I’ll add that I’m a HUGE fan of tape-measure-based antennas when it comes to doing demos.
It’s not that they’re necessarily the most efficient, or easy to work with… anyone who’s had one snap back on their face will agree…
It’s that they stand out!
A proper looking (& performing) antenna, built with commercial-grade materials and attention to detail will do a great job, but might not attract as much attention from a crowd of passer-by’s.
In fact, we’re so used to seeing these out in public that we kind of dismiss them from view. Kind of an aesthetic visual filter for our daily lives.
A bright yellow band of spring metal contorted into strange shapes draws attention to itself, and curiosity from those who eventually figure out what it is.
It invites the first question, often out of incredulity that it works, but mostly out of basic genuine curiosity.
The fact that here in the US, there’s a store (rhymes with “arbor wait”) that often gives away 25’ tape measures (with a purchase) as a loss-leader to get folks into the store just means that I have a ready, reasonable-priced, source of material with which to concoct all manner of antenna examples, with the express purpose of drawing attention.
Obviously don’t use them is you’re trying to do this at home and they have “aesthetic restrictions” to what you do in your neighborhood…
Put simply, it’s an attention getter, a conversation starter, a source of humor, and a subtle way of getting folks to rethink their assumptions about RF in general.
Oh, and they’re cheap to replace, ‘cause… reasons.
I’m still working on the QFH version for various bands. I don’t expect stellar results, but like I just explained, that’s not the point.
As always, check out the fantastic videos on YouTube of others building dual-band J-Poles, classic Yagi’s, and maybe an eggbeater or two.
Cheers,
-Lucky