Screwdriver antenna dust boot

[WB6TWL]

Hey All,
I just mounted a new screwdriver antenna on my truck and even before the antenna made it onto the mount, the plexiglas dust cover was bumped and broke. I kind of expected it might not last long.

I was wondering if anyone has a screwdriver on the vehicle and if you have replaced the dust cover with a shock absorber type of boot and if so:

What brand, where to buy, did it work OK, etc.

My screwdriver is about 2" in diameter and the boot will need to extend about 16-18".

Any suggestions????

Steve, WB6TWL

[K1UR]

Interesting idea, though I've never seen anyone do it. I've broken my cover too... Though I wonder, if you're going through something that could break the plastic cover you're also risking the coil that's under it and that's likely to be even more expensive to replace.

I don't know what you're running, but with my High Sierra I think the best answer is to just remove it when offroading. The High Sierra just requires a screwdriver to loosen a hose clamp to remove the base, so it's fast to get on and off.

[AC0VH]

Yeah Nels, that is an interesting idea isn't it? But you make a great point, which would you rather have hitting stuff, a few dollar rigid plastic tube or your antenna's coil or/and motor? I would replace the tube (maybe find a replacement in Lexan? It's bulletproof literally) and consider putting a softer rubber boot over the housing to maybe help keep rocks and branches from cracking it. What jumps to my mind is an old bicycle inner tube, split and wrapped around. I use my old tubes for all sorts of things like this, chain stay protectors, wiring protectors (from sheet metal edges), etc.

[WB6TWL]

I'm using an Alpine Antenna made here in San Diego. The antenna was leaning against something and slipped and bumped into another immovable surface (immovable as far as the antenna was concerned) and the plexiglas dust tube broke at the glue line of the tube and top disc. Now that the antenna is mounted, it is mounted so that the top, not including the whip, sits at or below the camper shell. This is so that i can get into my garage without shearing off the antenna with the low flying garage door.

[K1UR]

Yeah Nels, that is an interesting idea isn't it? But you make a great point, which would you rather have hitting stuff, a few dollar rigid plastic tube or your antenna's coil or/and motor? I would replace the tube (maybe find a replacement in Lexan? It's bulletproof literally) and consider putting a softer rubber boot over the housing to maybe help keep rocks and branches from cracking it. What jumps to my mind is an old bicycle inner tube, split and wrapped around. I use my old tubes for all sorts of things like this, chain stay protectors, wiring protectors (from sheet metal edges), etc.

A replacement with a stronger tubing material seems like the best idea. I was kind of surprised how weak the current material was...especially considering the antennas are not exactly cheap!

I'd be careful putting an addition layer over the tube as that's going to make the antenna heavier and less stable which might become an issue if you're operating the lower bands like 80m. The coil probably doesn't extend enough for it to make much difference on the higher bands.

[WB6TWL]

Well, the shock dust boot didn't work with the dust boots because they weren't wide enough and were tapered at one end. So I went to Napa Auto parts today and bought three strut boots that are wide enough and it may take at least 2 of the three boots to span the length of the coil. I'm going to work on them tomorrow and I'll see how it goes.

[WB6TWL]

Well, the strut dust boots worked but it took all three of them to cover the coil fully extended and also fully collapsed without bunching up and impinging on the motor. Had to modify the boots a little and I'll see if the epoxy I used will hold, so far, so good. After Williams, I will try to post some pix. It's nice to have 80-6 mtrs all modes. Just that much closer to DC-to-Daylight!

[K1UR]

I'd really like to see a photo of how that turned out...

[WB6TWL]

After getting back from Williams, the dust boot on the screwdriver antenna seemed to survive and even held up under the heavy rain and 75+ mph freeway speeds. When I recuperate from the trip, I'll take some pix and post them here.

[n7kme]

I have never seen a screwdriver antenna close up, but I would think that a nearly bullet proof dust cover could be fabricated out of schedule 80 PVC pipe? if a person were to put a pipe cap and attach it somehow, I would think that would withstand almost anything that hits it. Just thinkin...............