Simple Low-cost Antenna

We promised this month a diacram and construction details for a simole dinole antenna that is aned enounh to bring in a perfect sienal anywhere in the taun. Al) it consists of is a stick of wood, four feet lonq, about 4 1/2 feet of enamel-cnat- ed copper wire with enough 300 ohm twin- lead (normal TV lead-in ribbon) to reach to your set. Details are as follows:

1. Cut a rsiece of one by one inch (dimen- sions not critical) wood approximately 48 to 50 inches lona.

Drill a smal! hole (1/8 inch) through the wood =t center.

Drill two holes, parallel to this first one, 1/2 to one inch away (towards the end of the stick) from the first hole (one on either side). These two holes must be larae ennuqn to accommodate the cooper wires vou are usina for the

antenna, . ; Get a niece of cooper wire 6 inches

lonqer than the niece of wood, and cut this wire in half. The best wire is enamel-coated ‘lo. 14-16 solid conner. Liohter wire can be used, but remember that the heavier it is, the less prone to damace it is. But, there is nounht to he aained by using welding cable - that's like a 24-nly tire on a wheel- barrow.

Run these nieces of wire alona the

stick from the end to the hole drilled for it near center. Run the wire throu-. ao the hole, and leave one to two inches nrojectina out the bottom of the stick.

If You Must Worry

Life is getting more complicated each day. We are caught up in such a whirt of things, it seams that we don't even worry straight. For instance, we .

2

- Morry about ti bombs--then buy our kids firevorks or use highly flammable liquids in an unsafe manner.

- Worry about radioactive fallout--then fail to replace a guard over exposed gears. - Worry about flying in a jet plane--.

use ''makeshift'' arrangements to reach

nlaces.

Worry about children running in front

of cars--then cross a street on a red light. - Worry about heart attacks--then advanc-

ec beyond roof supnort.

then hiah

uv Secure the wire to the ton of the stick. This can be done in several wavs bv tv- ina with a sniral windina of string, or by usina small stanles or even by cut- tina a shallow, narrow aronove for the wire to lie in and qlueina it down, Remove the insulation from both ends of your lead-in wire, and from the two pieces of wire out the bottom of the Stick. Solder (using resin-core solder) the twin-lead to the antenna, one conductor of the lead to one side of the antenna.

7.

oi

That's about it. What you should have

will look like this: conner antenna

hole for mounting wires.

niece of 1" x 1" x 4° wood.

To TV set

This antenna will work inside or outside when rotated for best siaqnal. My antenna worked well even when thrown out the window into the snowbank; that is, until the dogs chewed through the lead-in wire.

ext month - haw to imrove radto recent- ton.

A Ra A A A’

- Worry about getting a good job--then fail to follow the safety precautions set up for the job.

- Worry about fire--then use improper size protective devices for trailing cables and other electrical circuits.

- Worry about retirement--then do every- thing possible to keep from lasting that long.

- If you must worry, don't waste your energy ''stewing'' over things beyond your control. In fact, worrying has never solve- d any problems. It is doing that counts. Do develop safe habits and attitudes to preserve that which we are so worrled about

losing~-LIFE. ~Safety Bulletin