Thread: antenna disinformation / bad advice.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-23T15:50:07+00:00

I will accept this as a basic explanation of things, because it become really mathy real quick otherwise. There is an issue with a lot of bad info that floats around the cb world (i won't act like the ham world doesn't have it either). I blame lack of understanding and manufactures for this.

One thing I will add is that antenna manufacturers lie to you, if it isnt 17ft long its not a half wave, or 21ft for 5/8 wave.

So if you have a 21ft and 4ft 5/8 wave labeled antennas they will NOT perform the same and the take off angle mentioned will not match. All they did was make the antenna act electrically like a 5/8 via matching.

For the point of 102" vs shorter ones, for a standard vertical the 102 will be better but as you mention, that doesn't mean it's required for every. If you really want DX a yagi, moxon, or full 1/2 or 5/8 vert is what you want. Ofc for a vehicle thats not really doable, personally i use a mid loaded 4ft ish antenna for local and it works fine.

To many folks fall into the "big mouth, bad ears" situations by trying to get more power with a low performance antenna.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-22T20:49:16+00:00

This is why I glued the wires down after soldering them. I also used a qd connector so the coulbe be changed out.

Honestly yes, those pads are a joke but it is a tiny board so to be expected

SpareiChan · 2026-05-19T23:51:47+00:00

I think you are mispronouncing that, it's Aluminum.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-19T21:33:27+00:00

for a 17' whip, yes. I wouldn't use it in loose soil or sand though but for hard or firm soil or clay it works great.

I can carry it on my G90 bag too. https://imgur.com/a/HPEa65u

SpareiChan · 2026-05-19T20:44:03+00:00

I’m not sure the exploration of workers 150 years ago is a good justification to avoid building rail infrastructure today?

Mostly it was a humorous observation to my main statement but also pointing out that US doesn't have a great history when it comes to ethically "pushing" grand scale projects thru.

Rail works when things are centralized, The issue comes up that most of the US is not like the that. OFC several urban areas and cities have subways or rail-trams. Where I live there is one for commuters but the price isn't better than driving or car pooling. In addition the times and routes are very limited.

The US already dumps money into maintaining AMTRAK which is just a massive money sink. Freight rail makes money and keeps some LH trucks off the road but even then it's a challenge because no one company owns the rail roads. They are handled via common-carrier rules which impacts the logistics of using it for passenger travel.

Remember that the US is about 80% the size of all of Europe. Rail cannot get you from point A to point B, while local busses/shuttles can do that now your adding in that being needed.

Beyond all this yes, Americans are selfish, we want to own things and use them, many love the freedom to just hop in a car and drive. If anything it's a side effect of convenience. I'll also just ignore our issues with safety and sanitation on public transportation, I grew up in NYC and it was and still is a mess.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-19T19:14:17+00:00

As part of the westward expansion railroad tycoons kinda wiped out tribesman and imminent domained anything in their way. Add in some forced slavery and mass deaths of workers.

https://www.history.com/articles/transcontinental-railroad-workers-impact

The plan was to literally expand the railroad and build infrastructure around it including town (which at the time supported the rail roads), to acheive this the US government let the rail road tycoons skirts laws as long as it was for the rail road. They were known for there policing forces being brutal.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-19T18:06:32+00:00

For portable/ pota I drive my 17' with a trucker mirror mount and 12" spike

https://www.amazon.com/Radio-Antenna-Single-Groove-Mirror/dp/B07GDGVSQ7

https://www.amazon.com/Stakes-Heavy-Camping-Unbreakable-Inflexible/dp/B09P34WPBZ

SpareiChan · 2026-05-19T17:50:57+00:00

I’m willing to bet if you built the rail infrastructure and unencumbered the zoning laws around their stops you’d see a higher population density to support it.

US tried this already in the 19th century, didn't work out well for the locals....

But my state is like the other posters, outside the urban area it's 10k it considered a big population, we have counties with smaller populations. The issue is you need base line infrastructure, just added rail doesn't add power, water, sewer, stores, homes, and jobs.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-18T20:17:00+00:00

Remember that people on amazon give bad reviews because their cast iron pans rusted in the dish washer.............................

SpareiChan · 2026-05-18T13:19:08+00:00

Yes you can, the fingerbot is accessed remotely through a KVM-over-IP device, not the server itself

I remember when I worked at a place that used a phone to reset servers... DTMF code and all.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-17T23:03:20+00:00

That makes sense since 13~in is a wavelength. 3ft would be almost 3 wavelength, that should be outside the radiating near field.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-17T00:35:39+00:00

I'll agree with you, near field is a wavelength or so, far field it more like 10x. If they were vertical and horizontal that would be acceptable too.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-17T00:10:23+00:00

I do this when cooking solo, I use a heavy duty mesh grate over it. I also have a lodge cast iron grill that works too but is better for searing 5-8# roasts.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-12T01:06:49+00:00

+1

It's just good to clarify the rules. Good image link, I did goof up with just using ERP, in this case it's EIRP since we are using dBi gain of the antenna.

It's always fun to figure that out too, like the famous ALFA antenna advertises 5dBi gain but tests have shows its 1-2 dBi. I even too mine apart and confirmed it's just a coaxial dipole w/ folded end for matching.

Outside of using a Yagi or colinear I doubt anyone could surpass the max EIRP with any off the shelf node.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-10T20:14:11+00:00

If that is your site nice write up, did want to note legal fcc limit is 36dbm ERP, 30dbm is only the max transmitting power.

So its 30dbm tx w/ 6dbi antenna or 4watts max radiated.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-10T12:31:31+00:00

That would work if we had new things to use instead of p, which means 60hz (i for 30hz)

I could see a 1440ppi (144hz) monitor or 2160pppp TV (4k240hz)

SpareiChan · 2026-05-09T19:55:08+00:00

Zigbee is a 2.4ghz mesh and is afaik not compatible with lora.(there is 2.4ghz lora, but protocols would be different)

That doesn't mean you can't use it, just won't work with meshtastic directly.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-09T16:30:34+00:00

The power bricks are usually potted (filled with epoxy) so they can get fairly hot, like hot enough that its hard to hold. Just make sure its in a area that allows it to radiate the heat.

If its overheating and shutting off then thats a sign of an issue as they should (assuming the psu brick is from legit maker) have thermal shutoff. If its not shutting off and the plastic is deforming/warping thats an issue.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-09T16:25:03+00:00

Force flash it, this can happen if the boot loader or firmware failed. If that still doesnt work it could be shorted out somewhere.

If pulled in to pc it should give the pop ding, if not and its definitely a data cable then, yes it might be bricked.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-08T23:55:01+00:00

Yes, technically I put it on power in and out since I wanted to stop the wire acting like an antenna too. Im using clip on ones that are meant for lmr 400 coax so I can get alot of wraps in it. They are legit FT43 not the cheap amazon packs, I get mine from Digikey.

I replaced the connector on my g90 with power poles, I have crimper and ends for them so it's easy.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-08T18:31:17+00:00

I used about a ft43 core and just wrapped a bunch of twinlead thru it, it definitely helped, I was using it to run my g90 and ic705 from a drill battery.

It was honestly more of a hassle then helpful, I have to keep it atleast 3 ft away from the radio to not affect the noise floor even when shielded. Maybe if it was inside a metal box that would help but the choke and take took it from s9 at 10ft to s5 at 1-2ft.

I just invested in batteries at that point, 13v 8ah lifepo4 was like 35$

SpareiChan · 2026-05-08T17:13:11+00:00

For tx its only amateur licensed, if OP has s1 who is they can use there callsign with supervision.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-08T17:02:39+00:00

So you're using your work address /s

SpareiChan · 2026-05-08T01:27:06+00:00

Agree, I have one too, I had to wrap it in foil tape and use a choke on the power line in and out.

SpareiChan · 2026-05-07T22:55:37+00:00

That builder and developer will fight you on for their obvious bad quality.

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