Hy-Gain AV-18AVQII Trap Caps

thingiverse

When I first started in amateur radio, I had a clear vision of what I wanted from my antenna - something compact that covered multiple bands without taking up too much space. The added requirement was that it needed to be free-standing, without any guy wires to hold it in place. That's when I stumbled upon the AV-18AVQII antenna, which claimed to meet all these criteria. I bought it immediately, eager to put my new setup to the test. Unfortunately, things didn't quite go as planned. When I installed the antenna, it bowed ominously, like a banana in mid-air. Clearly, something was amiss with the design. I reached out to Hy-Gain for assistance, and they were quick to respond. They acknowledged that their advertising had been misleading, and worked with me to resolve the issue. However, even with this fix, my antenna still lacked proper support. Undeterred, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I noticed that the caps on the traps were showing signs of wear and tear, with cracks beginning to form. This was a clear indication that they needed some extra TLC. That's when I designed a custom base and cap set to provide better support for the antenna. It turned out that Hy-Gain had used nylon spacers in the bottom of the traps, but these were positioned too far up, introducing unwanted wobble into the system. My new design addressed this issue by using sliding caps that fit around the outside of the trap tube, providing a more stable base. I also made sure to add a slot to the bottom cap, allowing me to gauge how high it was installed on the antenna tube. Additionally, I included a slot inside the lower cap so that it could still fit onto the trap without requiring me to unscrew the outer shell. To seal the deal, I wrapped the antenna tube with electrical tape to ensure a tight fit around the caps. This simple trick proved to be a game-changer, as my free-standing antenna has been performing flawlessly for over a year now. And the best part? It's withstood even the harshest of Midwest winters and scorching summer heat without batting an eyelid. As I reflect on this project, I'm reminded of the importance of attention to detail and creative problem-solving in amateur radio. By taking matters into my own hands and pushing the boundaries of what was possible, I was able to create a reliable and free-standing antenna that meets all my needs. Print Settings Printer: Wanhao Duplicator 4 Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: .2mm Infill: 85-90%