Can you name this? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

crackle · 8th Dec 2018, 10:47 am

Please can anyone tell me what is this item called, in English?
Thanks
Mike

radioman · 8th Dec 2018, 11:15 am

According to Google-translate, from your picture title it's a "military two-way radio-leaf antenna"

Andy

G4XWDJim · 8th Dec 2018, 11:18 am

Usually called a tape aerial.

Jim

G4YVM David · 8th Dec 2018, 11:19 am

Yes, looks like a flexible folding aerial. We fit them to our EPIRBS on the planes so the hosties don't poke eyes out but can't get the extension wrong either.

Also tape measure aerials for amateur radio kit

Thats what it looks like anyway, as far as my eyes can tell

Station X · 8th Dec 2018, 11:33 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by G4XWDJim

Usually called a tape aerial.

Jim

Presumably because it resembles a retractable tape measure?

G4YVM David · 8th Dec 2018, 12:40 pm

That and the fact that they are often made from the same stuff. In amateur circles, EXACTLY the same stuff.

G4YVM David · 8th Dec 2018, 12:41 pm

https://goo.gl/images/hZPzn2

ex seismic · 8th Dec 2018, 12:48 pm

As a type they have been used since the Vietnam war by US military radios and nowadays are commonplace on all sorts of military VHF radios. To identify further we need a close up of the end. Be warned if you take the rubber band off they can spring straight quite violently!

Gordon

Station X · 8th Dec 2018, 1:11 pm

I'm sure I remember these being fitted to SARAH Search And Rescue And Homing beacons.

The length of the OP's example would give an idea of frequency.

ex seismic · 8th Dec 2018, 5:30 pm

Mil VHF is typically 30-75 MHz, the aerials are fixed length and any tuning is done within the radio, not by the operator. I would expect an overall length in the order of 1.2m.

Gordon

G6Tanuki · 8th Dec 2018, 5:38 pm

Those style of 'tape' aerials were also one of the options for the UK/PRC344 "military airband" [225-400MHz] radios.

There was even a Discone version!

crackle · 8th Dec 2018, 6:32 pm

Thanks for all your inputs, so the correct name would be a "tape aerial"
Is it intended to retract into a coil like a tape measure for transportation and storage?

Mike

G6Tanuki · 8th Dec 2018, 6:52 pm

They're not usually coiled-up for storage, more usually they are folded back on each-other a couple of times and either tied, or sometimes pushed into a short length of plastic tube for storage.

The 'springiness' is not designed to make storage easier, it's to provide resilience against accidental damage during the heat of battle!

8th Dec 2018, 10:47 am	#1
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Can you name this? Please can anyone tell me what is this item called, in English? Thanks Mike Attached Thumbnails

8th Dec 2018, 11:15 am	#2
radioman Heptode Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ayr, Ayrshire, UK. Posts: 630	Re: Can you name this? According to Google-translate, from your picture title it's a "military two-way radio-leaf antenna" Andy

8th Dec 2018, 11:18 am	#3
G4XWDJim Octode Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Littlehampton, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 1,465	Re: Can you name this? Usually called a tape aerial. Jim

8th Dec 2018, 11:19 am	#4
G4YVM David Heptode Join Date: May 2014 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 998	Re: Can you name this? Yes, looks like a flexible folding aerial. We fit them to our EPIRBS on the planes so the hosties don't poke eyes out but can't get the extension wrong either. Also tape measure aerials for amateur radio kit Thats what it looks like anyway, as far as my eyes can tell

8th Dec 2018, 12:40 pm	#6
G4YVM David Heptode Join Date: May 2014 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 998	Re: Can you name this? That and the fact that they are often made from the same stuff. In amateur circles, EXACTLY the same stuff.

8th Dec 2018, 12:41 pm	#7
G4YVM David Heptode Join Date: May 2014 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 998	Re: Can you name this? https://goo.gl/images/hZPzn2

8th Dec 2018, 12:48 pm	#8
ex seismic Heptode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK. Posts: 686	Re: Can you name this? As a type they have been used since the Vietnam war by US military radios and nowadays are commonplace on all sorts of military VHF radios. To identify further we need a close up of the end. Be warned if you take the rubber band off they can spring straight quite violently! Gordon

8th Dec 2018, 1:11 pm	#9
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Can you name this? I'm sure I remember these being fitted to SARAH Search And Rescue And Homing beacons. The length of the OP's example would give an idea of frequency. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

8th Dec 2018, 5:30 pm	#10
ex seismic Heptode Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK. Posts: 686	Re: Can you name this? Mil VHF is typically 30-75 MHz, the aerials are fixed length and any tuning is done within the radio, not by the operator. I would expect an overall length in the order of 1.2m. Gordon

8th Dec 2018, 5:38 pm	#11
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,995	Re: Can you name this? Those style of 'tape' aerials were also one of the options for the UK/PRC344 "military airband" [225-400MHz] radios. There was even a Discone version!

8th Dec 2018, 6:32 pm	#12
crackle Rest in Peace Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Basildon, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,100	Re: Can you name this? Thanks for all your inputs, so the correct name would be a "tape aerial" Is it intended to retract into a coil like a tape measure for transportation and storage? Mike

8th Dec 2018, 6:52 pm	#13
G6Tanuki Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 13,995	Re: Can you name this? They're not usually coiled-up for storage, more usually they are folded back on each-other a couple of times and either tied, or sometimes pushed into a short length of plastic tube for storage. The 'springiness' is not designed to make storage easier, it's to provide resilience against accidental damage during the heat of battle!