UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post - Which is the best material for an aerial sleeve?

G6Tanuki · 1st Mar 2019, 7:38 pm

As TrevorG3VLF observes, if your antenna is to be erected outdoors you need to consider the possible effects of UV light on your chosen plastic as well as its RF-characteristics!

Personally, I'd just go with a length of _white_ waste-pipe (so avoiding the risk of RF-lossy 'fillers' or colourants). Another thing though - if it's to go outside at any sort of elevation make sure you put some sort of vibration-damping between the tube and whatever metal element you fit inside. A few foam-rubber discs threaded onto the element before stuffing it into the tube..

Why? Well, at a previous QTH I put a 'white stick'-type 144/220/430MHz collinear antenna on the chimney and the first time we had a decent wind it excited a vibration between the outer tube and the inner element - with the rattle conducted down the stub-mast, the chimney, and into our bedroom which was immediately below. Definitely not conducive to sleep! or domestic harmony!

1st Mar 2019, 7:38 pm	#10
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 14,007	Re: Which is the best material for an aerial sleeve? As TrevorG3VLF observes, if your antenna is to be erected outdoors you need to consider the possible effects of UV light on your chosen plastic as well as its RF-characteristics! Personally, I'd just go with a length of _white_ waste-pipe (so avoiding the risk of RF-lossy 'fillers' or colourants). Another thing though - if it's to go outside at any sort of elevation make sure you put some sort of vibration-damping between the tube and whatever metal element you fit inside. A few foam-rubber discs threaded onto the element before stuffing it into the tube.. Why? Well, at a previous QTH I put a 'white stick'-type 144/220/430MHz collinear antenna on the chimney and the first time we had a decent wind it excited a vibration between the outer tube and the inner element - with the rattle conducted down the stub-mast, the chimney, and into our bedroom which was immediately below. Definitely not conducive to sleep! or domestic harmony!