{"id":1140,"date":"2019-03-01T02:52:03","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T02:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soliloquyforthefallen.net\/?p=1140"},"modified":"2019-02-12T17:10:06","modified_gmt":"2019-02-12T17:10:06","slug":"pistol-crossbow-antenna-launcher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soliloquyforthefallen.net\/?p=1140","title":{"rendered":"Pistol Crossbow Antenna Launcher"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometime around June 2017, I built an end fed antenna with match box. End feds are not … great antennas but they are decent for the space they take up in a go kit. The way mine is currently configured works well down to 40M. End feds are basically a long length of wire, with a 9:1 UNUN to help your tuner match it to multiple amatuer radio bands.<\/p>\n

The real question though, is how to get the blasted thing up in a tree. Generally, the higher you can get an antenna, the better off you will be (unless you’re trying to do NVIS, but that’s a whole other subject). I considered using a modified spud gun<\/a>, but I haven’t had good luck with spudguns in the past. I also didn’t like the idea of having to either hand pump the cannon or bring an air compressor. The NPOTA I attended we did not have an easy solution for powering a compressor either. So, here’s the solution I came up with. \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Originally, I had been planning on mounting a fishing reel onto a slingshot and launching a lead weight with the slingshot.\u00a0 However, I was at a local farm supply store and saw a\u00a0Bolt Crossbow<\/a>.\u00a0 I thought it was a much better solution (and more accurate) then a slingshot and smaller then a bow & arrow, so I bought it.\u00a0 I had gotten the zebco 202 on clearance at walmart that I was planning on mounting to a slingshot for getting ropes high in trees.\u00a0 Since this crossbow can handle both purposes, I decided to use it for that.<\/p>\n

Then, I had some layout and decisions to make.\u00a0 I wanted to have two bolts on board the crossbow, and then the fishing reel.\u00a0 With that information, I laid out how large a piece of 1×4 I needed.\u00a0 I cut a channel with the table saw for the crossbow to fit in down the middle of the block, then drilled two holes in the block.\u00a0 Then I drilled and tapped the crossbow to mount the block.\u00a0 I drilled two holes to mount the fishing reel, then drilled and tapped the reel so I could mount the reel to the block.\u00a0 Finally,\u00a0 I drilled two holes on the opposite side of the reel for the bolts to fit in.\u00a0 A hair tie (stolen from a sister) retains them.<\/p>\n

All in all, a pretty simple build.\u00a0 I keep toying with building another version, able to be taken down making it smaller and more compact, based on an ar15 pattern rifle.<\/p>\n

Parts List:<\/h2>\n