Fibreglass tube/pipe?

[rover-56]

Hi all,

Anyone know who sells fibreglass tube/pipe in small sizes?
Looking for nom. 20mm and 40mm in 2m lengths.
I have found commercial suppliers in US and China, they deal in lots of 1000.

I am making a couple of vhf antennas, one for 2m/70cm amateur and one for CFA vhf frequencies.

Antenna makers want a fortune for theirs, even with no antenna inside.

Don't want to go down the sticky make it myself route unless I have to...

Cheers,
Terry

[bronzie66610]

Hello
There are telescopic out riggers for boats. Mine are 16 foot long and vary from 50mm. on bottom to about 15 mm. at tip. I can measure mine if you like. David

[rover-56]

Thanks David,

Sounds like a solution, tapered is even better

Where do you buy those?

Terry

[51jay]

blanks for making fishing rods might be useful too

[MR LR]

This may be a totally stupid question, but would electrical conduit work? Unless of course it prevents signal getting out or something!!

[rover-56]

Yes PVC absorbs some (a lot) of the RF signal. That's why all commercial antennas are inside fibreglass radomes.

Terry

[TonyC]

Hi Terry,
Try Haverfords, I have a 9m one for VKS737 and 4 or 5m one for a sand flag.
I can measure the sections if that is any help.

Tony

Telescopic Poles flag amatuer HAM radio antenna squid pole

[rover-56]

Thanks Tony,

Another good clue.

Boat spars and fishing poles - I would never have thought of either.

Thanks guys, I will look into both.

Terry