I can’t tuna fish, but perhaps an antenna?

So that we won’t be completely of- the-air in Watertown whilst we remove the old WSLJ transmitting antenna and install a new  more better one (next week?), we’re planning to put up a temporary antenna at the site for a day or two.  Fortunately, we’ve got our old Saranac Lake antenna to re-use…  but as Saranac Lake is 90.5 and Watertown is 88.9, the antenna has to be re-tuned for the lower frequency.  This involves lengthening each of the 1/4 wavelength arms by a little over a half an inch, then testing the antenna with a low power transmitter to determine if the adjustment worked.

re-tuning a Jampro JSLP-1 at NCPR labs (my garage)

5 Comments on “I can’t tuna fish, but perhaps an antenna?”

  1. Hank says:

    Does this re-tuning procedure involve a hacksaw, by any chance?

  2. Bob S. says:

    Nope, just a couple of 7/16″ (pretty close to your 11 mm) wrenches!

  3. Mike Ludovici says:

    How can I determine the optimal antenna length for my portable radio when I am listening at different frequencies?
    Thanks,
    Mike

  4. Craig Miller says:

    Looks Great, Bob.

    I am sure you won’t make the mistake I made by tuning an antenna _inside_ a quonset hut at high altitude (it was cold outside). After moving the antenna outside I realized it was too short, the metal roof impacted the VSWR quite a bit.

    Always a pleasure, Bob.

    Craig…
    [Former Chief Engineer of Hawaii Public Radio]

  5. Bob Sauter says:

    To Mike L (about determining the optimal antenna length for his portable radio when listening to different frequencies:) Mike, as you know there is a direct mathematical relationship between the frequency, wavelength and the speed of light for all electromagnetic radiation (radio waves, light waves, x-rays) V=Fλ. Then you could figure out the speed of light in air, and use a correction for the diameter of your antenna conductor…. OR use an on-line calculator like this one: http://www.crompton.com/wa3dsp/hamradio/antcalc.html OR best yet, just try different lenghts to see which works best. At any frequencies in the FM band a quarter wavelength is anywhere from 26 to 32 inches in length.

    To Craig: my garage is wood!

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