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Stealth antenna insulators

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Fred Atchley

Stealth antenna insulators

Greetings from the CC&R capital of the world: California, where stealth
antennas are a way of life. The current discussion about how certain display
colors are more discernable than others begs a point: what if you don't what
to see it? Since 2003, I've used one inch electrical PVC pipe to make
stealthy antenna end insulators. Its bluish grey color has less contrast
than the glossy white or black of store bought insulators. About a quarter
inch ring cut from the PC is sufficiently strong to support 12 gauge wires.
73, Fred, AE6IC

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David Cutter

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

Pink is good against the sky, discovered in WW2 for stealth aircraft.

David
G3UNA

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Atchley" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 5:34 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Stealth antenna insulators

> Greetings from the CC&R capital of the world: California, where stealth
> antennas are a way of life. The current discussion about how certain
> display
> colors are more discernable than others begs a point: what if you don't
> what
> to see it? Since 2003, I've used one inch electrical PVC pipe to make
> stealthy antenna end insulators. Its bluish grey color has less contrast
> than the glossy white or black of store bought insulators. About a quarter
> inch ring cut from the PC is sufficiently strong to support 12 gauge
> wires.
> 73, Fred, AE6IC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Darwin, Keith

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

Years ago, (while living in southern CA) I painted my 5BTV with light
gray paint to make it blend in better. Unfortunately the paint was
somewhat conductive so the antenna didn't' work right after that, but it
sure did blend in with the sky a lot better :-)

- Keith N1AS -
- K3 711 -

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WILLIS COOKE

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by Fred Atchley

That is just because any observer reporting a pink aircraft would be court martialed for drinking on duty.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ

--- On Thu, 6/18/09, David Cutter <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: David Cutter <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Stealth antenna insulators
> To: "Fred Atchley" <[hidden email]>, [hidden email]
> Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 9:44 AM
> Pink is good against the sky,
> discovered in WW2 for stealth aircraft.
>
> David
> G3UNA
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred Atchley" <[hidden email]>
> To: <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 5:34 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] Stealth antenna insulators
>
>
> > Greetings from the CC&R capital of the world:
> California, where stealth
> > antennas are a way of life. The current discussion
> about how certain
> > display
> > colors are more discernable than others begs a point:
> what if you don't
> > what
> > to see it? Since 2003, I've used one inch electrical
> PVC pipe to make
> > stealthy antenna end insulators. Its bluish grey color
> has less contrast
> > than the glossy white or black of store bought
> insulators. About a quarter
> > inch ring cut from the PC is sufficiently strong to
> support 12 gauge
> > wires.
> > 73, Fred, AE6IC
> >
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

Mike Harris-9

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by Fred Atchley

G'day,

Why bother with insulators if you are using a non-conducting synthetic
rope/string to hold the antenna up. Why turn something long and slim into
a snake that has eaten a pig.

Regards,

Mike VP8NO

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Atchley" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 12:34 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Stealth antenna insulators

| Greetings from the CC&R capital of the world: California, where stealth
| antennas are a way of life. The current discussion about how certain
display
| colors are more discernable than others begs a point: what if you don't
what
| to see it? Since 2003, I've used one inch electrical PVC pipe to make
| stealthy antenna end insulators. Its bluish grey color has less contrast
| than the glossy white or black of store bought insulators. About a
quarter
| inch ring cut from the PC is sufficiently strong to support 12 gauge
wires.
| 73, Fred, AE6IC

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Peter Sinclair-3

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by Fred Atchley

A good stealth antenna insulator for a light weight antenna which is almost
transparent can be made from the plastic which holds a four pack together
especially if you fold the four into one. Good for portable use also when
you have drunk the eight cans HI.
Peter G3UCA.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Atchley" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 5:34 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Stealth antenna insulators

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Rich

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by Fred Atchley

Check out the various plastic(?) strings for weedeaters at your local lawnmower repair. These come on a reel, some with 500 ft others with about 50 ft in different size, color, and thickness.

Rich

AC7AC

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

AC7AC

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by David Cutter

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

Geoffrey Mackenzie-Kennedy

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by Mike Harris-9

.075 in dia black Kevlar string rated at 400 lbs strain IIRC is almost
invisible, and is UV "resistant", although the colour does change to grey
after a few years outside.

73,
Geoff
GM4ESD

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Harris" <[hidden email]>
To: "Fred Atchley" <[hidden email]>; <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 6:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Stealth antenna insulators

> G'day,
>
> Why bother with insulators if you are using a non-conducting synthetic
> rope/string to hold the antenna up. Why turn something long and slim into
> a snake that has eaten a pig.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike VP8NO

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David Gilbert

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by Mike Harris-9

I have to agree with VP8NO. I don't see why insulators would be necessary.

If I were putting up a stealth antenna, I wouldn't be using #12 wire
anyway. #18 stranded copper clad steel is much smaller and should last
forever if not allowed to kink. And I'd use dark braided UV resistant
nylon fishing line (monofilament is generally pretty shiny) for the
support line, wrapped and glued to the antenna wire for a low profile
connection. The most visible component of such an antenna would be the
feedline.

73,
Dave AB7E

Mike Harris wrote:
> G'day,
>
> Why bother with insulators if you are using a non-conducting synthetic
> rope/string to hold the antenna up. Why turn something long and slim into
> a snake that has eaten a pig.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike VP8NO
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myles landstein

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by Fred Atchley

Not only that but most of that electrical PVC stuff is avail as
UV rated!

73 N2EHG

On Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 12:34 PM, Fred Atchley <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Greetings from the CC&R capital of the world: California, where stealth
> antennas are a way of life. The current discussion about how certain
> display
> colors are more discernable than others begs a point: what if you don't
> what
> to see it? Since 2003, I've used one inch electrical PVC pipe to make
> stealthy antenna end insulators. Its bluish grey color has less contrast
> than the glossy white or black of store bought insulators. About a quarter
> inch ring cut from the PC is sufficiently strong to support 12 gauge wires.
> 73, Fred, AE6IC
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

AC7AC

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by David Gilbert

CONTENTS DELETED

The author has deleted this message.

WILLIS COOKE

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by Fred Atchley

I have no requirement for stealth because I live on five acres in the country. I would speculate that a big factor would be if you are using low, medium or high power and if it is raining or high humidity. Traps in multi-band antennas are designed for a few hundred ohms so I would think that a wet string that still has a few hundred ohms should perform very well. I would have no reservations about connecting a QRP rig and would feel OK with 100 watts. I would be careful with connecting a multi-kilobuck amplifier to a string.

Willis 'Cookie' Cooke
K5EWJ

--- On Thu, 6/18/09, Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]> wrote:

> From: Ron D'Eau Claire <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Stealth antenna insulators
> To: [hidden email]
> Date: Thursday, June 18, 2009, 1:38 PM
> Has anyone actually measured the RF
> characteristics of the various nylon
> lines available?
>
> Nylon is hydroscopic (absorbs water) and so is not
> necessarily a great
> insulator. I didn't know that and blithely used nylon as an
> easy-to-find
> insulating material until I had a nylon standoff in an RF
> circuit
> disintegrate quite unexpectedly.
>
> I've not tried it as an antenna insulator, but I have been
> wary of it since
> that experience.
>
> Ron AC7AC
>
>
>
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dj7mgq

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

> Nylon is hydroscopic (absorbs water) and so is not
> necessarily a great insulator.

For a light weight, stealthy antenna I would consider using
Polyvinylidene Fluoride monofilament and washers. Btw, PVDF monofil is
used in the Spiderbeam.

vy 73 de toby

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Phil Kane-2

Re: Stealth antenna insulators

In reply to this post by Darwin, Keith

On 6/18/2009 10:14 AM, Darwin, Keith wrote:

> Years ago, (while living in southern CA) I painted my 5BTV with
> light gray paint to make it blend in better. Unfortunately the
> paint was somewhat conductive so the antenna didn't' work right
> after that, but it sure did blend in with the sky a lot better
> :-)

There used to be a grey paint at Home Depot that was referred
to locally as "Portland Sky" for obvious reasons. We all learn
that even shiny galvanized or aluminum metal parts turn that
color after one or two rainy winters here.

The trick in antenna painting is to mask the insulation
before spraying (and don't forget to take the masking tape
off!).

-- 73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
Elecraft K2/100 s/n 5402

From a Clearing in the Silicon Forest
Beaverton (Washington County) Oregon

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