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.

In fact the downspout has now become my main antenna. Long and we also offer custom fabrication and are happy to build some gutters to your specifications. Amerimax home products 6 in. Set your store to see local availability add to cart.

We ship custom lengths of gutters up to 20 ft. Rain gutters are a compromise at best. That article found its way into several ham radio publications and newsletters. 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. Unlike gregg s gutter antenna the spout and long horizontal section were made from plastic. Paint it is all but invisible. 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.

Sprayed with flat o d. Along with our copper gutters we carry a complete line of copper downspouts elbows hangers. You need to inspect it regularly. Most of the original article is still relevant but i have.

All joints should be bonded electrically with braid or copper strapping material to provide electrical continuity. Copper gutters are our specialty and we stock 6 different profiles in a number of sizes and thicknesses. 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.

K style copper gutter model k10cp6 112 89 112 89. I originally did a write up on it in 1994. Some words of caution are in order however if you plan to use your rainspout as an antenna. Make sure there is solid electrical continuity between the various sections of your downspout and gutter.

You won t find a standard half round copper gutter with a stronger bead. The antenna vertical element is made from copper alloy brazing rod from harbor fright and the radials are 14 ga copper wire. Make sure your gutter and downspout are isolated from ground. Copper gutter model fercp6 1 52 1 52.

The world gutter system 6 half round copper gutter is the premier half round gutter system. Free delivery with 45 order. Amerimax home products 6 in. The rain gutter is fairly new about 3 years old.

Using the terms rain gutter and efficiency are a contridiction. Economics and efficiency are the main objectives. K style copper ferrule for 6 in. The gutter is a full 6 wide on the inside with an outer bead just over 3 4.