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Tetrahedron Antenna

Hello

I have a question about an idea I have for an antenna that always points to the sky antenna no matter how it lands; this is for a high altitude balloon. My idea was to make an antenna the shape of a tetrahedron, so that one antenna always points up.

Does  having 4 antennas diminish the signal from the transmitter at all?

Thank you

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49
lemonie says: Dec 31, 2010. 4:16 AM

You could try a Weeble design.

L
sdtacoma (author) in reply to lemonieDec 31, 2010. 8:47 AM
Yes, the weebl design (haha)! That reminds me of a punching bag I used to have as a kid... ohh, the memories.

That is along the lines of what I was thinking based on Caitlin's Dad. Should be pretty easy to accomplish.
49
lemonie in reply to sdtacomaDec 31, 2010. 12:59 PM

Yes that's the thing.

L
165
Kiteman in reply to lemonieDec 31, 2010. 5:57 AM

Or a Weebl design.
133
caitlinsdad says: Dec 30, 2010. 2:41 PM
Not sure but you would think as a transmitting antenna, having the signals radiating from different near sources might cause interference. The same signal pointed in different directions could cancel some of the signal strength. Maybe have a single antenna inside of a rotating mount that is weighted upright.
sdtacoma (author) in reply to caitlinsdadDec 30, 2010. 3:30 PM
If it is going to interfere then I might have to do something like you suggested and go with something weighted.
38
Goodhart in reply to sdtacomaDec 31, 2010. 9:00 AM
This link here may help with what will work and not work along this line
165
Kiteman in reply to sdtacomaDec 30, 2010. 3:39 PM
Yes - think along the lines of a hamster's exercise ball.
sdtacoma (author) in reply to KitemanJan 4, 2011. 7:00 PM
You guys seem to know what you're talking about. What do you think of the Instructable? It is what I need the antenna pointing up for.

http://www.instructables.com/id/433-MHz-UHF-lost-model-radio-beacon/

4
looking4ideas says: Dec 30, 2010. 3:01 PM
Are you trying to make it so that the payload will have contact with the GPS satellites even if the payload lands sideways ? if so that will be a problem because the GPS satellite systems work in a different way than normal antennas they are usually flat antennas.
sdtacoma (author) in reply to looking4ideasDec 30, 2010. 3:27 PM
The signal that it will be transmitting will be from a short range radio beacon not a GPS.
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