I wanted to add a little discovery that I made while tuning a different Diamond fake today.
I noticed that when the cover was put back on the antenna, it would swing wildly out of tune.
After a little research, I found out that China uses carbon to dye their plastic black.
Plastic is already a dielectric material, and the video shows what adding carbon (the same stuff from which we make resistors) to the mix does.
I learned years ago that carbon is a (poor) conductor when I tried to make ladder line out of carbon fiber hunting arrows. That was exciting!
The surprising thing is that the antennas are somewhat close to the bottom of the 70cm band with the cover off. It was lack of planning when selecting the plastic for the covers that ruined these antennas.
I ended up tuning the antenna to account for the cover, when I could have just as likely made a new cover from white or clear plastic.
In retrospect clear plastic would also look cool!
Here is the video for your consideration.
I noticed that when the cover was put back on the antenna, it would swing wildly out of tune.
After a little research, I found out that China uses carbon to dye their plastic black.
Plastic is already a dielectric material, and the video shows what adding carbon (the same stuff from which we make resistors) to the mix does.
I learned years ago that carbon is a (poor) conductor when I tried to make ladder line out of carbon fiber hunting arrows. That was exciting!
The surprising thing is that the antennas are somewhat close to the bottom of the 70cm band with the cover off. It was lack of planning when selecting the plastic for the covers that ruined these antennas.
I ended up tuning the antenna to account for the cover, when I could have just as likely made a new cover from white or clear plastic.
In retrospect clear plastic would also look cool!
Here is the video for your consideration.
