[Antennas] Antenna Balls

Mon, 23 Jun 2003 21:00:49 -0400 (EDT)

Hi Tim:

   I was told many years ago that a ball was added to the end of a vertical antenna to act as a capacity top.  There was actually an article in QST many years ago suggesting the addition of a copper toilet plunger to the top of a wire vertical because it would draw more RF to the top.  Maybe it was just a little bathroom humor, but it did look more effective.

Ron W7MRR

 --- On Mon 06/23, Tim  [email protected]  wrote:
From: Tim [mailto: [email protected]]
To: antennas@mailman.<input class="txtDsp" type="text" size="8" name="word6" value=".net
"
Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2003 19:02:58 -0500
Subject: [Antennas] Antenna Balls

Someone asked me today "What is the purpose of the little ball at the end of a mobile antenna? Someone told me that if I cut it off to tune my antenna I will ruin the antenna." As embarrassing as it is the only answer I could give was "Well I see no reason why you cannot cut off the ball to tune the antenna and the only reason I know of that the ball is there is for static dissipation/control and improve the antenna efficiency by not ending the antenna in an abrupt point" I have never really questioned it so I really was not prepared to answer the question with any authority, but I said I would try to find an answer. You Gurus of the Radiant arts help me out here. - - - Your moderator for this list is: Larry Wilson KE1HZ [email protected]@mailman.<input class="txtDsp" type="text" size="8" name="word10" value=".net<br">http://mailman.net/mailman/listinfo/antennas

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