While working on my bitx, I was in need of a 20 meter antenna. I strung up a quick dipole. but it didn’t work very well. I’ve been meaning to put together a multiband antenna for a while and since I had pretty much everything I would need, I built a G5RV antenna.
More information about the G5RV antenna, including formulas, measurements, etc, can be found here.
The basic parts that I used were:
- PVC end caps
- eye bolts
- old tv twin lead
- 14 gauge stranded THHN
- screw on cable clamps
- electric fence insulators
- SO239 connector
I started with the PVC end caps.
I mounted an so239 connector to the outside of the cap.
I found a roll of old twin lead at the thrift store for a few bucks.
I attached and soldered the twin lead to the so239 connector.
Then I filled the cap when fiberglass resin and let it cure.
Some leaked out around the connector, but it was easy to scrape off.
Next, I added eye bolts to the other PVC end cap. Two to attach each side of the dipole and one on top to hang the antenna.
Next, I measured out the wire and connected each end to the end cap using the cable clamps.
I then connected and soldered the other end of the twin lead to the two dipole arms.
Then I potted it in fiberglass resin.
Next, I added the electric fence insulators to the ends using more cable clamps. I went back and used some loctite on on all of the cable clamp screws.
Once the fiberglass cured, it pulled away from the edges of the PVC end caps. I took some silicon and filled in around the whole tops of the end caps for a little extra waterproofing.
Once I got the antenna outside, I quickly realized I didn’t really have a good place for it. It is a long antenna. The full width is 102 feet. I temporarily strung it up between the house and a tree and left the twin lead laying across the ground and it seemed to receive well on 20 and 40. Once I find a permanent place for it, I will test out my tuner and and report back on how well this thing works.
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