AS SOON as W2JTJ's article, "Budget 7-Mc. Vertical Antenna," was published,1 the local boys decided that here was something: A real, honest-to-goodness vertical made of beer cans. Almost immediately remarks could be heard on the local nets like, "Say, Bob, you want to come over and help me get material ready for my new antenna?"
The first thought at this QTH was to invite the local boys over to begin construction of this antenna, the theory being that each person would be capable of successfully removing the contents of enough cans to make a 6- or 10-meter vertical. As emptying would progress, one member of the group could manipulate the soldering iron, putting the cans in place on top of each other. After a little cogitation, the conclusion was reached that, while maybe 10 or 15 meters' worth might be vertical, the remainder of the 82 cans, stacked on top of each other, would probably not be a beautiful sight to behold.
From this the conclusion was drawn that, not only did the 82 beer cans have to be obtained, they had to be found pre-emptied. W2JTJ's article mentioned that little trouble was had in the summer months in obtaining the required number of beer cans. This was very good for W2JTJ, but the month was now November and winter, along with its snows, had long since made its debut in the Great State of Minnesota.
For quite some time, two days to be exact, the problem of obtaining the required number of cans seemed insurmountable. It was then suggested that one look in the trash barrels in the alley. Being dressed as a radio amateur, I aroused little or no suspicion as I lifted one garbage can lid after another. After one-half hour and a few trash barrels, there were 82 beer cans in a paper bag in the basement waiting to be soldered. Even the soda bottle base insulator was present and accounted for.
Since no silica gel was available to act as a dehydrating agent in each can, the occasional cigarette butt found in the cans was left there in hopes that it would absorb any moisture that might collect.
According to W2JTJ the beer cans merely had to be tacked together in three spots; then rotated and soldered. The only means of soldering here was a 135-watt soldering gun. The first two cans took about ten minutes to solder. The handle of the gun was hot enough to melt solder by itself. After the first ten cans, the joints began to look somewhat better. After about 40 cans, the joints were almost professional looking, with a minimum of solder neatly melted between the cans. Oh, they were strong, these cans. In 18-can lengths they could hold a substantial amount of 'weight.
After completing the soldering, the cans were given a shining coat of aluminum spray paint. They looked just like the picture in QST. Spirits were high, although the same did not hold true for the constructor.
Saturday was a warm, sunny day in Minnesota. The thermometer almost went above freezing. This was the day. All the cans were taken outside, laid in the snow, and carefully soldered together. Did I say carefully? Well, outside the 135-watt gun did not seem to give quite as many BTUs as it did in the basement. However, with a little extra dab of solder here and there, the joints appeared quite firm. A quick run to the local supermarket provided the necessary plastic covered clothesline at only ten cents more than W2JTJ paid for his. All was going swell.
The diagram in W2JTJ's article indicated four 32-foot radials lying underground. After testing the hardness of the frozen Minnesota tundra, it was quickly decided that the radials could be buried in the ground next June when and if the snow melted; for the present just burying them in the snow would have to do.
Everything was prepared for the final step. According to the article, the assistance of four persons is necessary to raise the antenna. It was found that persons with interests in raising beer-can antennas were as scarce as 160-meter wide-spaced rotary beams. When the family was approached for assistance in raising the antenna, the enthusiasm was about as low as the belt, buckle on an angleworm's belly. The antenna would just not go up on this day.
The next day the temperature decreased slightly, to somewhere around zero degrees. Snow and cold, of course, do not bother Minnesotans, so the assistance of three other hams was soon obtained with only a minimum of begging, pleading, and coaxing. It finally was agreed that all could be present at 7 P.M.. Since the sun sets at about 4:30 this time of year, the assistance of two photo flood bulbs and reflectors was employed to light up the back yard.
At the first attempt the antenna raised almost three feet off the ground before breaking. This break was attributed to a faulty solder joint and was soon corrected. On the second try the antenna went up almost six feet before breaking into three pieces. After more solder and one more attempt, the antenna decided it would rather be a half dozen 6-meter verticals than one 40-meter vertical.
It was at this time that we noticed a direct correlation between professional-looking solder jobs and separated beer cans. It seemed that the cruddier the joint looked, the greater were its chances of holding together. If the picture of W2JTJ's finished product had not appeared in QST, we would never have believed it could be done.
Soon we discovered a new method of approach. This time we put the antenna together vertically, soldering on new sections at the bottom. After blood, sweat, tears, frostbite, and the life of one photoflood bulb, the antenna stood up. Can 3`2 feet be so high?
We quickly made bets as to how many hours it would stay up. The optimist in the crowd said it would last all night. These cans, soldered at zero degree temperature, really had cold solder joints.
Why it still stands is beyond me. Any minute now it is expected to come tumbling down like the walls of Jericho. The coax cable was not included in the original estimate. The two-bit hank of solder used by W2JTJ turned out to be closer to a quarter-pound roll.
Measuring the impedance at the base with a bridge gave a value of 100 ohms. Oh, well, a 2:1 s.w.r. is not too bad.
The antenna works fine, and it even seems to load up my old 40-meter doublet located a few feet away from it. I just wish it had been up in time for the Sweepstakes contest!