The Aerial

Our aerial is a standard Medium Wave Ferrite Rod that has been wrapped in tinfoil to provide directionability

You will need:

• medium wave aerial
• greaseproof paper
• kitchen foil
• length of hook-up wire

Discard any long wave coil and place the medium wave coil about half an inch (1cm) from the end of the ferrite rod with the wires from the coil coming out beyond the end of the rod. You may need to tape the coil into place with a small piece of Sellotape (Scotch tape).

Cut a piece of greasproof paper to the same width as the ferrite rod and wind it around the aerial assembly. Tape this into place with Sellotape (Scotch tape). Make sure that the wires are available and that they have not been caught under the paper.

Now take your piece of hookup wire and strip back the isulation so that there is a bare area about the same length as the length of the ferrite rod. Tape this into place with Sellotape (Scotch tape) firmly at the insulated end.

Cut a piece of kitchen foil (tinfoil) to the same width as the length as the ferrite rod and start to wrap the aerial assembly in the foil.

The foil must NOT make a complete loop but there must be a gap of about 1/8" (3mm). The easiest way to do this is to tape one edge of the foil to the aerial assembly. Then roll the foil around the assembly. Fold the foil back on itself to mark the position. Then cut along this fold before Sellotaping (Scotch taping) the final edge of the foil to the aerial assembly. Make sure that the hookup wire cannot cross the gap in the tinfoil. Note that the paper and foil do NOT need to be tight along the whole length of the aerial.

You can now solder the aerial wires into place. The best way to hold the ferrite rod itself in place is with cotton sewing thread or Sellotape (Scotch tape).

So, where to now.

Back to the main project page
Back to the main GARES page
or use the Back button on your browser to return to your previous page.