Backyard Antennas [Paperback]

The book covers quite a bit of home construction topics not often found in other similar books, such as how to prepare Coax cable, making your own ATU as well as a good guide to construction materials, methods and supports.

The book give both Metric and Imperial dimensions via formulae rather than by telling what dimensions to cut - so readers on either side of the Atlantic have no excuses when it comes cutting wire. There are some diagrams however that are only in Metric format - so US buyers be prepared to have to use a calculator.

No matter what type of space you have available you should be able to find something that will work for you - albeit HF, VHF, people with large space or requiring 'stealth' antennae.

As each antennae diagram has a predicted radiation patter with it, it was very pleaseing to see that the book also contained a very interesting chapter on how you can try and measure the performance of your creation. This presents some interesting concepts and techniques that I have not seen anywhere else prior to this. The only slight criticism that I would have on the chapter is in the modern day of computer modelling that some resources were not devoted to this every increasing subject.

I would like to write more however I have been itching to create an HF Cubical Quad, and now I believe I know how to go about it - happy antennae building and good DX.

This book complements most excellently Joe Carr's book Antenna Toolkit - and with these both now on my book shelf I will not be looking for any further titles on this subject for the foreseeable future.

The book covers quite a bit of home construction topics not often found in other similar books, such as how to prepare Coax cable, making your own ATU as well as a good guide to construction materials, methods and supports. This information coupled with the excellent illustrations gives you enough confidence to try and make something like that as well.

The book give both Metric and Imperial dimensions via formulae rather than by telling what dimensions to cut - so readers on either side of the Atlantic have no excuses when it comes cutting wire. There are some diagrams however that are only in Metric format - so US buyers be prepared to have to use a calculator.

No matter what type of space you have available you should be able to find something that will work for you - albeit HF, VHF, people with large space or requiring 'stealth' antennae.

As each antennae diagram has a predicted radiation patter with it, it was very pleaseing to see that the book also contained a very interesting chapter on how you can try and measure the performance of your creation. This presents some interesting concepts and techniques that I have not seen anywhere else prior to this. The only slight criticism that I would have on the chapter is in the modern day of computer modelling that some resources were not devoted to this every increasing subject.

I would like to write more however I have been itching to create an HF Cubical Quad, and now I believe I know how to go about it - happy antennae building and good DX.

This book complements most excellently Joe Carr's book Antenna Toolkit - and with these both now on my book shelf I will not be looking for any further titles on this subject for the foreseeable future.