Posted by Paul C. [ 206.40.237.50 ] on June 06, 2006 at 22:18:32:

In Reply to: Re: AM antenna update posted by Wayne Parham on June 05, 2006 at 23:33:07:

Materials needed to make your own:

Base- decoupage plaque from a craft store

4 Rubber or plastic bumpers- self adhesive type, for feet, need to be about 1/4" thick

1/2" x 3/4" x 18" long pine- cross arm

1/2" x 3/4" x 20" long pine- upright

#6 x 2 1/2" woodscrew- to secure upright to base

4 brass "shoulder hooks"- to hold wire loop on upright and crossarm

#8 brass machine screw, 2 washers, nut (all must be brass)- to connect the crossarm to the upright

terminal strip

18' of #22 insulated wire, stranded or solid, does not matter

300 ohm twinlead - length as needed to go from terminal strip to your tuner or receiver.

The shoulder hooks are screwd into the ends of the cross arm about 3/8" from the ends. Also on the upright, 3/8" from the top, and one about 2" from the bottom.

A 5/32" hole is drilled in the center of the base (plaque), and another drilled 1/2" in front of it. A third hole is drilled to one side coming out next to the terminal strip.

See photos.

The upright and crossarm are notched (1/4" deep, 3/4" wide) so that they may be assembled and be flush. A hole is drilled through them and the machine screw, washers, and nut are used to hold it together.

Before assembly of wood parts, sand and stain, varnish, or finish as you wish. I used Minwax stain, let dry overnight, then a few coats of spray on water based finish.

A 3/32" hole is drilled in the bottom of the upright. The #6 2 1/2" screw is screwed in from under the base and into the upright to hold it to the base.

6" of wire is pushed down through the hole just in front of the upright, under the base, and out the hole beside the terminal strip and secured to the terminal strip.

Pull out the excess slack from the top by the upright.

Pass the wire over the lowest shoulder hook, then up around one of the crossarm shoulder hooks, up to the top, down to the other side, back down to the bottom shoulder hook, and around again. Total of four loops.

At the bottom loop the wire around the bottom shoulder hook and then down through the hole in the base. Pull it snug. Up through the hole by the terminal strip, and secure to the terminal strip.

Then run 300 ohm twinlead from the terminal strip to your tuner or receiver. Connect to the AM and Ground terminals. Both leads must be connected.

Listen to the AM stations roll in!

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