I’ve been exploring antenna designs that can fit on a protest sign. Something which would not be obvious as an antenna if carried about, but which could facilitate communications in the field.
A 70cm antenna could easily fit on a protest sign, but since most of the repeaters near me are 2m, I wanted something in that band. After some research, I learned of the moxon antenna, which is perfect for my use-case.
The linked image isn’t my design, but it’s what I’m building. The longest dimension is just the right size for the cardboard signs sold at my local crafts store. Usually people build this with PVC tubes, wire, or aluminum poles. However, I built a prototype using copper foil tape. Bought from the gardening section at my hardware store, apparently it’s used to keep slugs from climbing a plant pot. I’m hoping that by integrating the copper foil with the design of my sign, it will be relatively stealthy. You could probably hide the coax in a PVC pipe and mount the sign to that.
My shoddy PoC had an SWR of ~2.5 at 145MHz, and I hope to improve it for the final version. Not too shabby, considering how bad some rubber ducky antennae can be.
I’m curious if people know of other compact (maximum dimension) antenna designs that I could test out.
Problem is ICE would frame it as ‘Antifa terrorists attempt to remotely detonate bombs, agents are still attempting to locate explosive devices, the entire area is closed off until further notice. In other news the Pam Bondi and the DOJ have announced that future protests are banned as signs have clearly been used in attempts of mass casualty attacks. President Trump is considering invoking the Insurrection Act to combat the new waves of inside threats’
Just like they did with the cell sim spam call center gear around NYC.
Make it look like a terrorist event, freak people out, take rights.
they don’t need an exciting event to do any of that. do not let fear of their actions neuter you into passivety.
again they do not need an inciting event to do what they are already doing, so do everything you can
Moxons are directional antennas though? You’d have to point the edge of the sign in the direction you’re transmitting?
This is pretty cool!
Forgive my ignorance, but what/how would you use it to broadcast?
Honestly, my plan is to use it as a minor propaganda tool: Call up a local ham friend for a “radio check”, and “just happen” to mention that there’s a protest going on and nobody is being aggressive, etc. I hear way too many maga guys on the airwaves, I want to do what I can to counter it.
Plus, if the cops do get violent, there’s no downside to having a communication tool that doesn’t rely on big tech or cell phones. One more way to get the word out.
Of course, something like this could be adapted for tools like meshtastic, or used with digital modes in order to coordinate a group.
Cool. Thanks for the explanation.
This is awesome.
Consider also posting/crossposting to [email protected] and similar communities.
This is awesome. Please update if successful
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You inspired me to test on 6m. Not a good match at all (SWR 40+). Gonna explore more, but from what I read about moxons on Wikipedia, they don’t lend themselves well to multi-band operations. I guess the measurements can be very band-specific.
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@CrackedLinuxISO much simpler to do with copper tape!
Pretty standard dimensions if you consider the width of the copper to be equivalent as the perimeter of the wire used for computation.