Quad-helix antenna for satcom weather fax?

[Beausoleil]

I'm hoping I don't have to build my own, as I can't seem to find a decent quality quadrifilar helix antenna to use for receiving 137 MHz weather fax info from polar satellites. There's ton's of information on building your own, but I was hoping to find one similar to this one from National RF, or this one from Time-Step in the UK.

National-RF's antenna seems to be no better than a typical homebrew, and I'm waiting to hear back from Time-Step. I think OCENS at one time offered a quad-helix as part of their weather receiver package, but I can't seem to find recent info on it.

I'm planning to use it as a backup to HF weatherfax info... I'm not ready to break out the big bucks for a satphone with data capabilities just yet!

[sluissa]

Honestly, that looks like a very simple antenna to build. A few wire coathangers a bit of pvc pipe, a balun, a couple of hours of work and you've got yourself an antenna.

[Beausoleil]

Originally Posted by sluissa

Honestly, that looks like a very simple antenna to build. A few wire coathangers a bit of pvc pipe, a balun, a couple of hours of work and you've got yourself an antenna.

You may be right, but right now I'm busier than the proverbial one-armed paper hanger trying to get the boat ready to move aboard by May. If I were to take the time to do it, I'd build it from copper tubing - a bit more robust than coathanger wire... I did hear back from one other vendor - and for $385, I think I will do just that: build it once I have some time. I know I can do a better job than the cheap homebrew-looking one from National RF...