Guitars / Cats

Finks · Post by **Finks** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 10:04 am

Has anyone tried both? What do you find to work best Guitar string or Cat 5 wire?

hogjowlz · Post by **hogjowlz** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 10:05 am

muh fuckin twist ties. because they dont cost jack and they are just the right size for a bit.

plus you get to be destructive when you take the paper/plastic shit off.

really whatever is thinner and lighter per inch is the best antenna.

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 11:14 am

Well when I tried guitar string and apparently I was using too thick of a piece, but I recently discovered I had a Cat 5 cable laying around all along, and been using that. I really like it because it's stiff, but you can still work the kinks out. If you stick a car with guitar string in you pocket, it'll get all bent up. (and yeah, I have been known to stick my cars in my pocket, out of convenience.

)

I don't think either makes a big difference in reception.

stagg · Post by **stagg** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:55 pm

i like to use a thing guitar stirng. its like the second thinnest, i think it looks better, and sorta resembles a realy antenna also, and they always stay stright up.

Finks · Post by **Finks** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 10:56 pm

So basically use what you have. Thanks for the input. Wasn't sure if it actually mattered.

SuperFly · Post by **SuperFly** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 11:09 pm

It matters a little bit. For example, solid core wire works much better than stranded, and I think copper works better than not copper. There is a formula for the perfect antenna length that is based on the frequency. I'll see if I can find it. These are things that will eek out a few more feet, not double your range.

Post by **CaboWabo** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 11:13 pm

SuperFly wrote:There is a formula for the perfect antenna length that is based on the frequency. I'll see if I can find it.

that'd be kick ass actually.

SuperFly wrote:These are things that will eek out a few more feet, not double your range

at this scale that's like a hundred miles lol

crazydave · Post by **crazydave** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 11:56 pm

Ditto Cabo's comments, I'd like to see that formula too.

...and another off handed comment, everone's always talking about range in feet, but for me, it's not about distance, because I'm playing in a small area, it more about minimizing glitching with in that area, and every tiny bit helps.

stagg · Post by **stagg** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 7:55 am

its 16.66666 inches..well thats what i though. but if you get like 1/4 or 1/2 that its still great.

hogjowlz · Post by **hogjowlz** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 8:52 am

http://www.qsl.net/kd4sai/antencal.html

stagg · Post by **stagg** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:54 pm

what would they be then.. damn should have payed attention when we learned about wavelenghts... o well.