6 meter antenna

[MitchellB]

I'd like to make a new 6 meter antenna for my radio. Currently I have a dipole, but since we installed aluminum eve cladding around the house and aluminum gutters, I'm having problems with it probably because it is attached to the eves of the house or I damaged it removing it. However I never was satisfied with it before the changes to the house anyway. I have 2 homemade ground plane antennas on 2 meter and 70 cm, and thought I might try to make a 6 meter ground plane vertical. Anyone had any experience with a 6 meter ground plane antenna or perhaps other suggestions for a 6 meter antenna?

[K7KBN]

Six meter GP will be just like any other GP: quarter-wave radiator and several quarter-wave radials. Takes more time to describe it than to build it.

[KB1GGD]

any good advive on what material to use for the elements? 14awg isnt very self supportive. alum. rods from hardware store? is the dia. of the material also critical?

[MitchellB]

Diameter is not a concern, but overall size is and weight is. After I realized how huge the 6 meter vertical ground plane would be, I’m not so sure I want something that large sticking up above the roof on the end of the house. My 2m and 70cm ground planes are tiny compared to what an equitant 6m would be. I don’t mind so much what the vertical driven element length is (4.5ft.), but the four lower (4.5ft.) radials are just going to make it too bulky for me. I may have to rethink using the dipole. A diapole may a lot easier to over-look (hide) on the end of the house. I’m still open for suggestions on a good 6 meter antenna to use or placement to avoid the metal eve cladding interference.