405-Line VHF Aerials 2013 to the present day.

[SteveCG]

Re post no. 479.

When I last looked at an Antiference aerial of the combined 'X' and Band III type I thought the twin feeder dimensions were more like 75 Ohm. The downlead was connected to the Band III dipole.

[G6Tanuki]

You're no doubt correct: it's 40+ years since I last handled one 'in the flesh' and even then when you're 40 feet up a ladder and clinging to someone's chimney while replacing a water-filled coax downlead you don't have *that* much inclination to study the precise geometry of the flat-twin!

[SteveCG]

G6Tanuki,

Understood perfectly! Especially on a wet roof with 'a bit of wind blowing'.

[Nuvistor]

I certainly don't remember how the two were connected, not sure I took the trouble to look, this was 1962 with me being the helper to the aerial rigger. Moved away from that as soon as I could to get to fixing radio's TV's etc.

Frank

[akuram1]

Winters were much worse around 1962 and remember sitting on many roofs fixing lashings and aerials in the snow. Happy days.
No one ever said the weather is too bad today as far as I can remember.
Band 1 channel 1 were big aerials and being horizontal more difficult to handle than vertical.

[AC/HL]

Winters were much worse around 1962 and remember sitting on many roofs fixing lashings and aerials in the snow.

As well as toaster's, irons etc. my first job included aerials. Customers had to wait for the weather though. Once you were up there with all your tackle, sitting on the apex or down by the chimney (we have big chimneys here abouts) it was plain sailing. Assemble & align with all the others around. Climbing a ladder is a white knuckle ride these days though.

[Peter.N.]

You sound about the same vintage as me Bill. ITV started soon after I did so there was quite a lot of aerial work, I did a few but was mainly employed with radio's, TVs and the things you mentioned.

Does anyone remember the clip on band 3 quarter wave dipoles that fitted on to the band 1 dipole?

I wasn't keen on roof work although in more recent years I have done it for amateur antennas, was up there last week as my 2 beam came down.

Peter

[SteveCG]

I remember the Antiference clip-on 'Twigs' - in particular an Antex 'X' which had them at the different points on the Band I elements. This was in a Holme-Moss (B2 vert), Winter Hill (B9 vert) set-up. I think each Twig had a reddish bronzed mounting clip.

[Nuvistor]

The twigs were put on the H aerial we had for Ch 2 Holme Moss, Winter Hill Ch 9 was line of site about 8 miles away. This would be 1956 when ITA started in this area. The aerial fed a Stirling converter.
Frank

[Peter.N.]

Yes they were the things, strangely I can't remember how efficient they were because I was always keen on testing things - could be the memory of course.

Peter

[Nuvistor]

I think even with a Stirling converter Winter Hill would probably have worked ok without the twigs at our house. The signal was very strong. I was too young then to make any judgement.

Frank

[michamoo]

Bangor north Wales in the 70s

[Peter.N.]

I would imagine there would be a bit of interaction there.

Peter

[SteveCG]

Re post no. 492

Impressive !! - but as Peter says, the interactions must have been equally impressive, detuning all around...

[echelon]

Hopefully these pictures will attach to my post: is this rather-battered aerial a stacked array for Band III? Or Band II?

Taken last week in Perth, Scotland

[michamoo]

That's an upmarket Band 11 FM array. Bit of a state though !

[SteveCG]

As michamoo says " Bit of a State " - puts it mildly I suggest !

Is it really that windy in Perth ? - I would have half expected the chimney stack to have given way...

[HamishBoxer]

With the weather up there I think explains it all. 10 long years I was up there and it was not good.

[SteveCG]

... thinking on it I certainly remember that design of VHF/FM aerial from a few years ago. I wonder if the maker used especially malleable Aluminium ?

[radioredcat]

That is a Ron Smith Galaxy band 2 aerial.

http://www.ronsmithaerials.com/catalogue/G17.php

If that is due to wind then it looks like what Steve said probably some kind of malleable Aluminium.

Andy