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Homebrew Equipment A place to show, design and discuss the weird and wonderful electronic creations from the hands of individual members. |
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21st Nov 2011, 3:06 pm | #1 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,227
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Barbed-wire Aerial works well!
I made a simple 1 transistor plus diode set last year and tested it at home with a loft space aerial. Yesterday I took it out with me to test around the countryside near Sheffield. I found an ideal spot with a long length of barbed wire stretching about 80 feet horizontally to which I clipped the aerial and the bottom wire of the fence as Earth.
I got Radio 4 loud and clear where I would normally get a local station from 290M. If I left out the Earth, then I still got the MW station. I had tried other locations which were not very good but the aerial was short. I pushed a screwdriver in the ground for earth and got limited MW reception if I stretched out a length of wire along a hedge. The barbed wire was best! I am told this was used for clandestine POW radios in 1945, made in Japan. |
21st Nov 2011, 3:27 pm | #2 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK.
Posts: 799
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Re: Barbed-wire Aerial works well!
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22nd Nov 2011, 2:17 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 3,310
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Re: Barbed-wire Aerial works well!
I have heard barbed wire fences are/were used for telephone lines in the Australian outback. The fences used to run for miles of course, and the atmosphere is very dry so no easy path to the other wire or earth!.
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22nd Nov 2011, 9:59 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,536
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Re: Barbed-wire Aerial works well!
Not tried barbed wire, but as a youngster, the overhead open wire disconnected telephone line which terminated on our house was a great crystal set aerial. It must have been about 200' from the house to the pole plus anything beyond that as well.
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22nd Nov 2011, 11:04 pm | #5 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 109
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Re: Barbed-wire Aerial works well!
I'm presently using the old rediffusion cable which runs from my house to the hairdressers across the road then along to other houses. I've go 12 or so cores to choose from and it works exceptionally well.
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23rd Nov 2011, 4:25 pm | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,227
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Re: Barbed-wire Aerial works well!
Here is a photo of this great homemade set clipped to the barbed wire. It needs rotating anti- clockwise.
Last edited by Station X; 23rd Nov 2011 at 5:46 pm. Reason: Picture rotated. |
23rd Nov 2011, 5:47 pm | #7 | |
Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK.
Posts: 21,289
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Re: Barbed-wire Aerial works well!
Quote:
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23rd Nov 2011, 8:11 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 8,195
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Re: Barbed-wire Aerial works well!
Hi Gents, a tech question. Is barbed wire better than ordinary un-barbed galv wire?
If so what are the theories (and how about razor wire!!!!) Ed |
24th Nov 2011, 12:02 am | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,536
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Re: Barbed-wire Aerial works well!
Well it's more of a cutting edge technology, especially the latter
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....__________ ....|____||__|__\_____ .=.| _---\__|__|_---_|. .........O..Chris....O |