FAB Parabolic on a tripod

Novilio · 08-01-2002

Finally got around to taking some shots of my warscanning antenna. It's a $45 rig from Fleeman Anderson & Bird, set on a standard photo tripod. 15 dbi gain, quite narrow. I take it up on the roof at night, and if I hold the ThinkPad in one hand I can do a 360 degree sweep in less than a minute.

I use it at night because:

1. It's HOT during the day here!
2. I can't read the ThinkPad's display in Arizona sunlight.
3. The neighbors think I'm weird enough already.

I tried it originally using a handheld arrangement with a length of 1" dowel for a handle, and although it looked very Trekkish, it was simply hopeless. A tripod is way better.

The antenna has tremendous reach. I logged several APs that were about half a mile from here, and one that (for reasons unclear) is almost 4000 feet away and still comes in at -80.

An odd note: The black metal bracket that I used as an adapter between FAB's galvanized iron bracket and the tripod is the tape channel from a PDP-8 paper tape reader that I bought by the pound at a junk shop near San Jose in 1987. Who sez hoarding junk never pays off? On the other hand, almost any piece of aluminum or steel channel or angle stock will do.

FAB's assembly instructions were from hunger, but if you can't figure it out you probably don't have what it takes to get around in this business.

It's not generally useful, but if you need a parabolic I definitely recommend it.

--73--

--Novilio

Novilio · 08-01-2002

Well, I thought I did it right. Let me try again.

Novilio · 08-01-2002

Guess you can't attach two at once.

08-01-2002	#1 (permalink)
Novilio ScrivenStumbler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 254	FAB Parabolic on a tripod Finally got around to taking some shots of my warscanning antenna. It's a $45 rig from Fleeman Anderson & Bird, set on a standard photo tripod. 15 dbi gain, quite narrow. I take it up on the roof at night, and if I hold the ThinkPad in one hand I can do a 360 degree sweep in less than a minute. I use it at night because: 1. It's HOT during the day here! 2. I can't read the ThinkPad's display in Arizona sunlight. 3. The neighbors think I'm weird enough already. I tried it originally using a handheld arrangement with a length of 1" dowel for a handle, and although it looked very Trekkish, it was simply hopeless. A tripod is way better. The antenna has tremendous reach. I logged several APs that were about half a mile from here, and one that (for reasons unclear) is almost 4000 feet away and still comes in at -80. An odd note: The black metal bracket that I used as an adapter between FAB's galvanized iron bracket and the tripod is the tape channel from a PDP-8 paper tape reader that I bought by the pound at a junk shop near San Jose in 1987. Who sez hoarding junk never pays off? On the other hand, almost any piece of aluminum or steel channel or angle stock will do. FAB's assembly instructions were from hunger, but if you can't figure it out you probably don't have what it takes to get around in this business. It's not generally useful, but if you need a parabolic I definitely recommend it. --73-- --Novilio

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