Copper Gutter Antenna

A ham friend of mine recently asked me for the details of how i use my rain gutter and downspout as an antenna.

Copper gutter antenna.

There are hanger options to fit every budget and every style. Economics and efficiency are the main objectives. We ship custom lengths of gutters up to 20 ft. Copper gutters are our specialty and we stock 6 different profiles in a number of sizes and thicknesses.

Sprayed with flat o d. Copper gutter model fercp6 1 52 1 52. Gutter quality copper gutters are fabricated from 16 to 20 ounce copper. Paint it is all but invisible.

Amerimax home products 6 in. Make sure there is solid electrical continuity between the various sections of your downspout and gutter. The rain gutter is fairly new about 3 years old. K style copper ferrule for 6 in.

You won t find a standard half round copper gutter with a stronger bead. Using the terms rain gutter and efficiency are a contridiction. Most of the original article is still relevant but i have. Set your store to see local availability add to cart.

All joints should be bonded electrically with braid or copper strapping material to provide electrical continuity. You need to inspect it regularly. That article found its way into several ham radio publications and newsletters. In fact the downspout has now become my main antenna.

Some words of caution are in order however if you plan to use your rainspout as an antenna. So i just ran an appropriate length of 18 awg speaker wire inside the plastic downspout and horizontal section sealing the ends with waterproof silicone caulk and attached the antenna segment to the main wire of some rg 8 coax while i connected the. Make sure your gutter and downspout are isolated from ground. K style copper gutter model k10cp6 112 89 112 89.

Long and we also offer custom fabrication and are happy to build some gutters to your specifications. The gutter is a full 6 wide on the inside with an outer bead just over 3 4. Along with our copper gutters we carry a complete line of copper downspouts elbows hangers. Rain gutters are a compromise at best.

Unlike gregg s gutter antenna the spout and long horizontal section were made from plastic. Corrosion is the enemy of all antennas but rain gutters are particularly prone to corrosion especially at the joints. Because 20 ounce copper is 25 thicker it requires 25 more copper to make. This one is mounted 1 4 wavelength from the main tree trunk.

I have a couple of questions for anyone with expertise or experience in using a rain gutter as an antenna. Free delivery with 45 order. At the minimum you should choose 16 ounce copper gutters but depending on the weather and rainfall in your location 20 ounce copper may be a better choice. The world gutter system 6 half round copper gutter is the premier half round gutter system.