UHF System Spec's

  The following are pictures of the antennas before I started work on the repeater cabinet, or even before I received the cabinet.

This is the Receive antenna. It's at the tippy top of the tower. It's a dual lobe antenna, using it as a "Broadband" receive antenna. In case your wondering, it does allright as a transmit on UHF, the reflected was 1/4 watt. BUT, dosent's do as well as the UHF antenna I am now using.

Before I started repairs to the antenna I took these pictures as to have a running log on this web site. The "cups" are cracked. This is probally why the commercial transmitter had a reflected power of almost 1 watt. Water was getting into the radiator, shorting the output to ground. On receive, we noticed that portiables coulden't break PL as easely as the mobils. Therefore, not only did the water effect the output, but also the receive. Interesting huh?

Notice the cracks are on the same side of each cup. Plus, the cracks are of the almost same style, side, and place on the radiator lobe. We will replace or repair the cups before we use it for our repeater.

  Tomorrow, I will remove the cups and see whats inside. Should be just mounting for the lobes and cable connecting. There should not be any kind of electronics or electronic componets. So, that means, I should be able to cut down the lobes for the 400Mhz frequency.

Hmmm, a decent amount of aluminum corrosion. Well, no matter. Should be able to clean them up good. Looks like surface corrosion. The cups are not only cracked, but broken. They came off, and each lobe cup is in 4 pieces. I'll send off a email to the MFG. Perhaps I can get new cups for the lobes.

This lobe's cable center conductor screw came out of the lobe loop. The other one stayed in. I don't think thats a problem except when cutting them down could be a problem with speed of cutting

  Since the cups aren't available from cellwave (The MFG), We have to see if we can repair the cups. OR, we can purchase new "dipole elements", that *Include* the cups. Hmmm, I suppose thats the way they make more money. Sell the antenna without the center supporting pipe. OK, well, perhaps we can repair the cups. Let's give it a try shall we?.

  So, first we must clean the cup peices. I mean *REALLY* clean the peices. Get off all the aluminum corrosion. This will requirer scraping the aluminum corrosion. I used a 3 inch dry wall screw because the tip can fit in the side walls where the antennas element will go. I also used the screw part as a file. This cleaned them up real good.

Cleaning up the peices for reconstruction. Use dish washing detergent. I used Dawn, and a scrubber pad used for pots and pans. After that, I dryed the peices off to see the spots I messed of the aluminum corrision and used the 3 inch drywall screw to scrape the rest off. Then, rewashed with the detergent and use a painting brush to re-clean the cups.

All of the aluminuim corrosion, The white stuff shown, MUST GO!

  So, now, that the peices are cleaned up, dryed and ready to be glued together. I used a hot glue gun to put the peices together. Using the hot glue. The kind that don't get hard-hard. Kinda like silcone, but a bit more ridgid, but can be bent a little.
 Placing the glue on the larger side of the cracked cup, in the crack it's self, then pressing the second peice on the first peice. Using all my might as pressure so it dryes to a plyable substance. I tryed using a vice but that made the peices not sturdy side to side. But, using "Hand power" I had the pressure and the gyro use of my hands until it was dry enough to work with.

After the first glue gun process, allow to dry for a 1/2 hour or so. Then get a box cutter, or dry wall knife and carefully cut out the beed inside the cup's mold for the antenna elements. Then, after that, cut the residue away from the outer side of the cup. This will make a better hold when we go over the crack with another pass of the glue.

  Turn over the cups and run a bead directly over the crack. All the way to the end even if it goes into the element mold. That will be removed later with your box knife.

Run another hot glue bead directly down the crack. Your bead should be about 1/4 inch wide, and not a "light" bead. After that, leave alone and let dry.

  So, now your peices should be secure. No glue inside the mold for the antenna elements. A nice 1/4 inch wide bead down the crack on each cup outer side, where the cracks are. Like in these pictures. Now, we are ready to clean up the antenna elements.

  FYI use a glue that dosen't dry hard. I used hot glue sticks named "Super Glue". It should dry not as hard as rock, but not as rubbery as silicone. If unshure, check first. Run a bead on cardboard. I purchased the glue at Home Depot. If they don't have it (as they are known for not having stuff) Try Lowes. This is important as you don't want the glue as hard as rock as the cups will most certanly crack again. With some plyable movement, better chances are they will stay glued. (Later after we get the elements cut, and where ready to put the cups back on we will run a light coat of silicone over one cup for each element. Using our finger to spread the cilicone throught the inner side of the cup. This will keep the elements from getting damp or wet as it rains. Filling the possible surface cracks and contouring inside to the elements. Then put the cups together using the cup screws, The silicone will come out around the cup, and then we use our finger to remove the access of silicone. Then, we're ready to mount on the tower. At the top, Tippy top...

  This antenna is on the top and is used for the receive. I am using it as a "Broadband Receive" antenna.

  Inside the rack a closer look at the bottom circuits, relays, and hub bub
Sept. 20, 2009

  After all the tower works was done I took these pictures.. Awesome huh? The stick that is side mounted at the top is the TX antenna. Originally a commercial antenna, works well and is only 15 or so megs away. Get's 1/2 watt reflected.. The tippy top is the receive. Works well also. If I only could go higher...
Sept. 22, 2009

  Here's a zoom in. Far enough away from the tower... In case your wondering... The TV antennas are in use. I get HD signals and I get on the average of 23 stations. Maryland, Delaware, PA and naturally, NJ.. 6-10-12 and 3, are a bit so-so at times.
Sept. 22, 2009

  Another decent shot, zoomed out...
Sept. 22, 2009