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Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

After Market Garmin DC Antennas !!

Always Ask the Maker the Total Length on their Antennas !!

The Optimal length for the Garmin DC Collars is 18-3/4" This Length is the Mid Range of there Transmit Freq. .. Any Longer and you can be totaly out of Freq. !!

Freq. 1 151.820 MHz - Comm. Settings 0 thru 9
Freq. 2 151.880 MHz - Comm. Settings 10 thru 19
Freq. 3 151.940 MHz - Comm. Settings 20 thru 29
Freq. 4 154.570 MHz - Comm. Settings 30 thru 39
Freq. 5 154.600 MHz - Comm. Settings 40 thru 49

Longer Isn't Better !!!

Here's a Chart ..

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Last edited by Majestic Tree H on 01-28-2012 at 06:32 PM

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01-28-2012 06:26 PM

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Hoosier Outlaw
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Jun 2010
Location: Marion, Indiana
Posts: 4280

Just curious,
Why does garmin ship the dc 40 collar with a 16and 3/4 inch long antenna....wouldn't this be well above the frequency range. The antennas I make are 18.8" long and seem to do the best in my testing....Shane

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01-28-2012 08:55 PM

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Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

quote:
Originally posted by Hoosier Outlaw
Just curious,
Why does garmin ship the dc 40 collar with a 16and 3/4 inch long antenna....wouldn't this be well above the frequency range. The antennas I make are 18.8" long and seem to do the best in my testing....Shane

They Make up the difference in a Coil at the bottom

Very simular to this transmitter .. it still has a 13" antenna

Last edited by Majestic Tree H on 01-28-2012 at 09:47 PM

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01-28-2012 09:44 PM

Hoosier Outlaw
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Jun 2010
Location: Marion, Indiana
Posts: 4280

When I sliced open a dc 40 antenna lengthwise...it was straight wire from the eye to about 3 and 3/4" up and then a coil wrapped around a white plastic core all the way to the end. when the wire coil is stretched completely out it goes well over 24" and still isn't completely straight. The actual wire if straightened might be as long as 26" or more....Shane

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01-28-2012 10:29 PM

Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

You cut open a $20 antenna ??? ....

The Dia. and type of Antenna Wire also comes in play .. But when I was going over the Formulas my Eyes Crossed ....

I believe that Chart is for 3/32 Stainless Steel ..

NOTE I'am Not Makeing ANY Antennas FOR SALE .. These are Only for My Personal USE !!!!!!

The one I made for myself ... uses 3/8" dia Copper Braided Basket wire with 48 strand 30 ga., then strech it tight over .155 dia base material .. (Huge Weed Eater Line)

Then Wrap it with a Twizzel of Light Reflective Tape then cover it Clear Heat Shrink ..

Light Reflective Tape In Many Colors
http://www.streetglo.net/streetglo_files/page0019.htm

Last edited by Majestic Tree H on 01-28-2012 at 10:57 PM

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01-28-2012 10:51 PM

Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

Here are the Complete Cut Length Charts

and Down near the Bottom are the UHF/VHF Chart

http://www.shultzie.com/downloads/antcharts.htm

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01-28-2012 11:13 PM

blacktandog
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Jan 2012
Location: central VA
Posts: 147

What is the white thing with a smaller antenna on it

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01-29-2012 03:52 AM

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Hoosier Outlaw
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Jun 2010
Location: Marion, Indiana
Posts: 4280

Yes I did cut a new Garmin dc 40 antenna lengthwise. The wire looks to be chrome plated spring steel but may be stainless. The wire is very thin...probably .020 (20 thousanths) of an inch.
Shane

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01-29-2012 05:50 AM

Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

quote:
Originally posted by blacktandog
What is the white thing with a smaller antenna on it

Thats a 216 Mhz Micro Transmitter good for 30 days con't run.

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01-29-2012 11:39 AM

Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

Ok just finished a Range Test with this antenna ...... ended up at 6 miles before I would have gone over a deep Ridge ..

This is where I hung it

View of the Direction I was headed and it was Rolling Hills

Cleared out New Hunt

Here We Go :

The stock Garmin Antenna Droped at 4.85 Miles !!

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01-29-2012 06:30 PM

Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

This was the overall test Route in Red . The yellow line is the Line of Site Mesurment. 6 miles

Now durring this Test the Collar was Droped 5 times but recovered with-in 5-10 seconds each time, sometime I just could not understand why it would loose Contact at the Spots that it did Maybe Interference of some sort ..

To Make your Own ....

Last edited by Majestic Tree H on 01-29-2012 at 10:15 PM

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01-29-2012 08:36 PM

Hoosier Outlaw
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Jun 2010
Location: Marion, Indiana
Posts: 4280

Nice job. I use similar materials in my antenna and get similar results. But I have to say one thing I found is that in testing if I hung the collar up at say 4 ft above the ground...it gave almost twice the real world range that it would when it is on a dog. For this reason I started testing with collars 12" off the ground which is about average for a dog with it's head down trailing. I also use .60 fiberglass rod for the core and smaller 1/8th dia. tin coated copper braided shielding wire. Again, good job. It's nice to see others out there that are proving that almost everything can be made better with a little bit of forward thinking and self educating combined with some trial and error. Keep up the good work, there are plenty of other things that coonhunters use that can be improved Shane

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01-29-2012 10:45 PM

Tyler Vaden
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Dec 2005
Location: Knoxville Tn
Posts: 1814

quote:
Originally posted by Hoosier Outlaw
there are plenty of other things that coonhunters use that can be improved Shane

How is it coming

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01-29-2012 10:56 PM

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Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

Thanks Shane !! Its funny but the actual cost to build one is $2.58 ..

it takes longer to Heat up my Soldering iron then to make one ..

But I think I have bought about $25 worth of Crap to build afew !! LOL

Its a Good thing I own a Swisher Line Trimmer ... Those 18" pc. cost about $0.58 each..

Then I bought about 37' of 1/4" Reflective tape at $10.00

10' of RG-58-U at $.40 a foot

10' of Clear 1/4" Shrink Tube for $5.00

Elect Connectors at $0.06 ea.

and 1/4" thread Protector at $0.13 ea.

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01-29-2012 11:02 PM

GA DAWG
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Jun 2003
Location: North GA
Posts: 14395

You could of made a lot of money this weekend at the winter classic. Every vendor there had after market ant for garmin. They were a lot more than 2.58.
I wonder about the longer antenna they have out for the astro. The small rubber looking one. It looked about 16" long or something maybe shorter. I wonder if it adds range. They were 20 dollars.

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01-29-2012 11:18 PM

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Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

quote:
Originally posted by GA DAWG
You could of made a lot of money this weekend at the winter classic. Every vendor there had after market ant for garmin. They were a lot more than 2.58.
I wonder about the longer antenna they have out for the astro. The small rubber looking one. It looked about 16" long or something maybe shorter. I wonder if it adds range. They were 20 dollars.

Thats the Antenna Used in my Test !! I really like it !!

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01-29-2012 11:21 PM

Hoosier Outlaw
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Jun 2010
Location: Marion, Indiana
Posts: 4280

I spent alot trying different materials and combinations. Your antenna is very similar to mine and isn't it funny that two different guys can arrive at an almost identical outcome after experimenting....and both produce something that works better than the original antenna that comes on the collar? And I would say they will be more durable and last longer as well. One thing....you didn't mention if you used clear PVC shrink tubing or not. PVC will stand up to sunlight much better than the other kind of clear shrink tubing which begins to degrade after a short while when exposed. If you use black it doesn't matter. You probably already knew that but maybe the readers don't.
Tyler,
The other stuff I am working on is coming along...but slow. Have not had but 1 day off work since new years so my tinker time has been limited.
But the light projects I have been working on may change the way lights are made in the future.
I also made up a couple of quick take down carbon fiber yagi garmin antennas that have been giving unbelievable range, yet weigh only a few ounces.
All I need is more time to practice being a mad scientist...lol

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01-29-2012 11:40 PM

Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

I ended up buying the 57" MURS Tuned antenna and it Really gets way Out there !! The First test was with just the Stock DC 40 antenna

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01-29-2012 11:47 PM

Hoosier Outlaw
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Jun 2010
Location: Marion, Indiana
Posts: 4280

The 57" antenna....is that vehicle mounted with a ground plane?
I played around with several designs around 40" that screwed onto the handheld without a groundplane...(disapointing results) and with a fold out 4 spline groundplane I designed....was getting 6-7 miles range but it is kind of cumbersome and I didn't think it would be the most durable antenna. So I settled on 16.5 1/4 wave diamand brand flexible antenna for a few miles range and my quick takedown carbon fiber yagi that I can keep in the truck for 10+ mile range in flat ground. It breaks down in seconds and fits into a 24" long by 2.5 inch wide case that you can carry on your back with it's strap if you will be away from the vehicle a good distance. I have been considering a vehicle mounted groundplane antenna that could just be left on my vehicle at all times. Have you tried any of the 5/8 wave gvehicle mounted ground plane antennas? If so, how did they perform for you? Thanks, Shane

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01-30-2012 04:30 AM

Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

I bought the Top one on this Page ... No Ground Plane Required

So I put a Sling on it and can go anywhere with it .. This will work well for Free casting for Bobcats on the Mountain ..

http://www.dpdproductions.com/page_murs.html

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01-30-2012 02:39 PM

Charles Pullen
UKC Forum Member

Registered: May 2010
Location:
Posts: 1793

Steve are you going to SETW days if so I would like to talk to you about your antennas ?

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01-30-2012 02:48 PM

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Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

No I'am not Work has Me Swamped !!!!

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01-30-2012 02:59 PM

Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

This was the Clear Heat Shrink I used

Insultab 3/8", Clear Polyvinylchloride Heat Shrink Tubing

http://www.amazon.com/Insultab-3003...im/B003ICY2FG/2

You can Use RG-8X or RG-58/U to remove the Shielding Cable

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/cable/coax.html

Bulk 1/4" Bare or Tined CU Basket Braid Cu wire

http://www.arcorelectronics.com/shi...opper_Wire.html

The white Cap on top 1/4" Thread Protectors

http://www.amazon.com/Screw-Thread-...e/dp/B002SVBCVA

Swisher Trimmer Line

Swisher 18-Inch Pre-Cut Replacement Trimmer Line - Fits PST67522, ST65022DXQ, ST60022Q - 36 Pack P3618

http://www.amazon.com/Swisher-18-In...r/dp/B00009K768

Light Reflective Tape In Many Colors
http://www.streetglo.net/streetglo_files/page0019.htm

Last edited by Majestic Tree H on 01-30-2012 at 08:34 PM

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01-30-2012 05:46 PM

Majestic Tree H
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Nov 2005
Location: New Market Va
Posts: 4670

Big Note on that Light Reflective Tape !!! if your light hits it at 100 yards Its Very Bright !!! Good Stuff

As a matter of fact you could wrap a Stock Garmin Antenna then cover it with the Shrink wrap..

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01-30-2012 08:43 PM

L Weasenforth
UKC Forum Member

Registered: Dec 2011
Location: Petersburg Wv
Posts: 109

Ant

From the looks of your chart does one have to have a set freq to determine the length of antenna I sometimes change my collar number because of interference with other collars would this mess with the range?

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01-31-2012 12:20 AM