[MilCom] Antenna question

[Duane Mantick]

 If you check around, you can find some "Marine" antennas
that are designed to handle things like salt air and lots 
of moisture.  Check the websites for many of the major
antenna makers; also go to the website for Amateur Electronic
Supply (who I think carries some marine radios and antennas).
Probably a straight web search on "marine antennas" would get 
you some good links.

http://www.aesham.com

You might pay a bit more for them but if you have serious
concerns about corrosion issues this would be one way to 
deal with it.

>From a Ham's perspective, I can tell you that even a plain old 
aluminum tubing/rod antenna can take some protective paints
and coatings.  Where possible, also remove any cheap hardware
(bolts, nuts, washers, clamps) and replace with stainless steel.
Any coax should be thoroughly sealed anywhere that you have had to
cut and strip the outer shell.  Coax connectors like BNC or PL-259
amongst others can also be sealed with....oh what the hells the name 
of that stuff.....OMC goes and grabs his latest AES catalog....

Yeah - "Coax Seal", AES catalog number UNV 104.  You wrap it on 
like electrical tape and then you "mold" it with your fingers
so that it completely envelops the connector from stem to stern.
Supposedly the stuff is permanently flexible, so you can always 
just peel it back off if you need to. half inch wide by 5 foot
long roll is $3.99 disclaimer: I am not an employee of AES, nor 
a compensated spokesman and I don't play one on TV.  :-)

They have always treated me well; just a case of square dealing.

I guess the bottom line on this is really common sense - if you
even *think* that it can corrode, you're probably right so protect
it.  The alternative is to go with the "disposable and cheap"
approach - buy really cheap antennas, put them up and don't worry
about them until they dissolve.  :-)  Then you buy another cheap
replacement.  I know more than a few who do this.

Duane
WB9OMC


-----Original Message-----
From: milcom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:milcom-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Stavro
Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 11:18 PM
To: MilAirCommsChat at yahoogroups.com; CCARS at yahoogroups.com; Scansavannah;
ScanJax; ScanNorthAmerica at yahoogroups.com; MilGovMonitoring at yahoogroups.com;
MilCom; CSFRC at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [MilCom] Antenna question

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Dear friends
I was thinking of getting this antenna
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT4.html before we leave for Washington state.
Reason being . It can be used in doors. And thus it wouldn't be exposed to
the whacky weather of the pacific northwest .  Your thoughts? Steve 
   
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