| | "Worldtenna" Super Helical AllBand Shortwave Antenna |  |
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1R5
Posts: 4
Join date: 2010-10-13
| | Subject: "Worldtenna" Super Helical AllBand Shortwave Antenna Thu Oct 14, 2010 2:54 am | |
| Opinions on this thing...??? The guy has a Yahoo post http://groups.yahoo.com/group/shortwave_antenna/?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=dir&slk=579 and auctions them on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/HELICAL-SHORTWAVE-AM-RADIO-ANTENNA-cc-crystal-ham-tube-/150501419711?pt=Shortwave_Radios&hash=item230a9. It looks like a slinky supported by chunks of PVC pipe and a lead wire tacked on. I wonder if there's any more going for it than that??? A slinky will act like a long wire but ya can get slinkys from yard sale free boxes all summer.... 
Last edited by 1R5 on Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:49 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Chas
Posts: 33
Join date: 2010-10-12
Age: 65
Location: S. Dartmouth MA 02748-1225 ------------ Avatar: Uncle Tony's Shack
| | Subject: Re: "Worldtenna" Super Helical AllBand Shortwave Antenna Thu Oct 14, 2010 3:09 am | |
| | Quote: | | A slinky will act like a long wire but ya can get those from yard sale free boxes all summer.... |
Exactly, a Slinky, no more, not even a dipole.
At $12.95, consider labor, materials, hardly worth the effort. |
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1R5
Posts: 4
Join date: 2010-10-13
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Mike Toon
Posts: 24
Join date: 2010-10-13
Location: Burbank CA
| | Subject: Re: "Worldtenna" Super Helical AllBand Shortwave Antenna Thu Oct 14, 2010 4:29 am | |
| "This antenna will really pull in the shortwave signals compared to the telescopic antenna that comes with your radio."
Sure, the telescopic antenna can't be stretched as "long" as a their Slinky with 20' of lead in wire.
Is the Slinky just a novelty and handy to use, or does the helical configuration act as a larger diameter wire? (IE more surface area)
I always thought a Slinky stretched was no better than a same length straight wire, point A to B.
I remember guys in the 50s polishing their car antennas claiming way better reception. Another myth? |
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glasdave
Posts: 68
Join date: 2010-10-12
Location: Aurora Colorado
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burnt fingers
Posts: 70
Join date: 2010-10-12
Location: New Hampshire
| | Subject: Re: "Worldtenna" Super Helical AllBand Shortwave Antenna Thu Oct 14, 2010 4:47 pm | |
| Slinky's work quite well in a confined enviroment but not as efficient as a full length length of wire equal to the total in a Slinky. They also are available in dipole configuration.
The cheaper steel ones are not very good outside as they soon rust. but pricey brass ones are available. However I dont know about the one below; its awful cheap and the coating may quickly fail outdoors.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Goldtone-Metal-2-COIL-SPRING-Slinky-Walking-Toy-/260376485992?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3c9fa5e068
Carl |
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gearhead222
Posts: 25
Join date: 2010-10-13
| | Subject: Re: "Worldtenna" Super Helical AllBand Shortwave Antenna Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:16 pm | |
| FWIW, I made my second slinky and really didn't save much. Still, it was a fun little project:)-Gearhead |
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jack shirley
Posts: 67
Join date: 2010-10-12
Location: SE USA
| | Subject: Re: "Worldtenna" Super Helical AllBand Shortwave Antenna Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:50 pm | |
| | gearhead222 wrote: | | FWIW, I made my second slinky and really didn't save much. Still, it was a fun little project:)-Gearhead |
Wow, that's a lot of winding, fer sure!
I use the pre-wound ones myself |
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oldradiospook
Posts: 151
Join date: 2010-10-12
Age: 63
Location: In the Great Wide Open-Crawfordsville, Indiana
| | Subject: Re: "Worldtenna" Super Helical AllBand Shortwave Antenna Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:15 pm | |
| I trying to figure what use my old hola hoops and skate board from the 50's will make. Hey and maybe my Lincoln Logs or Leggos. Yo-yos and silly putty. Put them all together and you might have a secret weapon.  |
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| | "Worldtenna" Super Helical AllBand Shortwave Antenna | |
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shipped. That's a some slinky. 