CD Rom disc for ground plane?

bobhob · 09-21-2002

Hi all ....
Building my first homebrew antenna (toothpick) and am following Lincomatic's diagram - http://forums.netstumbler.com/showth...&threadid=2034

Would it be possible to use a CD Rom disc instead of the tin can lid for the ground plane? The fit is almost perfect using a panel mount N connector

This may have been covered in earier posts but I couldn't find any ......

Thanks, Bob

Ai42 · 09-21-2002

No

CDROM is mainly plastic with very very thin peice of metal (and not even all do). You need something that is not radio "invisible" some metal. There was talk of using a hard drive platter which would work better than a cdrom.

ted · 09-21-2002

Of course, if you cover the CD with some metal, for example aluminium foil, it will work much better.

And I have to agree with Ai42 that CD is no good as a ground plane. For more than one reason:
The problem is not only the extremely thin and therefore likely very badly conducting metal layer, but it is also important to have good metallic contact betwen the N connector housing and the ground plane. You have to consider that aspect when you select the ground plane material!

godsmoke · 09-22-2002

No, a CD ROM will certainly not work.

I plan to use a HD plate when I guild my Fab-Corp clone...

Though I own one of those ... it would still be interesting to build one.

Good Luck!

blackwave · 09-22-2002

don't forget the usage of a smooth cut lid from a soup can could serve wonders

If your can opener can't cut smoothly, it is 2002, find one

bobhob · 09-22-2002

Thanks all for your input ..... I was looking at another usage for all those damn AOHell discs we keep getting

They still make nice coasters ......

Bob

fartmonger · 09-22-2002

i just cracked an old 4 gig hd to get out the plates there are 2 incase anyone wonders. i too am planning to build one of these toothpick styles, i will post my results as soon as i get them.

sparafina · 09-23-2002

Here's the link for my version of the mobile mark with the el disco duro platter as a ground plane.

http://forums.netstumbler.com/showth...k&pagenumber=8

Since that picture was taken, I've changed the coil and length of the antenna based on a pdf that was posted in the antenna thread.

09-21-2002	#1 (permalink)
bobhob Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 8	CD Rom disc for ground plane? Hi all .... Building my first homebrew antenna (toothpick) and am following Lincomatic's diagram - http://forums.netstumbler.com/showth...&threadid=2034 Would it be possible to use a CD Rom disc instead of the tin can lid for the ground plane? The fit is almost perfect using a panel mount N connector This may have been covered in earier posts but I couldn't find any ...... Thanks, Bob

09-21-2002	#3 (permalink)
ted Stumbling on Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Houston,TX Posts: 47	Of course, if you cover the CD with some metal, for example aluminium foil, it will work much better. And I have to agree with Ai42 that CD is no good as a ground plane. For more than one reason: The problem is not only the extremely thin and therefore likely very badly conducting metal layer, but it is also important to have good metallic contact betwen the N connector housing and the ground plane. You have to consider that aspect when you select the ground plane material! __________________ "They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -Benjamin Franklin, 1759

09-22-2002	#4 (permalink)
godsmoke Student / Sys Admn. Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NYC, USA Posts: 78	No, a CD ROM will certainly not work. I plan to use a HD plate when I guild my Fab-Corp clone... Though I own one of those ... it would still be interesting to build one. Good Luck! __________________ -godsmoke

09-22-2002	#5 (permalink)
blackwave Do I look like I'm joking Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: SoCal, OC Posts: 4,507	don't forget the usage of a smooth cut lid from a soup can could serve wonders If your can opener can't cut smoothly, it is 2002, find one __________________ -=BW=-

09-22-2002	#7 (permalink)
fartmonger Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 48	i just cracked an old 4 gig hd to get out the plates there are 2 incase anyone wonders. i too am planning to build one of these toothpick styles, i will post my results as soon as i get them. __________________ All for one and one for All !!!

09-21-2002	#2 (permalink)
Ai42 SSID=Wardriver Join Date: May 2002 Location: Dallas Posts: 79	No CDROM is mainly plastic with very very thin peice of metal (and not even all do). You need something that is not radio "invisible" some metal. There was talk of using a hard drive platter which would work better than a cdrom.

09-22-2002	#6 (permalink)
bobhob Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 8	Thanks all for your input ..... I was looking at another usage for all those damn AOHell discs we keep getting They still make nice coasters ...... Bob

09-23-2002	#8 (permalink)
sparafina Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: TX,MD,NY Posts: 1,430	Here's the link for my version of the mobile mark with the el disco duro platter as a ground plane. http://forums.netstumbler.com/showth...k&pagenumber=8 Since that picture was taken, I've changed the coil and length of the antenna based on a pdf that was posted in the antenna thread.

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