This turned out to be quite quick (about 4 hours) and easy. I used VK4LHD's construction method. The materials were under $50.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9W91eL_WiQ1VkQCS5qWTc7fffxGZNt61y-KqygeIaeWztqKDXluZslLvxD8XYhZlaaxtKmiPmDTyQG1X5OkxQPtFIwpd_2CknXehiVdYFBY5YvDvacUT8qdstq4HSH0BWOvNVhkoJcE/s320/101_2266.JPG) |
Only 8 parts |
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The aluminum tubing is cut into 6 lengths : 2 x 1200mm for the base reflectors and 4x 520mm for the top elements. These are inserted into a 40mm diameter/1000mm long pvc pipe with 1 hole drilled at 520mm from the top and the second hole 550mm from the top and at 90 degrees to the first hole.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZKAWa3jc1L8oKWei9WjH5i1qmlEQPYd8rMLzYVeiY59CIxO5ait6Fr25zxtsl0U38pgYvpaYf5B_e0xDSePjcxpWcX57WXnVUUnq9b6bXZ5bfVmpDW8z86iZPyNjSnvi3r-Zr0OqjWA/s320/101_2269.JPG) |
The 90 degree holes |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NiD-2BkV6GTIA1Fv3kzRtuBrmlhft8mUqIT1ZjsUcP3B7BhleU47dIiZEbXP51uBWaT7accz7djmcmWQVMNkBCdI9ctTCvHheeoMkcewBMwceinSk6uGZhgz9z8-eRxk6LXr7gpKIf8/s320/101_2270.JPG) |
Bottom section |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq3MvduKqC55nc-mDEf7CiVHfFfML9sc7ih7OcdGYmothAM9cWAPtQRa_G_2lAFjWW2bZSo-HQ4OAhN_pnatTYx5a2-gO5EJJq0cz1LQ2no0jNAAbW-1SiBnlWn27ghRbv_uACwedx8M/s320/101_2273.JPG) |
And top section done |
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The 4 way junction box is mounted to the top of the pipe by inserting a block into the end and screwing the junction box to it. The elements are drilled at one end to accomodate the terminals for the coax cable harness. I drilled 2 holes in the sides of the junction box to allow an access feed point for the coax.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAa3Tg-NkRgAQpZShj0feRZWdIhXIqxlARLp6Pqa7pAqherJnQe7WtPP_7YEFJ2tvPhpWLqbzd5C3CwH49GH_cdbglDMR1QB6kgW25yw7BEhsQmU60uMujbPyaP2-FjSnFZfraoMF4vI/s320/101_2268.JPG) |
The drilled elements |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9W_UHINcvO8WqD_LUsmmxKtY6CltSdtF-VG1A7JGHMbrj1fYb4pPOgYG-QDUa64jigUDCFdgxmqAXTiuo16ysxujD37ci7DhXGp9t5uzcv19-OW7sWcyXOBSB85Vel04xgJhDXn7VZ-M/s320/101_2276.JPG) |
The finished product |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMp5ZLTkco9u2OhATN-8fa0OqRapnJc63C7kP1ODsgvhim2Jq3MmI7bH2z_IH7L5YnlywgAdUwkojLsj4Rb7QJ4mvEomXCR16UaO3T_8qXRZpD4uwOIIiYwUNZ8Sfi2FgNDPU-3ygB_gs/s320/101_2278.JPG) |
The turnstile mounted |
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Thats basically all there is to it. On the first pass of NOAA 19 today, the image quality is vastly superior to any antenna i have tried before. Some more fine tuning and i should have some decent images. Here are some NOAA 18's after a bit of tinkering with WXtoIMG:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY3DCCMR4z-PNX0Y6EykneZv1KUmjjGKzDA-dkuBFnLs_-nX0jAMvMrYOJdJC-4AW2ZZvEhtNZsQf5PELYKXcc1qEPOTYXkB0htuTPJSdbZzHzY_afrGevaGOvpZoc-kqXJiDaA6NH6g/s320/noaa182.jpg) |
NOAA 18 26/5/2013* |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrVJ-0g-IbbD-URDW2uhTzZqk_5d6DwseY3K98J0K2Ra4JZNZ9ysaXQ5oaehuV_Lmkr7pxnnpKpt3qJivWjyCPdHxAiewj-pca2kvfx0vjImjrWih4vbHb7kVbN-oVmmSGKMBgxb_-wk/s320/noaa181.jpg) |
NOAA 18 26/5/2013* |
* Received with the RTL E4000 and SDR#
That's excellent mate, and well explained. Good stuff. Should serve you well for years.
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