[W8MWA] November Club Meeting Project/Presentation

[Jake]

Hello Everyone, at the November Club meeting we will be having a
presentation/ building project by John Barnett WV8H building a ³Tape Measure
Beam² antenna.

Below is a listing of the parts needed to build one of these neat little
antennas.

the parts list is as follows
1. ~10' of 1" wide measuring tape (1/2 of a 25' ft tape - make an antenna
with a buddy)
2. 24" of 1/2 Schedule 40 PVC pipe - the plan shows 20-1/2" but I modified
the plan and the mod uses a couple of more inches of pipe
3. 2 ea - 1/2" PVC crosses
4. 2 ea - 1/2" PVC tees (plan shows one, but another is needed for my mod
[see below*]))
5. 2 ea - stainless steel hose clamps (11/16 to 1-1/2" diameter) - I used
self tapping screws on the elements other than the driven element and if you
decide to use all clamps as shown in the plan, be sure to buy enough - total
of 6 clamps
6. ~8" of insulated wire (14-22ga works) for the hairpin match
7. 4 self tapping pan-head screws - SS is best but zinc plated will work if
you don't leave it outside.
8. electrical tape.
9. 6-8' of RG8X (which I used) or RG58 coax with PL259
 
Here's an approximate cost breakdown buying at Lowes.
 
PVC pipe = $1.38 for 5' - (one 5' section = antenna + a mast) (10' = $1.88)
PVC tees = 2 @ $0.28 each = $0.56
PVC cross = 2 @ $.99 each = $2.00
Hose clamps = 2 for $1.74 = $1.74
Wire from junk box = $0.00
Screws = ~$0.50 
Tape (you should have on hand) = $0.00
RG8X or RG58 with PL259 connector = ~$3.00
25' x 1" metal tape measure = ~$7.00 ($3.50 if you share) (be sure to get 1"
wide)
Total = $~13 (if you share PVC and tape measure -
~$17 if you don't have someone to share with)
 
*The modification I made added a tee in front of the driven element which
allows you to mount the antenna on a PVC mast - adds ~$1.00 to the cost
 
73
John, WV8H