Building a SID Antenna

A SID antenna is called a wire-loop antenna and is nothing more than a frame that holds up
wraps or loops of wire. There is no standard size or even shape of antenna for a SID monitor.
The antenna does not need to be built to precise dimensional specifications nor its wire wound to
exact tolerances nor does it have to be assembled ! constructed exactl" as shown in this
document. #ou are encouraged to experiment and ad$ust the construction of "our antenna for
the parts and supplies "ou can ac%uire easil".
#ou can either build a small (< 1 meter wide& antenna with lots of wraps of wire or a large
antenna '2 or more meters wide& with fewer wraps. (arger antennas are more sensitive but
the" are difficult to carr" around and mount outside because of wind rain and space
re%uirements. Smaller antennas are easier to build but re%uire more wire to pic) up the signal
and are not as sensitive as big antennas. The larger in diameter the better "our antenna will be
e.g. *+ turns on a * meter frame is better than +, turns on a - meter frame. #our antenna does not
need to use the designs or materials we demonstrate. The antenna can be made out of crossed
broom stic)s or spare wood an"thing that is not metal 'conductive& is fine. The design schemes
we suggest are merel" examples of antenna frames that we found to be eas" to construct and
wind while being sturd". .ictures of existing SID antenna designs can be found at/
http/!!solar0center.stanford.edu!SID!antenna1designs.html
Antenna 2ire
To wind either the small or large antenna "ou will need about -*, meters '3,, feet& of insulated
wire. Solid wire ma)es it easier to wind an antenna than stranded. 4agnet wire will wor) but be
more fragile. #ou can use an"thing from 5-6 A27 '1.02362mm& to 5*8 A27 '0.40386 mm&
size wire depending on the size of "our antenna. The small antenna will re%uire about +,
turns!winds of the smaller diameter wire the larger one about *+ of the larger diameter wire. 2e
have placed a conversion chart for A27 in the appendix.

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4a)ing a (arge Antenna/
9ere is a design for a simple large antenna. This design does not re%uire a mast and stands up on
its own. It can be placed indoors in an out of the wa" place 'e.g. up against a bac) wall& or
outdoors. If placed outdoors in an area where it will be sub$ected to the elements 'li)e wind or
rain& "ou ma" need to anchor it to something sturd".
2e have included another antenna design using a mast in an appendix. :nce again these design
examples are onl" suggestions to get "ou started the" are not necessaril" the best or onl" options
for "our site.
The requirements for an antenna are/
A wound loop on a frame 'although it does not have to be round&
The wire loop cannot touch the ground
The wire must be insulated
The antenna must be upright
It must be sturd" to resist whatever elements it ma" be sub$ected too 'wind rain clums"
neighbors&
4aterials used in this design/
!" pipe/ one inch diameter pipe cut into 4 pieces of length *.+ feet and 4 pieces of
length -ft. These lengths do not have to be exact.
!" #onne#tors/ 1 four wa" connector 4 elbow connectors 4 T connectors. If you
cannot locate a 4 way connector, try taking two elbow connectors and duct-tapping them
together. Just make sure it is secure!
Tape and$or %ip ties/ To ma)e sure the antenna wire sta"s wound.
&ntenna wire/ See our section on choosing antenna wire on the previous page.
'tep 1( )ather *our materials

PV connectors PV Pipe !should be 4 small pipes"
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'tep 2( "onne#t the T #onne#tors

#ttach the $ connectors to each long length of pipe.
'tep 3( "reate *our frame with the 4 wa* #onne#tor as a hu+

#ttach the completed $ connected lengths of pipe to the 4 way connector !this will be the hub of
your antenna frame".

$urn your end connectors so the openings are perpendicular to the 4 way hub !as shown". $his is
the completed frame, you can work with this design to create %feet& as we did, or affi' it to a
mast. (ast design e'amples can be seen in appendi' ) and also on our website* http*++solar-
center.stanford.edu+,I-+antenna.designs.html
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'tep 4( "reate a +ase so that *our antenna will stand upright. This (and the following, step
#an +e omitted if *ou are +uilding a mast.

,tanding your antenna up, place one of the smaller lengths of PV pipe in each end of the $
connector. Repeat this on the other side of the frame that touches the ground.
'tep -( "reate .feet/ on the +ase so *our antenna is more sta+le.

Place the 4 elbow connectors on the open ends of the base you created. /ow your antenna will
stand upright and off the ground.
<ow "ou should have an antenna that loo)s li)e a large = with a base. This st"le of antenna will
wor) best indoors where it won>t get )noc)ed over b" wind. If "ou would li)e to use this design
outdoors ma)e sure it is up against a wall or in a sheltered area. ?eel free to ma)e adaptations
for stabilit" and safet" $ust ma)e sure "ou don>t connect it to an"thing metal.
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$he completed frame
$his antenna was designed by Phil ,cherrer and built by ,ean 0iu and ,hannon 0ee !photos by ,hannon 0ee"
9ere are some photos of a completed antenna of this design. These photos include the antenna
wire and terminal to monitor connections. These steps are explained in detail in later sections.

/ote the use of 1ip ties to make sure the wire windings stay together.
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$his design and antenna was created and photographed by
Phil and -ebbie ,cherrer.
2inding the Antenna
'tep 1( lan how *ou will +e winding *our antenna0 this will depend on the st*le *ou +uilt.
2inding the Antenna re%uires at minimum two people but three or four people are better. :ne
person ma)es sure the wire gets wound correctl" and the other feeds the spool of wire. If three or
four people are available then one can feed the wire the second turn the antenna frame and the
third person ma)e sure that the wire is taught 'tightl" tensioned& around the antenna frame. A
fourth person should )eep trac) of the number of winds of wire@ about +, winds 'or turns& should
be used for a small antenna and about *+ for a large antenna.
?or the simple antenna design described previousl" winding ma" be cumbersome. 2e found that
if "ou place the frame on a spinning stool with someone holding the center down so it doesn>t
slide off it becomes easier to wind the wire. Also we used two swiveling office chairs bac) to
bac) in place of the stool and winding wor)ed well.
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1f *ou are using a frame with a mast2 here is another method to wind *our wire(
.ictured 'left to right&/ Sean (iu 'Senior at (os 7atos 9igh School& Aa" 4itchell 'Bhief SID Cngineer and
Bomputer Science Instructor Bal. State Dniversit" Cast Ea"& and Cric 9avel 'Cnvironmental Instructor
Bhabot Space F Science Benter&
This is the mast as described in appendix C. Attach the antenna to the mast but do not to tighten
the wing nut. Allow the antenna frame to spin while winding the wire. This nut ma" need
tightening 'or loosening& as "ou proceed.
The person holding the spool of wire should insert a screwdriver or rod through the center of the
spool and ma)e sure that it is controlled while winding is occurring.
T&34 5678 T194: a fast ;o+ will produ#e slopp* results and #ould +rea< something.
4=pe#t that it will ta<e a+out 20 - 40 minutes to #omplete this step.
'tep 2( >inding
To get started on one side of the antenna string out the wire from the center to one of the ends of
the antenna frame. Dse some transparent or mas)ing tape to hold this wire in place. Ee sure to
leave enough slac) on the end to eventuall" attach it to the terminal bloc).
The wire is wound around the frame@ about fift" turns on a small size antenna and *+ on a large
antenna should do. Geep tension on the wire while "ou do this/ the person holding the spool has
to ma)e sure the wire is feeding properl" and the person winding the antenna needs to assure that
the wires are neatl" going around in each of the slots.
:n the final turn go $ust a little further and run the return wire on the opposite side of the arm
where "ou started and to the other side of the terminal bloc). (eave some excess and snip the
wire with wire cutters.
Bonnecting "our Antenna to the Terminal Eloc)
Strip the two antenna wires about ;!6 inch bac). ?orm a H hoo) in the antenna leads 'the wire
"ou $ust wound& with some needle nose pliers in a cloc)wise direction 'the same direction that
"ou are tightening the screw& as shown in figure - then place the H hoo) wire onto the terminal
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screw and tighten the screw as in figures *03. Bonnect the other antenna wire in the same
fashion. 4a)e sure the" are connected to the same side of the terminal bloc). Some areas of the
world do not allow exposed connections such as these please be sure to chec) "our local
regulations for this e%uipment. A cover ma" need to be made or purchased for the terminal bloc)
in some situations.

2igure 3 2igure 4 2igure 5

2igure 4 2igure 6
In these photos the terminal bloc) is not permanentl" attached to the antenna. #ou will need to
ma)e sure "our terminal is attached. If "our antenna is wood placing screws in the empt" holes
will suffice. ?or a .BJ antenna "ou ma" need to use zip ties or tape. A dab of glue might help
)eep the wires from loosening with time.
This completes the antenna assembl". #ou are now read" to connect "our antenna to "our
monitor.
1nstalling the 8)--8 "oa= "a+le
<ow it is time to prep the coax cable for use. Boax is short for coaxial meaning the cable has
two conductors in the same axis one center connector and a ground shield around the center
connector. The A70+6

is a standard cable used b" ham radio people and is available at

electronics outlets 'similar to Aadio Shac) if "ou are in the D.S.&. Determine the length of wire
"ou will need to run from "our antenna to "our SID monitor plus some slac). Aemember to
consider both the horizontal as well as vertical distances when performing "our calculations.
Barefull" strip off about * inches of the outer sheathing of the coax cable with a sharp poc)et
)nife or straight edged blade. But onl" deep enough to pierce the sheathing but not an" deeper or
"ou will cut the ground wire.
K
<ote/ A70+L could be used as well although different terminators are needed. The two t"pes have similar
electrical characteristics but different impedance. The A70+L is used in cable s"stems and has a I+ ohm
impedance@ A70+6 is +, ohms. Again each needs a specific terminator.
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2igure 3 2igure 4 2igure 5
.ull the center conductor and sheathing through the ground wire and twist the ground wire as
shown in figure ;. <ext strip the center conductor bac) about M inch as shown in figure ; and 3.
2e recommend using spade connectors 'figure 3& and a crimp tool to ma)e the attachment to the
terminal bloc) eas" 'figure +&.

2igure 4 2igure 6

2igure 7 2igure 8
To attach the spade 'ring& connected coax wires to the terminal bloc) unscrew the two screws on
the opposite side of the connected antenna wires. Slip the ring over the screw and tighten bac)
down 'figure 8 and I&.
Bonnecting the Boax Bable to the 4onitor
:n the other end of the coax "ou need a T<B 'Threaded <0Bompact& connector to mate with
"our SID 4onitor.
A B:A= stripping tool is commerciall" available to strip the ends to ma)e
assembl" easier. 9owever unless "ou plan on doing several of these
antennas the cost of the tool does not $ustif" a purchase. It is eas" enough
to strip the end according to the instructions on the bac) of the pac)age. An
example of such a tool is shown in figure -.
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Strip the coax about *- mm from the end. But or scrunch the ground wire so that it stic)s out
about 8.;+ mm from the covered coax as shown in figure *. <ext strip the center conductor
about -3.;mm this is also shown in figure *. <ow place the center conductor into the hole in the
T<B connector 'at the end of the shaft&. Twist the shaft in a cloc)wise direction until screws are
tight and covers an" exposed ground wire as in figures ; and 3. If you are ha9ing trouble, cut a
little bit off your center conductor and try again.

2igure 3 2igure 4

2igure 5 figure 4
2igure 6
2hen "our connector is finished it will connect to the monitor as shown above.
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