--- In Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com, "Bruce Bagwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > OK guys, along this same line, I have a VHF all copper J-Pole and plan on building UHF all copper J-pole. > Is common clear lacquer OK to prevent corrosion on the copper elements? I have used automotive type black silicone under 2" wide electrical tape to seal connections and the coax itself. The Coax to antenna connectors have been soldered to the copper tubing after finding best SWR. > Other choices, Clear enamel, colored lacquer/enamel etc. Other stuff I have not even thought of? > mainly just stop the copper from turning "green" but don't want to mess with the antenna in any way. This will be used beside my house and not at some far away repeater. Limited life is OK so long as I am aware of limitations. > > Bruce > KE5TPN > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ > > > This painting of antennas seems to be on many of our minds. > > Wonder what the antenna manufactures would recommend or what they use if any??? After you get beyond the sales person who swears their products are rock solid and don't need painting or additional protection then you might get someone who would give some info. > > I would hope they would have done testing for anything they recommend, both SWR and pattern and signal. > > 73, ron, n9ee/r >
Er.. uh... Excuse me, but why all this commotion about painting and preserving antennas??? If everyone used limited range, low gain, stacked folded dipoles, then maybe so, but stacked folded dipoles are a low gain limited range item. I've seen them used in small towns with limited coverage Public Safety fleets, and Local Paging, but only where limited range coverage is required. When I worked in Mobile Radio Communications ALL Remote Base / Repeater antennas were stacked coaxial antennas inside a tapered Fiberglass radome (Station Master type?) and operated at DC ground, with a properly grounded mount, which was realy a good lightning rod as well, where there was never a problem, and at a normally 10 db gain!! There are Internet aricles on building these.. Commercial / Public Safety fleets are normally of defined coverage areas, but we hams want to talk as far as we can... which means more gain, and I've never heard of anyone wanting to paint or preserve an antenna, for everything was enclosed except a link cornor reflector or beam antenna!!! Dick, W7TIO > >From: Chuck Kelsey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Date: 2008/05/04 Sun AM 08:52:31 CDT > >To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > >Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Re: antenna question - Dip It and Scotch Kote and Krylon > > > > >Funny you should mention Krylon... although I haven't done so in recent > >years, I used to Krylon (clear) all antennas and never had a problem. I > >forgot all about that until your mention of it. And they were mostly UHF > >antennas - beams and folded dipoles. Go figure. > > > >Chuck > >WB2EDV > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "skipp025" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: <Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com> > >Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 9:44 AM > >Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Re: antenna question - Dip It and Scotch Kote > > > >>I constructed a 6 meter beam some years back, worked like a bomb > >> even at 25ft above ground elevation. To ensure my pride and joy > >> would last a long time I sprayed it with clear Krylon brand spray > >> paint. > >> > >> The antenna was instantly unusable regardless of my efforts to > >> remove the paint, re-tune or otherwise modify the antenna. I later > >> learned that type of paint contained materials with a horible > >> D-Factor. I was never able to use the antenna again, although it > >> remains in my back yard as a reminder. > >> > >> cheers, > >> s. > >> > > > > Ron Wright, N9EE > 727-376-6575 > MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS > Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL > No tone, all are welcome. >