How to Make A Flexible Antenna - Like a Signal Stick (But Definitely not)
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- Опубліковано 28 січ 2024
- Make this Easy Flexible HT Antenna for Ham Radio Or GMRS!
Some links below may be affiliate links, meaning I make a commission off the sale. Buy where you want, but thanks for supporting the channel when you could.
Original Way to do it, directly from Signal Stuff - signalstuff.com/2022/09/how-s...
Materials:
Nitinol - I use 1mm - - amzn.to/3SXIBK2
- 1/16th 3:1 Heat shrink➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️amzn.to/3SfWIZI
- SMA Connector ➡️➡️➡️➡️ amzn.to/4beXf6M (scale up 3D Print to 104 percent)
OR
- SMA Male connector➡️➡️➡️➡️➡️amzn.to/3OqdfsP
Links to STL Files:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:642... - SMA Female
www.thingiverse.com/thing:642... - SMA Male
Links to an Antenna Length Calculator (Remember to cut long then shorten it): www.csgnetwork.com/antennagene...
From Thingiverse:
I like this connector:
Get the BNC Female side prepared
Sand down the end of the nitinol. I used a dremel like device from the Freight of Harbors.
fill up the BNC Female side with Solder (This version uses this connector - amzn.to/3vf5r6z - This is an affiliate link) - , as soon as you remove the iron , push in the nitinol Add more heat or solder if needed. Give it a few moments to cool.
After it's soldered in place, and you've ensured you didn't short out your outer and inner shield, add 3/64" heat shrink I went with red because it adds 12 Db (This is a joke) Heat Shrink Tubing - amzn.to/3v7XBM5 (Also an affiliate link).
After heat shrink is applied, drill a hole in the center of the cover I made for the Nitinol to go through. I still recommend 1mm nitinol.
6 Confirm everything is functional.
7 If it is, super glue the cover to the connector.
Sanding the Nitinol down Right before it's ready to go into the connector is critical. This stuff oxidizes fast. - Розваги
Video may have blurry spots - I have limited lighting right now. Don't worry!!! There are instructions in the description.
Also, I purchased another batch of nitinol and this time, the length of the antenna is more towards 18.5- 19 inches. Just check it with an analyzer.
Glad to see you back. Next project on my list
It’s great to see you making content again
Glad to see the video from you ! All the best in future videos!!!
This is great for making single band antennas outside of what signal stick manes. I have both models they offer but would love to make a tri band version or one for aircraft band
Nice idea Dude. Thanks.
Awesome! I never knew how those were made before.
"Convieniently lying around... on eBay" had me laughing. Solid delivery.
:D
Yeah I rewound that to see if I heard eBay as I thought rofl. I have a problem with too much stuff lying around on eBay and Amazon prime.
Learning by doing! Part of the ham radio experience.
Great video Dude!!
This has been on my list since I got my first signal stick. The NMO mobile in particular I've thought about some of the random NMO base coil antenna I've collected and wondered what i could do with a length of thick wire and an afternoon to mess around.
No loading Coil? No Capacitors? Damn, Crazy Antenna You Got There :) !
You're right, it is a great project for beginners. :)
Very well done. Let's all keep learning about our hobby
Great project! Now to find some parts!
If you all need any of this wire, let me know and I can do one main shipment to you...I think there's a European Ham Radio Show that likes projects.
@@HAMRADIODUDE I’ll send you a message on discord!
Great video. Nice little project 👍🏽 73
Great content would it be possible to give the Finnished length of antenna using the 1mm nitinol wire you used for all the band's 2mtr 70cm ect thanks
Ka-pow! Thumbs up.
Excellent video! What is the name of the wire you using?
Clever. Seems like it would be just as easy to use crimp on connectors but I guess you'd need crimpers then.
nice
Great easy project!
What band where you tuning it too, and does it technically have gain?
73s!
Nice, some other guy had a bunch of parts listed and its getting close to 200$ to make some antennas.
This is much cheaper for the same exact thing.
Your next project should be a 2m counter poise (aka rat tail) to balance the antenna and get a better signal. That's what I did and noticed a big difference.
I can show that. Thanks.
“Conveniently lying around…on eBay”. Bwahahaha.
Well,.. you know.
Nice video, too bad you didnt mentioned what was the final measurement you cut the wire to make it work. I know you mentioned 19inches was too short but what was your final measurement of that wire that worked for you ? Thank you so much, slavko VE3XYD 73s
That's correct. I didn't mention the length because it may vary depending on the diameter someone purchases, the quality / brand of nitinol and more. I recommend going 25 and checking where the SWR is (with a tiger tail attached, would be optimal). Then getting an idea where you are resonate and cutting down from there, little by little. If I had to guess, mine was around 21 inches.
A cool project for those who have the patience and can still see properly. Lol
Have you figured out the exact length I should cut it for a dual band antenna?
I had two batches of wire. The first batch, I mentioned in the video. The second batch from aliexpress, about 18.8 inches, which is about dead on and accurate. My suggestion, start at the first length and cut down until your meter shows it is resonant. Use a counterpoise with the meter. My best guess on why the numbers were off is, inconclusive. Could be different velocity factors of the two nitinol wires.
Great video. Unfortunately, the Nitinol I got from the link you posted was not very springy at all. It did not hold its shape at all. Bent over like a limp noodle. I’m going to search for a different wire and try again.
That's really interesting. I am sorry if I linked the wrong nitinol.... Are you good on the zed? I will ship you some for your troubles.
nexmetal.com/products/nitinol-superelastic-wire?variant=21956546820 I found this and it is possible this was the stuff I got. (I've ordered a lot of different nitinol wires). However, I can send you a couple feet.
Thankyou but not necessary. I did some research and I need to make the wire as straight as possible and then heat it up to “set” the wire configuration. The only heating the wire got was just enough to shrink the shrink tubing. I think it needs more then that. I’m going to give that a try.
Could this be done with a SMA male (radio side) to SMA female (antenna side)? Instead of soldering the nitinol into a BNC, can it be soldered into an SMA, or is the SMA hole too small for the nitinol? Looking to make a 33cm (915MHz) antenna for meshtastic.
I would think it could with some modification to the stl file. . www.thingiverse.com/thing:6386300 This was for sma female (to nitinol) to sma male (to radio). Looking into an SMA Female to Female connector should be the solution. amzn.to/3Vno8Qz (affiliate link, used to shorten the URL). These could work with remixing my file, but I have concerns the soler would just go straight through to the side which would need to plug into a radio.
Maybe I’ll try this. Not too excited about my signal stick. It holds memory like no other and the tip doesn’t glow lol. All minor things but annoying when you buy something and it does opposite of what they claim.
That's very odd about the memory. I have had single sticks in the past and I haven't had much of an issue. However, one reason for the lack of memory may be Due to temperatures when testing, I noticed that if it starts to get below around forty degrees fahrenheit I will Start the c v antenna go limp
@@HAMRADIODUDEyea but it’s in the 60s here , Tx 😂 and antenna is in the shape of a C
Interesting, because the Signal Stick is 19 inches long. I have 3 of them. As for the ball on the end, use a small bead and super glue it on. And why are you using 184mhz? Since it is not in the legal 2 meter ham band?
probably rewatch that part again
Did you know that different diameter wires could create different results in length. This depends on brand, the exact ratio of metals (probably effecting velocity factor?) used, and much more. Take for example bntecho go. Using that for an efhw would only require 63 ft for 40m. Much shorter than other wire.
And for those of us without 3d printers, where do we get the parts
Places that may have 3D Printers to help: Local Libraries, Local ham clubs. Or, the 3d part is just cosmetic.
I tried to get a ball from Jack.... He was pretty upset about it.
😂
BNC Soon Will Be Past My Friend, Itt can`t get Above 500Mhz In My tests, Not The Most tScientific Tests, but Hey, Itt SHows Anyway That Performance Drops Because Of The Connectors, SMA Goes Good Above 20GHz, But The BNC Goes Bad At Early 500Mhz So Jeah, I Think With More Developments And Millimeter Bands The BNC Will Not Be Good As For TThe Future, Use SMA Where You Can , But if You Do HF Work, Bnc Is The Best :)
Ah, oops. I am legally blind, so trying to solder is out of the question. Last time I tried I burned my nose.
I'll build you one if you'd like. Sma male or female?
And finally, you're going to need a 3D printer.
If you don't have a 3D Printer, it would be a great time to get to know your club or check out your local library
Also it works without it. The print is cosmetic.
Yes, that's right! Cheers @@chublez