Hi, anyone have idea its great to make dipole antenna for HAM radio using pure copper rod instead using wires that usually done ?, I can even join those dipoles to jumper that then connect to RG58 female using exothermic molding
What do you think ?, its such will be a great dipole antenna to have for HAM radio ?, my transceiver is ICOM IC-2300H

 

Hi, anyone have idea its great to make dipole antenna for HAM radio using pure copper rod instead using wires that usually done ?, I can even join those dipoles to jumper that then connect to RG58 female using exothermic molding
What do you think ?, its such will be a great dipole antenna to have for HAM radio ?, my transceiver is ICOM IC-2300H

What do you mean, exactly by 'pure copper rod'? What diameter? What do you expect to be better? Due to skin effect, most of the bulk interior of a 'pure' copper rod will have no RF current in it, only the surface.

 

What do you mean, exactly by 'pure copper rod'? What diameter? What do you expect to be better? Due to skin effect, most of the bulk interior of a 'pure' copper rod will have no RF current in it, only the surface.

What about 1" diameter ?, what do you think ?

 

What about 1" diameter ?, what do you think ?

Expensive. Go for it!

 

Where will the antenna be uses? Stiffness of wire is good for structural reasons if used outside, but 1" is overkill.

 

Increased diameter should give you wider bandwith at low SWR. Since you are in the VHF region, I assume 2M, you should be able to build a Full Wavelength dipole. If I did, I'd want to rotate it as well. Why stop there? Go for full blown 3 element full wavelength Yagi design using copper tubing! There is no real advantage in using copper instead of aluminum other than price of material. Copper is preferred for wire antennas due to material strength, preferably 14 or 12AWG stranded as it gives a bit more surface area and easier to work with. Dielectric jacketing or bare will give the same result. Get an antenna book from the ARRL and there are several to choose from.

 

What about 1" diameter ?, what do you think ?

Waste of copper if solid.

 

Increased diameter should give you wider bandwith at low SWR. Since you are in the VHF region, I assume 2M, you should be able to build a Full Wavelength dipole. If I did, I'd want to rotate it as well. Why stop there? Go for full blown 3 element full wavelength Yagi design using copper tubing! There is no real advantage in using copper instead of aluminum other than price of material. Copper is preferred for wire antennas due to material strength, preferably 14 or 12AWG stranded as it gives a bit more surface area and easier to work with. Dielectric jacketing or bare will give the same result. Get an antenna book from the ARRL and there are several to choose from.

Sure, if it's tubing. The OP was talking about a 'pure copper ROD'. I've talked across the planet as a profession Navy communicator using steel wire rope for HF and from over the ocean horizon at sea to jungle with Ground Pounders with 'Green Gear' on VHF/UHF using a discone. As you say, there is no real advantage in using copper instead of aluminum.

 

I only mentioned tubing cause I figured he'd run out of the rod pretty quick for one reason or another.

 

I only mentioned tubing cause I figured he'd run out of the rod pretty quick for one reason or another.

I don't blame the OP for thinking it might be better if they only had a beginners level of electrical science training (without knowing the details of electromagnetic interactions with conductors) but if it truly was better, we would already be using 'pure copper rods' for antennas.

 

I don't blame the OP for thinking it might be better if they only had a beginners level of electrical science training (without knowing the details of electromagnetic interactions with conductors) but if it truly was better, we would already be using 'pure copper rods' for antennas.

I thought the OP just doesn't know that wires have copper in them or they have very bad english.

 

I thought the OP just doesn't know that wires have copper in them or they have very bad english.

That's not my take, his english is fine. IMO the OP was likely thinking about DC resistance, knows that good wires have copper (the purer the better ) and that larger, thicker wires have lower resistance and would be better. Unfortunately electromagnetics says otherwise at RF. The EM energy travels, surrounds the wire and doesn't travel in it, so the EM field and conductor current interactions at higher frequencies due to skin effect limit currents to the surface of conductors leaving the deeper inner area useless as a RF conductor of current.

 

Yes, but to a limit. You can use wire or rods that are too big.

 

I don't blame the OP for thinking it might be better if they only had a beginners level of electrical science training (without knowing the details of electromagnetic interactions with conductors) but if it truly was better, we would already be using 'pure copper rods' for antennas.

I has some abandoned pure copper rod, which is usually for earth electrode in a grounding system, and just has idea to experiments with it for making dipole antenna from it, will not it has better durability too ?, what do you think ?

Waste of copper if solid.

Yes, but not really a waste, as I just got some left unused, and its 1" of pure copper which is usually used for earth electrodes

 

I has some abandoned pure copper rod, which is usually for earth electrode in a grounding system, and just has idea to experiments with it for making dipole antenna from it, will not it has better durability too ?, what do you think ?

It will work but it won't work better. It is a waste of good copper that would be better used as grounding electrode (used someone that needs a better grounding system) as intended.

Much greater antenna losses arise due to variation in height, or distance from support structures and other things more important.

 

and there is some has already make it too, exactly like this, but I think exothermic welding for connecting wire to rod maybe better
https://www.para.org.ph/para-diy-dual-band-vhf-uhf-dipole-by-anthony-urbano-du1au.html

 

and there is some has already make it too, exactly like this, but I think exothermic welding for connecting wire to rod maybe better
https://www.para.org.ph/para-diy-dual-band-vhf-uhf-dipole-by-anthony-urbano-du1au.html

If you really want to make it better, plate it with silver.

"Silver on a copper wire, @ 50°C, 400Mhz, pen depth= 3.38/10⁸, the 99.999% of current will be concentrated on periferic 23um of the Silver coating"

Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/electrical-rf-conductivity-of-copper-oxide.982371/

 

and there is some has already make it too, exactly like this, but I think exothermic welding for connecting wire to rod maybe better
https://www.para.org.ph/para-diy-dual-band-vhf-uhf-dipole-by-anthony-urbano-du1au.html

No, you would only need a 60 watt soldering iron. Those soldering joints only look bad, because the author rushed the job or didn't have a hot enough iron.

 

No, you would only need a 60 watt soldering iron. Those soldering joints only look bad, because the author rushed the job or didn't have a hot enough iron.

Yes, but I has already have exothermic welding kit, so its not a problem for me, better thank soldering I think

If you really want to make it better, plate it with silver.

"Silver on a copper wire, @ 50°C, 400Mhz, pen depth= 3.38/10⁸, the 99.999% of current will be concentrated on periferic 23um of the Silver coating"

Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/electrical-rf-conductivity-of-copper-oxide.982371/

Great idea

I thought the OP just doesn't know that wires have copper in them or they have very bad english.

No, I do jobs overseas and all using english, I has spoke to about two dozens countries in asia and east europe with my english and no problem so far, can do Russian too but not good

 

and there is some has already make it too, exactly like this, but I think exothermic welding for connecting wire to rod maybe better

Those soldering joints only look bad, because the author rushed the job or didn't have a hot enough iron.

Easiest way to solder wire to copper tube versus 1/4 in diameter copper tube solder connection by TS's link:

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