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How do I Make an Extended Range Base Antenna for a Weather Radio With RCA Cable?

If you live in an area with poor weather radio reception, you can extend your radio's range using an external antenna built for the weather band frequencies. In 1921, the University of Wisconsin was the first organization to transmit weather radio forecasts. It was not until 1994, however, that computers were employed to analyze and disperse weather radio forecasts. Vice President Al Gore had started the computer initiative to provide 95 percent of the U.S. population with weather radio coverage. Today, a computer-generated voice can be heard broadcasting your regional and national forecast on the weather band channels.

Things You'll Need

Twin-lead cable, 300-ohm, 4 feet long
RCA stereo cable with connectors, 6 feet long
Soldering iron and solder
Utility knife
Wire-stripping tool
Electrical tape
Tape measure
Small piece of twine

Instructions

- 1
  Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the wire pair at one end of the twin-lead cable. Solder the wires together. This will be the bottom of the antenna.
- 2
  Measure 1 1/4 inches from the solder point and remove 1/4 inch of insulation from both twin-lead wires. These segments will be the contact points for the RCA feed line cable.
- 3
  Measure 15 7/16 inches from the solder point and cut a 1/4 inch gap from the right side of the cable. Cut through both the insulation and the right twin-lead wire.
- 4
  Measure 46 5/16 inches from the solder point and cut the twin-lead cable to this length.
- 5
  Separate the RCA wire pair into two single cables. Cut the connector from one end of a single cable. Remove an inch of outer insulation from this end. Slice down the side of the braided or foil sheath and carefully twist the sheath into a wire. Remove 1/2 inch of insulation from the inner copper wire. These wires are small and it may take multiple attempts to strip the insulation using a combination of the wire stripper and utility knife.
- 6
  Solder the twisted sheath to the exposed wire segment on the right side of the twin-lead. Solder the inner copper wire to the left wire segment. Wrap the connect with electrical tape to protect the solder joints.
- 7
  Cut a small hole in the insulation at the top of the antenna. Tie a loop of twine through the hole. Hang the antenna from the twine.
- 8
  Connect the free end of the single RCA cable to the female RCA connector on the weather radio's antenna extension cable. You can also connect the antenna cable directly to the weather radio's RCA jack.

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