Base antenna "camo"

[Riff Raff]

OK, here's one that should create a few chuckles. I'm looking into getting an Antron A99 for my base and I'm not crazy about everyone knowing it's there,so I was wondering if I could put "real tree" camo tape around it without interfering with trans/receive. I have trees behind and it would be hard for anyone to notice it. Anyone know if this would work?

[Night Crawler]

Sure, Why not?

[Punkin Head]

it would work or you could get that cheap .98 a can camo brown and camo green from wal mart and stripe it and have a whole $2 tied up in it

[DoubleDeuce]

Just make sure it is not lead based paint, especially on the tape.

[pipsqueek]

Use the tape, don't paint an antenna. A lot of black paints contain ferrous (iron) compounds and could be reactive and skew the signal. Many colours contain some black for shading purposes and could be the reactive type. Ya might just luck out and get non-reactive stuff, but why gamble.
I've used black electrical tape for years and it blends in so well with a stand of trees that it's hard to spot even when you know it's there.
To save $$$ I use cheap dollar store brand electrical tape to wind from bottom to top on the A-99, then use the good stuff (Scotch "33") strategically here and there to anchor the cheap stuff.
Pips

[231]

I threw a quick very light coat of flat black primer on my A99 without a problem. It worked fine...just like PH said. Indeed, it's a good idea to just take a look at the materials in the can and make sure there isn't any conductive materials listed on the ingredients and you should be okay. Or rather, mine was. But if you want to do the tape, like mentioned it should be fine provided there isn't any conductive materials in it.

[pipsqueek]

I did mention "electrical" tape.....the type you would use on hot 110 & 220V wires before the advent of wire nuts. It wouldn't do to touch a connection and get bit.....don't ya think.
The stuff is completely di-electric and non-reactive....I've never seen any other type. Ohm it out with your meter, you won't deflect the meter at all.

As far as ingredients on the paint can.....they don't have to list all the components....falls under the auspices of "trade secrets". So with paint, it's a crap shoot. Yuz take your chances.

Another benefit of tape, there are metal parts on the antenna showing, like at the ferules and base.
The tape completely covers it with it's di-electric properties, so it would cut down the static in high winds and might just make it hard to "see" as far as lightning is concerned.

It doesn't mess with the signal on either rx/tx. And if I recall, an addendum came with my A-99 from the Solarcon company telling the owner not to paint.
Hope this helps.
Pips

[Red Warrior]

Back when I was a blue suiter we actually developed a paint that reflected light that made things invisible. We called the Pentagon and while a research group was on the way out some damn fool painted the can it was in and the Air Force hasn't been able to find it since.

[Riff Raff]

Thanks for all the tips. I think I'll use the camo tape,just so if I want to I can take it off later. I live up on a good sized hill and would get out like crazy up here,but I know someone would try and trace my signal just to find me. When I was younger we had a guy that would just key up and fall asleep with the key open,so a few got together and traced the dead key back to his house and pinned his coax. With a raised ranch,the only thing near the ground will be the lightning rod.

[this_is_nascar]

Do you intend to run the GPK (ground plane kit) with your A-99? I'm asking because I'm torn between the A-99 and the Imax-2000 with with either one, I'm not sure whether to get the GPK or not.

[Riff Raff]

Sorry Ray, I haven't decided yet on a GPK. First I have to come up with the $$ for the antenna.