I've built a fair number of antennas using 1/8 inch aluminum ground
wire which I then "twist annealed" to stiffen them. Perfect for 432
and even 222 Yagis, but perhaps still too soft for 144 MHz. You could
do the same with copper but that gets expensive and I'd think 1/8
copper might be harder to find. Let me look around my aluminum pile
and see what I might have in 6061-T6 aluminum, which is what you want.
Meanwhile, why not check for antennas on your neighbor's roofs? before
cable/Ku band satellite came along there were plenty of channel 3 and
5 antennas around. They make good parts for VHF antennas.
73,
Chip
W1AIM
FN34uj and elsewhere
On Wed, 26 Apr 2017 01:53:25 +0000 (UTC)
Catherine James <catherine.james@xxxxxxx> wrote:
We need to purchase some 36" rods, 1/8" diamater, for antenna construction. Ideally these would be aluminum, though steel or copper would work. They will become director elements in an 8-element quagi.
I haven't been able to find a place that will sell 36" aluminum rods in 1/8" diameter. I can find them in stainless steel from Grainger or other sources, but they'll be heavier and conduct less well.
Cost is important so that everyone in the club can afford to build one of these antennas.
Any suggestions for sources?
73,
Cathy
N5WVR