Amateur Radio

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Wire connectors ideas? (self.amateur_radio)

submitted 1 year ago by HumanPenguin to c/amateur_radio@sh.itjust.works

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Hi I am looking for a little connection advice.

I use a radio on my narrowboat. As such I am in the process of building a simple random wire antenna. Idea being I have a 5m mast I can raise on the boat while moored. Then run a wire to a local tree or another portable mast.

The issue I am looking for some help with. Is finding connectors so I can set up different length antenna depending on available space.

I have a large kite winding wheel to store the wire with a 9:1 unun on the end. But need to be able to set up 3 different lengths. 143-84-(36 i think) feet. To do this I need some form of connector a lot stronger the your typical bullet crimp. The wind on the towpath and movement of the boat will separate such connectos easy. As the boat rocks. But anything much larger the a bullet will not roll around the kite reel well.

I am looking for some kind on single wire electrical connector. That screws together. So I can select the best length for the enviroment I am in. Unscrew the wire at that length. Commect it to an elastic rope attached to the tree or land based mast.

If the worst comes. I'll make something myself using m2 bolts and inset standoffs. But would love to know if anyone has seen something ready made that will do this.

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[–] pc486@reddthat.com 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I use 2mm bullet/banana connectors for my EFHW and linked dipoles in windy conditions. They work perfectly well with strain relief, which can be as simple as a strip of plastic with four holes.

Recently I've been using K6ARK's method of adhesive lined heat shrink: https://youtu.be/HlFXs5kk_8w

Edit: I forgot to say the usefulness of K6ARK's style is that you can reel the whole wire. Disconnect at the length you want and plug your transformer at the link. Keep the reel hanging with your transformer or use the remaining length as a counterpoise.

Another idea to consider is a vertical antenna. 5 meters is a 20m quarter wave and presents decent efficiency when coil-loaded into the 40m band. A capacitive hat could be helpful too, though it is something I haven't personally tried.

If you're looking to use 40, 80, and 160 as local propagation, maybe a linearly loaded or folded dipole could do the trick. You can run it lengthwise or as a fold along the top of the boat. It'll make setup easier and not location dependent.

[–] HumanPenguin 1 points 1 year ago

Nods I think ill look along those lines. I have found some 3.5mm bulley connectors used for RC power. I think those with the method shown in the vid. and a plastic sleeve as suggested by another post. should create a neat windable solution.