about a ground plane is that it acts as a “mirror” for the active vertical element. A closeup of the inner end of a radial. Of all simple vertical antennas over ground, the 5/8 wave radiator has the lowest angle of radiation, however the base of the 5/8 antenna presents a relatively low impedance, not the high impedance offered by the 1⁄4 wave stub. If this type of mount is not suitable, (i. Love the low profile nature of the GMRS version. Antenna 1/8" welding rod or heavy wire Wire to a good ground Fig. With a bit of beefing up, it would make an excellent starter antenna for just about anyone on a shoe string budget! Got some old For a good ground, its a good idea to bond ground rods with exothermic welding. 6 GUYING Manufacturers' instructions for guying should be followed. The antenna will not even know it exists. 2. It is ideal for Technician class hams needing a "first" antenna, and also a very good "emergency" antenna for use during Skywarn events when you don't want to be on the sky hooks tall in the sky! Mar 30, 2022 · These antennas have appeared in numerous publications over the years, including the ARRL Antenna Book, and are only limited by your imagination as to their potential uses. <br /> The 222-MHz version, Fig 31, uses a slightly different<br /> I know most instructions call for brass welding rods or even stainless rods, or copper, but what about silicon bronze welding rods? Anyone tried that? The wire clamp is a special fitting intended to fasten the ground wire from the receiver, transmitter or antenna to the ground rod. Wire ground plane antenna for 20m, using materials from a portable dipole kit. Ground planes are typically made of copper or aluminum, and they are often located on the bottom of printed circuit boards (PCBs). Jan 12, 2009 · The better alternative is to use some brass brazing rod- any Home Depot or hardware store should stock it in the welding supplies section. May 26, 2024 · Am I correct in my thought process that ground plane antennas are ones mounted directly to a vehicle hood/ roof and said vehicle doesn't need to be metal but the plane refers to the horizontal surface the RF is designed to spread out horizontally along? Whereas a non ground plane antenna is one u Here are some answers. the attachments are made from the inserts The vertical element and radials are 3/32 or 1/16-inch brass welding rod. 385mhz. 4Ghz WiFi yagis- solders like a treat and weathers well too. Mar 9, 2017 · This is a stupid suggestion, as it will try to refashion a 1/4-wave ground plane antenna into a 1/2-wave dipole. If you have 3 or 4 radials, the pattern Mar 3, 2017 · For most mast mounted antennas with adequate decoupling, the addition of 0000 welding cable attaching to a dozen ground rods below will have zero effect on performance. I could see The Glendora Emergency Response Communications (GERC) has a demonstrated need for portable and easily deployable VHF and UHF antennas for use in emergencies with low power HT transceivers (5 watts) and mobile radios (10 watts). 37 dBi (2m) and 7. This antenna needs a ground plane, and the easiest way to get a ground plane in an ultralight or that class of airplane is to use worm clamps to attach the mounting bracket to the largest assemblage of metal sheet or tubing on the airplane. The stainless rods can be a bear to cut but they make a very stout antenna. Where guy lines are non-metallic, such as plastic rope, and not enough rope is supplied for an unusual installation, the guys may be ex- tended with wire broken by means of insulators. This photo shows the parts of the antenna before assembly. When the antenna is mounted close to the ground, the earth below takes the place of the "missing" half of the dipole. Then, at the Rochester Hamfest (at RIT in 2013 I think), I ran across an old Radio Shack scanner antenna (Model 20-176, thanks to W3OAB for identifying it after I bought it). Generally it consists of a quarter wave vertical radiator connected to the center of the coax feeder, and 4 radials, often sloping downwards, that are also about a quarter wave long. They are easy to build, often using a chassis-mount coax connector. It plays a crucial role in optimizing the reception of radio waves, ensuring efficient radiation and minimizing reflection. fun project to build and learn how to tune antennas is a 1⁄4 wave ground plane antenna using an SO239 connector; 12 gage solid copper wire or 36“ brass or aluminum brazing rods ,4 each 10-12 gage automotive buss eyelet connectors. . Jun 24, 2020 · A Covid-19 Dual Band 2m/70cm Antenna for $9 5. Did you use welding rods for yours? When I was tuning my antennas I used a NanaVNA to help me visualize the effects on SWR & Impedance. I do not exactly have copper welding tools on hand, so, I just build the antenna using metal rods from garden supplies store. Ground-plane Antennas for 144, 222, 449 MHz ARRL Antenna Book, 18th Edition, pp. 25 Meters and 70 centimeters Radiator. Jul 29, 2024 · The ground plane provides for return currents to the antenna and is an integral part of the vehicle antenna circuit. A ground rod will help a little, but the RF resistance will be high, resulting in quite a bit of loss. Dec 1, 2022 · The simple answer is “no,” all antennas will have a ground plane somewhere, even if it is not on the PCB. are 3 /32- or 1 /16-in. The elements are made from 1/8th inch "copper coated steel" welding/brazing rods. Ground plane antennas are easy to recognize by their appearance. Jan 31, 2025 · Ham radio expert Ward Silver N0AX explains how to manage RF in your amateur radio station with the careful use of ground planes. Home » Antennas & Propagation » this page Antenna Grounding Includes: How to ground an antenna Antenna RF ground Antenna ground plane Knowing how to ground or earth an antenna system can be a key factor in the operation of some antennas. The antenna ground or earth system can be key to its operation whilst also being a key safety feature. In electrical engineering, a ground plane is an electrically conductive surface, usually connected to electrical ground. I used standard welding-rod which solders very easily. With a bit of beefing up, it would make an excellent starter antenna for just about anyone on a shoe string budget! Got some old The vertical element and radials are 3/32 or 1/16-inch brass welding rod. I've designed and built a number of base antennas over the years, but most have required a ground plane. At the same time though, I could lay down a lot of metal on my ground plane at no cost. A monopole antenna is half of a dipole antenna on top of a conducting ground plane. Excellent for local repeater work, APRS, Field Day, Emergency deployment, Stealth installs, the list goes on. For the radiator cut the welding rod about 1” longer for the desired frequency You only need 2 welding rods for the four radials Multiply the radial size for the desired frequency by 2 and add 3” to it and cut two rods to size Use some sandpaper and clean up a 1” section in the middle of the two radial rods on both rods ground-plane constructed using only an SO-239 connector, #4-40 hardware and 1/16-inch brass welding rod. 1/16” diameter would also work, but it was not available at the time I was purchasing The vertical element and radials are 3/32 or 1/16-inch brass welding rod. Does anyone have any good resources for antenna designs that don't require a big, flat ground plane? I wonder if on the JPC-12 antenna instead of using the ribbon wire as a ground plane I could just use a grounding rod? Think it would work okay? The vertical monopole is an omnidirectional antenna with a low gain of 2 - 5 dBi, and radiates most of its power in horizontal directions or low elevation angles. Apr 8, 2012 · The first antenna that you should consider building is the quarter-wave ground-plane antenna for the 2m band. 25-in. elements to form the ground plane, as shown in Figure 3. The element are brass welding rod from Harbor Freight Tools. 25 Meters, 70 centimeters and NOAA weather frequencies Aug 21, 2018 · That’s the the 1/4 wave ground plane antenna. If you build and position a quarter-wave ground plane correctly, it can match a vertical dipole’s performance, but it’s way simpler to Materials: Quantity of 5 brazing rod 3/32” diameter approximately 20” in length. A properly designed and implemented ground plane enhances the performance and efficiency of an antenna. A separate ground rod is not required, and is not recommended. I made all the radials as well as the verticals elements slightly longer than the original. Simple 2 Meter Ground Plane Antenna Project With PVC Support by KC0YNR, Malcolm Here is a very simple 2 Meter Ground Plane project that can be used as an emergency antenna, in limited space, for quick and easy setup on field day, camping, or just plain outdoor fun. 18-16 to 18. A Quick and Simple 2 Meter Ground Plane Project! If you are just getting experience in building antennas or you are an old pro, here is a simple and fun project! This antenna is perfect for those hams living in the primary coverage area of the repeater for 2 meter use. More I was worried about the strength of the connection of the welding rod to the center conductor of the SO-239 flanged connector until the friendly gentleman at the hardware store showed me a small device called a 1/4" brass insert from the plumbing aisle. Finish by covering the entire center pin and insulator area on the "top" of the SO-239 with Clear Silicone Caulk. Available from American Welding and Gas (AW&G) in Kalispell. brass welding rod. The ground for the mast should be as direct and short as possible, with minimal bends, using a minimum of 10 AWG copper wire (or 17 AWG copper-clad steel or bronze wire). Without proper grounding, aviation communications become unreliable, potentially compromising flight safety. Jul 19, 2012 · Here I modified an old Radio Shack ground-plane VHF/UHF scanner antenna for better reception on GMRS UHF frequencies (467. The antennas should be easy to assemble, pre-tuned to Emcomm frequencies, and available to all GERC members at a reasonable price. Used it to make some 2. And here, I will teach you how to ground a TV antenna properly. For ground plane antennas made using rigid aluminum or copper tubing, the vertical portion can be mounted by sliding the tubing over an insulated rod, or putting an insulated tubing or pipe beween it and the mounting brackets. The radials act as a simulated ground, so the antenna can perform surprisingly well even when it’s not sitting right on the earth. The 222-MHz version, Fig24, uses a slightly different technique for mounting and sloping the radials. All the soldering is done. The center of your coax goes to the "driven side" or the "hot side", whatever you want to call it. Today we’re going to build a simple ground plane for the VHF 2 meter band. The bottom is a mount for a 3/4′ PVC pipe and the top pieces (4) are used to steady the radiator and support the ground elements. 33-34 Need a better antenna for your hand-held radio? Here's the answer. 1ft 12AWG UL Listed Grounding Wire with Crocodile Clip,Great for Electric Fences,Antennas,Generator,Ground Post Pin (Grounding Rod with 5. If you only have one radial, your antenna will be directional along the radial. They are very easy to build and will perform better than the antennas that come with most handhelds. The NA4IT "CHEAP" Dual Band Ground Plane Antenna Here is a neat little antenna that is very easy and cheap to build. Oct 3, 2014 · In the case of an end fed vertical antenna the RF ground "plane" is a number of radial wires stretched out from the base of the antenna. It is ideal for Technician class hams needing a "first" antenna, and also a very good "emergency" antenna for use during Skywarn events when you don't want to be on the sky hooks tall in the sky! A Quick and Simple 2 Meter Ground Plane Project! If you are just getting experience in building antennas or you are an old pro, here is a simple and fun project! This antenna is perfect for those hams living in the primary coverage area of the repeater for 2 meter use. Here's one: A simple ground- plane antenna you can build—for 146, 223 or 440 MHz—in no time flat. The ground plane antenna consists of a radiating element (typically a single wire or rod) and multiple radials extending downwards. GROUND MOUNTING A vertical antenna in its simplest form, is electrically equivalent to one-half of a dipole antenna stood on end. It features wire-end loops for safety (sharp, straight wires are hazardous) and convenience (its top loop lets you hang it off high objects for best performance). Wire mesh is also an A ground plane antenna is a quarter-wave vertical whip antenna with several rods extending horizontally, or slanting down slightly, from base of the whip to form a portable ground plane that is fixed to the bottom end of the whip part of the antenna (hence the name). [1] The term has two different meanings in separate areas of electrical engineering. e. The overall design is simple, with a vertical element surrounded by a ground plane consisting of two or four wires bent down. <br /> antenna is made of #12 copper wire soldered directly to<br /> the center pin of the SO-239 connector. rod<br /> is preferred for the 144-MHz antenna, #10 or #12<br /> copper wire can also be used. 1ft Wire) 200+ bought in past month Add to cart The Quarter Wave Ground Plane is a very common, simple, and effective antenna. Since the end fed wire is in the air it still can benefit from an RF ground "plane" underneath the antenna. It is ideal for Technician class hams needing a "first" antenna, and also a very good "emergency" antenna for use during Skywarn events when you don't want to be on the sky hooks tall in the sky! Feb 26, 2022 · Building a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna is very easy to do. I personally tested the Antron 99 Ground Plane Kit and was blown away by its performance. A ground plane serves as the essential counterbalance to an aircraft antenna’s radiating element, creating the electrical foundation needed for proper radio frequency (RF) signal propagation. A quick search on the internet yielded that basic dimensions AI4JI's website for a 220 Mhz antenna and I began work. Doing so eliminates corrosion and high resistance at the bonding point . The "J" can be made from almost any material: copper pipe, steelwhips, and even 300 ohm TV twin-lead. Technically, the "J"antenna is an end-fed l l. xxxmhz) as well as monitoring my counties local fire department which is 151. The rods are buried in the ground, and the antenna connects through a wire. If your antenna is much shorter than ¼ wavelength, you'll need many, many radials to get reasonable efficiency. Upgrade your CB antenna with this durable and reliable kit today! Mar 10, 2025 · Get some expert ground plane advice for mounting your ham radio antenna to your car or truck for mobile operation. The entire antenna consists of a panel mount SO-239, some stiff wire (like aluminum welding wire, brazing rod, 12 GA bare copper wire, electric fence wire, etc) or thin brass tubing, some solder, and four 4-40 3/8" long screws, washers, and nuts Cut the wires to length in accordance with the chart provided for the band you want. The vertical element and radials are 3/32 or 1/16-inch brass welding rod. If you are mounting the antenna on a mirror arm, or on a bar with enough space underneath, use a 'Ground Plane Kit. The clamp is a collar that goes around the ground rod, and has a set screw on one side. In actuality, theconductor is l l. Welding rods make great elements, especially brass or stainless in the 1/16" to 1/8" range. In antenna theory, a ground plane is a conducting surface The vertical element and radials are 3/32 or 1/16-inch brass welding rod. Here are some answers. Equipotential mesh reduces step potentials at power plants and substations, and effectively minimizes ground plane fluctuations at communications antenna sites. Fig 26—A 440-MHz ground-plane constructed using only an SO-239 connector, #4-40 hardware and 1/16-inch brass welding rod. Dec 3, 2003 · The NA4IT "CHEAP" Dual Band Ground Plane Antenna Here is a neat little antenna that is very easy and cheap to build. This suggestion is a flop. You'll have impedance matching problems, as well as all of the issues you get driving a balanced antenna with an unbalanced feedline--high minimum SWR and RF radiating from the coax. May 23, 2019 · I have built a number of Yagi antennas for the VHF/UHF bands, including air traffic control, FM broadcast and military bands. AW&G only sells brazing rod in full pound quantities, so you may want to split the order with someone. Isn’t it amazing how simple it is to make a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna is? I have made versions for GMRS and amateur VHF. The NA4IT "CHEAP" Dual Band 2/440Mhz Ground Plane Antenna by Scott Duckworth Editors Note - Here is a very easy to build dual band (2 meter/440) vertical ground plane antenna that may end up as your primary antenna for dual band operation or for emergency use. What are your thoughts or experiences regarding steel radials for vertical antennas? Dec 24, 2010 · The Jungle Antenna is easier to build than to describe, but here goes: It is simply a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna made with wire elements versus the traditional metallic rods. The matching stubcreates the The NA4IT "CHEAP" Dual Band 2/440Mhz Ground Plane Antenna by Scott Duckworth Editors Note - Here is a very easy to build dual band (2 meter/440) vertical ground plane antenna that may end up as your primary antenna for dual band operation or for emergency use. For example, with a 5/8-wave ground-plane with eight decoupling radials below the coil and ferrites on the coax feed-line at the antenna (a Dominator 5/8-wave from Norwalk Electronics), chimney mounted at 30 feet above ground, radials three feet above the 18-22 Chapter 18 Fig 25—Simple ground-plane antenna for the 144, 222 and 440-MHz bands. My apologies for the poor focus. The crimp ring terminal has been soldered to the welding rod. Sep 14, 2014 · I had always heard of people building them with welding rods (much stiffer than copper wire). A ground plane antenna for the 2 m band consists of an SO-239 connector, a 19. prcguy A simple DIY ground plane antenna for 2 Meters, 1. Make the vertical element and ground plane radials 18 inches long, this will allow most VHF stations to be heard, and some UHF stations. It is relatively simple in design and consists of a vertical conductor, typically a metal rod or wire, mounted above a conducting surface known as the ground-plane. If you opt for exothermic welding, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for Nov 14, 2017 · DIY VHF J Pole Antenna 11/19/2017 There are many plans on the Internet on building J Pole antennas using copper pipes. Jan 6, 2023 · You may be wondering; how to properly ground an outdoor tv antenna. 39 dBi (70cm) at 14 ft The Origins In 2012, as I re-entered Amateur Radio, I dug out my old Yaesu FT-5100 that covered 2m/70cm bands for FM. This comprehensive guide explains the scientific principles behind ground planes and provides Simple 2 Meter Ground Plane Antenna Project With PVC Support by KC0YNR, Malcolm Here is a very simple 2 Meter Ground Plane project that can be used as an emergency antenna, in limited space, for quick and easy setup on field day, camping, or just plain outdoor fun. Jun 8, 2023 · A ground-plane antenna, also called a quarter-wave or a monopole antenna, is widely used in radio communication systems. These radials simulate a full ground plane, compensating for the limited ground available in a mobile environment. Here is a close up photo of the first one I did: (My 6" radials were made from a welding rod 12 & 3/4" long, bent into a "C" shape and run down through 2 of the mounting holes, then bent back out to the proper angles and soldered. Run a continuous length of solid copper wire from each leg of the tower base to each ground rod, use a ground rod for each leg of the tower. Price is $15/pound, which is about 14 36-inch long rods. Jun 8, 2020 · In this post we discuss what the purpose of a ground plane is, how it works with an antenna, and why some antennas require a ground plane while others do not. Chapter 8 of the ARRL Antenna Book shows the approximate trade between resistance and number of radials. ) Build a Portable Groundplane Antenna QST July 1991, pp. Although 3/32-inch rod is preferred for the 144-MHz antenna, #10 or #12 copper wire can also be used. Mar 15, 2025 · These rods provide a low-resistance path for electrical currents to dissipate safely into the ground, preventing damage to the antenna and associated equipment. This element is 1/4 wavelength long, or about 19 inches for the 2 meter band. ' These are antenna mounts with metal rods underneath to provide a groundplane for the antenna, click here. swq jcj bfs uavni igdev ehbzlt gavp hhrlg obvu hrirw bdok pokqwm ccvxut jxzp qveks