Vivid Lizard Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 Just curious... has anyone ever put together a little fabric pocket of sheath for a TX antenna to slip into for those times when there is no option but to have the antenna touch the talent's skin? Do you think this would help, like having a layer of clothing between the talent and the antenna? If the talent sweats so the fabric gets wet and salty, would that negate any advantage to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.paterson Posted October 6, 2016 Report Share Posted October 6, 2016 I stick a hush lav on end of tx antenna to keep away from skin if clothing allows the small bump on tx..richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikewest Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 Never had a problem in many decades mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPSharman Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 I've thought a lot about this too. I haven't used anything in the past, but sometimes experience reception suffering in situations where it shouldn't. I often feel it is the antenna pressed against the skin, or mic cable bundled around antenna. The idea of a hush lav around antenna is a good one. I'd suggest white hush lavs, because I've had black ones bleed when they got wet. The new URSA straps have a pocket to tuck the excess mic cable into (good idea). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Waelder Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 I keep a few lengths of Tygon tubing in my kit for this purpose. I just slip a section over the antenna and secure it with a swatch of tape. The tubing tends to be a bit thick with wall thickness of at least 1/8-inch. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tygon_tubing It's fast, easy and it works great. With that tubing on, I know that I've taken a positive step to keep the antenna in clear air. Now, the question of whether there is actually an improvement in range is another matter. I figure that it can't hurt but an additional eighth or quarter inch of spacing is pretty minimal so I don't know if there is a real improvement. (I haven't had occasion for extensive testing.) I've also wondered if there might be some material coupling. That is, I wonder if the tubing, being in continuous contact with the antenna, might actually become part of the antenna, negating the benefit. Probably not as the material is an insulator but I have wondered. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Perkins Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 I recall this being an issue with long flex antennas back in the VHF wireless days (like Vega 66 etc), but I haven't had the issue with the shorter UHF antennas. Just lucky I guess, even with some Serious Sweaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vivid Lizard Posted October 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 Thanks to everyone for the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek H Posted October 12, 2016 Report Share Posted October 12, 2016 If you can find soft silicone tubing that works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McL Posted October 13, 2016 Report Share Posted October 13, 2016 A properly diameter'ed coffee stir straw. Cut to length and a wee bit of Joe's Sticky Stuff to keep it on the antenna. I had a gal who was sweating profusely from hot flashes upon whom this worked a charm after a lost a lot of range with her TRX. I keep a couple of those straws in the drawer. Might want to add some moleskin to the top since the edge is sharp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berniebeaudry Posted October 14, 2016 Report Share Posted October 14, 2016 I did have some sleeves made up for insulating the antennas from bare skin. They're made of fleece and have velcro on them to attach to the Neopax or Versaflex pouch/strap I'm using. I have had issues with shorter range due to skin contact so I had these made up. They don't add much bulk and are less annoying than a stiff straw or a hush lav on the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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