Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

[Michwave Internet]

Dont use camo paint, most has metallic particles in it.


On 2/23/2012 2:38 PM, Jim Patient wrote:


Krylon Fusion but not red,  brown, or black.

Old hillbilly test is to paint a business card, let it dry, and 
microwave it.  If it gets hot don't use it.


Jim

*From:*wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] 
*On Behalf Of *Eric Roth

*Sent:* Thursday, February 23, 2012 10:03 AM
*To:* WISPA General List
*Cc:* supp...@webjogger.net
*Subject:* [WISPA] painting an antenna

Hi Everyone,

We have a customer that we are putting in a ptmp 5.8ghz backhaul for 
wifi access points. Our customer is very big on aesthetics and would 
like to paint the omni that we are connecting the 5.8ghz backhaul AU to.


Does anyone know what kind of paint they should use to paint the 
antenna with?


I searched google and came up with epoxy paint. Is that correct?

Thanks,

--Eric Roth

Network Engineer

Webjogger Internet Services

(845) 757-4000

www.webjogger.net 



No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com 
Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2114/4827 - Release Date: 02/23/12



___
Wireless mailing list
Wireless@wispa.org
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless



--
Tony White
Michwave Tech. Inc.
616-520-4117
800-264-2492

___
Wireless mailing list
Wireless@wispa.org
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless

Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

[Eric Muehleisen]

I have some experience. Hit me offlist.

-Eric

On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 11:46 AM, brandon jolley
wrote:

> Hi
> Any Trango 900 Users out there that might be able to help me with a issue
> I am working on?
> thanks
> Brandon
>
> ___
> Wireless mailing list
> Wireless@wispa.org
> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
>
>
___
Wireless mailing list
Wireless@wispa.org
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless

Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

[Don Marino]

are you looking to buy any Trango 900s?  Then I may be able to help.

On Fri, Feb 24, 2012 at 12:46 PM, brandon jolley
wrote:

> Hi
> Any Trango 900 Users out there that might be able to help me with a issue
> I am working on?
> thanks
> Brandon
>
> ___
> Wireless mailing list
> Wireless@wispa.org
> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
>
>
___
Wireless mailing list
Wireless@wispa.org
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless

Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

[brandon jolley]

Hi
Any Trango 900 Users out there that might be able to help me with a issue I
am working on?
thanks
Brandon
___
Wireless mailing list
Wireless@wispa.org
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless

Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

[Eric Roth]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to send them to my customer and
let them decide how they want to paint it.

 

--Eric Roth

Network Engineer

Webjogger Internet Services

(845) 757-4000

www.webjogger.net

 

 

From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On
Behalf Of Tom DeReggi
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 8:21 PM
To: WISPA General List
Subject: Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

 

Quick answer... "stix" primer from Lowes 

 

A couple tips on Painting

 

You must use non-metalic non-carbon paint, to avoid RF loss.

 

As well, you must use a paint that bonds properly to your specific
material Steel, Aluminum, Plastic, ABS. There are many types of
plastics, and they each have their own chemical requirements for proper
paint type for bonding.  Many paint types used or  recommended by radio
manufacturer are paids for high production factory applications, and not
typically sold in small quantity and often require sprayers. 

 

The easiest way to solve the problem is to use a "Primer".  If you use the
proper primer, then you have the option to use a wide varierty of
inexpensive over the counter paints with worry free bonding.  

 

" Stix" is an excellent choice for Primer. Its sold at Lowes, inexpensive,
and can be used over metal and most plastics, such as those used most
commonly for Antenna radomes. 

 

After one coat of Stix, you can then paint over it with standard exterior
household latex paint.  We use Valspar Duramax Exterior Latex, with FLAT
finish, also sold at Lowes. 

(You still need to make sure paint is non-metallic/non-carbon, which the
Valspar is.) 

   

We prefer Flat instead of Gloss paints because, when an antenna is high on
a roof, glossy paint will reflect the sun more, and make the antenna look
like a bright light, and stand out like a sore thumb.

 

Primers are also easy. You'll will only need one coat of paint over the
primer. The paint should be applied over the primer before the primer is
fully dry, for optimal bond. (obviously not when the primer is still
wet.). Generally, paint can go on within 30min after primer applied.  

 

Using hardware store stock paint, allows you to save a bunch compared to
specialty paint stores. For example, a common Sherman Williams or
McCormick paint design for Plastic without a primer could easilly cost
$150-$200 a can, where as a gallon of ValSpar is $30, and Stix about $20.

 

What happens if you dont use a good primer, and just paint household paint
on Plastic? Well, within 6 months, the paint will be peeling off
everywhere and make a big mess.

 

If you have a good place to paint in advance, sure there are many good
choices for acrylics, enamels, or oil based. But using water based Latex
makes for easy clean up, and easy re-painting if ever needed, which works
well for field painting.

 

Dont get confused by all the different paint types, that cobine types, for
example acrylic latex, or acrylic enamel, etc. It doesn't really matter,
when painting over Stix. As long as using the good primer, Latex should
work fine.

 

The other thing is, painting over a pre-existing paint with the wrong type
can cause negative chemical reactions, and also cause poor bonding, or
peel after words.

The solution to that is to use the "Stix" primer. It can be painted over
most factory paints without worry, and allows most paints to be painted
over the Stix. 

The secret is the Primer, not the paint..

 

I'm not saying that Stix is the best, but I know Stix is non metalic and
non carbon and meets the requirements for antenna painting.  Many Primer
manufacturers do not like to disclose what their primer is made of because
its their secret competitive recipe, so its hard to get out of the
manufacturers whether it is metalic or carbon based or the loss it could
have to RF.

 

Another note, Paint looks a different color indoor than it does outdoors.
I'll mix it to look light, and then outside it will look to dark. So make
it lighter than you think you should. Also note, its much easier to make
paint darker, than it is to make it lighter. So if you make it to dark, it
takes a lot of paint added back to lighten it up.

 

As for color choice... I've had little luck painting to match the sky. The
reason is the color of the sky changes depending on the time of day and
the weather.  If trying to match the sky, use a lite (almost white) sky
blue. I prefer to match antenna paint to the same color as the building it
is mounted to, because a perfect match can be obtained, so it blends in
with the building, and does not stand out. Anythign a different color than
the building will draw the eye's attention to it. Painting to the sky
color only makes the antenna look transparent 25% of the day, when it
matches the sky, and the rest of the day when it doesn't, it stands out.  

 

 

Tom DeReggi
RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc
IntAirNet- Fixed Wire

Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

[Tom DeReggi]

Quick answer... "stix" primer from Lowes 

A couple tips on Painting

You must use non-metalic non-carbon paint, to avoid RF loss.

As well, you must use a paint that bonds properly to your specific material 
Steel, Aluminum, Plastic, ABS. There are many types of plastics, and they each 
have their own chemical requirements for proper paint type for bonding.  Many 
paint types used or  recommended by radio manufacturer are paids for high 
production factory applications, and not typically sold in small quantity and 
often require sprayers. 

The easiest way to solve the problem is to use a "Primer".  If you use the 
proper primer, then you have the option to use a wide varierty of inexpensive 
over the counter paints with worry free bonding.  

" Stix" is an excellent choice for Primer. Its sold at Lowes, inexpensive, and 
can be used over metal and most plastics, such as those used most commonly for 
Antenna radomes. 

After one coat of Stix, you can then paint over it with standard exterior 
household latex paint.  We use Valspar Duramax Exterior Latex, with FLAT 
finish, also sold at Lowes. 
(You still need to make sure paint is non-metallic/non-carbon, which the 
Valspar is.) 
   
We prefer Flat instead of Gloss paints because, when an antenna is high on a 
roof, glossy paint will reflect the sun more, and make the antenna look like a 
bright light, and stand out like a sore thumb.

Primers are also easy. You'll will only need one coat of paint over the primer. 
The paint should be applied over the primer before the primer is fully dry, for 
optimal bond. (obviously not when the primer is still wet.). Generally, paint 
can go on within 30min after primer applied.  
 
Using hardware store stock paint, allows you to save a bunch compared to 
specialty paint stores. For example, a common Sherman Williams or McCormick 
paint design for Plastic without a primer could easilly cost $150-$200 a can, 
where as a gallon of ValSpar is $30, and Stix about $20.

What happens if you dont use a good primer, and just paint household paint on 
Plastic? Well, within 6 months, the paint will be peeling off everywhere and 
make a big mess.

If you have a good place to paint in advance, sure there are many good choices 
for acrylics, enamels, or oil based. But using water based Latex makes for easy 
clean up, and easy re-painting if ever needed, which works well for field 
painting.

Dont get confused by all the different paint types, that cobine types, for 
example acrylic latex, or acrylic enamel, etc. It doesn't really matter, when 
painting over Stix. As long as using the good primer, Latex should work fine.

The other thing is, painting over a pre-existing paint with the wrong type can 
cause negative chemical reactions, and also cause poor bonding, or peel after 
words.
The solution to that is to use the "Stix" primer. It can be painted over most 
factory paints without worry, and allows most paints to be painted over the 
Stix. 
The secret is the Primer, not the paint..

I'm not saying that Stix is the best, but I know Stix is non metalic and non 
carbon and meets the requirements for antenna painting.  Many Primer 
manufacturers do not like to disclose what their primer is made of because its 
their secret competitive recipe, so its hard to get out of the manufacturers 
whether it is metalic or carbon based or the loss it could have to RF.
 
Another note, Paint looks a different color indoor than it does outdoors. I'll 
mix it to look light, and then outside it will look to dark. So make it lighter 
than you think you should. Also note, its much easier to make paint darker, 
than it is to make it lighter. So if you make it to dark, it takes a lot of 
paint added back to lighten it up.

As for color choice... I've had little luck painting to match the sky. The 
reason is the color of the sky changes depending on the time of day and the 
weather.  If trying to match the sky, use a lite (almost white) sky blue. I 
prefer to match antenna paint to the same color as the building it is mounted 
to, because a perfect match can be obtained, so it blends in with the building, 
and does not stand out. Anythign a different color than the building will draw 
the eye's attention to it. Painting to the sky color only makes the antenna 
look transparent 25% of the day, when it matches the sky, and the rest of the 
day when it doesn't, it stands out.  

 
Tom DeReggi
RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc
IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband


  - Original Message - 
  From: Jim Patient 
  To: WISPA General List 
  Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 2:38 PM
  Subject: Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna


  Krylon Fusion but not red,  brown, or black.

   

  Old hillbilly test is to paint a business card, let it dry, and microwave it. 
 If it gets hot don't use it.

   

  Jim

   

  From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.o

Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

[Josh Luthman]

That's a good idea!

Josh Luthman
Office: 937-552-2340
Direct: 937-552-2343
1100 Wayne St
Suite 1337
Troy, OH 45373



On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 2:38 PM, Jim Patient  wrote:
> Krylon Fusion but not red,  brown, or black.
>
>
>
> Old hillbilly test is to paint a business card, let it dry, and microwave
> it.  If it gets hot don’t use it.
>
>
>
> Jim
>
>
>
> From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On
> Behalf Of Eric Roth
> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 10:03 AM
>
> To: WISPA General List
> Cc: supp...@webjogger.net
> Subject: [WISPA] painting an antenna
>
>
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
>
>
> We have a customer that we are putting in a ptmp 5.8ghz backhaul for wifi
> access points. Our customer is very big on aesthetics and would like to
> paint the omni that we are connecting the 5.8ghz backhaul AU to.
>
>
>
> Does anyone know what kind of paint they should use to paint the antenna
> with?
>
>
>
> I searched google and came up with epoxy paint. Is that correct?
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> --Eric Roth
>
> Network Engineer
>
> Webjogger Internet Services
>
> (845) 757-4000
>
> www.webjogger.net
>
>
>
>
>
> 
>
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2114/4827 - Release Date: 02/23/12
>
>
> ___
> Wireless mailing list
> Wireless@wispa.org
> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
>
___
Wireless mailing list
Wireless@wispa.org
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless

Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

[Jim Patient]

Krylon Fusion but not red,  brown, or black.

 

Old hillbilly test is to paint a business card, let it dry, and
microwave it.  If it gets hot don't use it.

 

Jim

 

From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On
Behalf Of Eric Roth
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 10:03 AM
To: WISPA General List
Cc: supp...@webjogger.net
Subject: [WISPA] painting an antenna

 

Hi Everyone,

 

We have a customer that we are putting in a ptmp 5.8ghz backhaul for
wifi access points. Our customer is very big on aesthetics and would
like to paint the omni that we are connecting the 5.8ghz backhaul AU to.

 

Does anyone know what kind of paint they should use to paint the antenna
with?

 

I searched google and came up with epoxy paint. Is that correct?

 

Thanks,

 

--Eric Roth

Network Engineer

Webjogger Internet Services

(845) 757-4000

www.webjogger.net

 

 



No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2012.0.1913 / Virus Database: 2114/4827 - Release Date:
02/23/12

___
Wireless mailing list
Wireless@wispa.org
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless

Re: [WISPA] painting an antenna

[Marlon K. Schafer (509-982-2181)]

Any non metalic paint should be OK.  Standard painting methods for the material 
apply.  Some antennas are plastic, some are fiberglass.

Make sure you don't plug any vent holes in the bottom though!
marlon

  - Original Message - 
  From: Eric Roth 
  To: WISPA General List 
  Cc: supp...@webjogger.net 
  Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 8:02 AM
  Subject: [WISPA] painting an antenna


  Hi Everyone,

   

  We have a customer that we are putting in a ptmp 5.8ghz backhaul for wifi 
access points. Our customer is very big on aesthetics and would like to paint 
the omni that we are connecting the 5.8ghz backhaul AU to.

   

  Does anyone know what kind of paint they should use to paint the antenna with?

   

  I searched google and came up with epoxy paint. Is that correct?

   

  Thanks,

   

  --Eric Roth

  Network Engineer

  Webjogger Internet Services

  (845) 757-4000

  www.webjogger.net

   

   



--


  ___
  Wireless mailing list
  Wireless@wispa.org
  http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
___
Wireless mailing list
Wireless@wispa.org
http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless