text: Communications
  FIELD-EXPEDIENT ANTENNAS
  6-116. Operators must know the importance of field-expedient antennas. The operator will have to
  construct field-expedient antennas if conventional ones are damaged or missing parts.
  REPAIR OF DAMAGED ANTENNA
  6-117. A broken whip antenna can be temporarily repaired (Figure 6-19)--
  • If the whip is broken in two sections, the operator can join the sections. First, he removes the
  paint and cleans the sections where they join. This ensures a good electrical connection. Then,
  he places the sections together and secures them using bare wire or tape.
  • If the whip is badly damaged, the radio operator can use field wire (WD1/TT) of the same
  length as the original antenna. The radio operator removes the insulation from the lower end of
  the field wire antenna, twists the conductors together, sticks them into the antenna base
  connector, and secures the conductors with a wooden block. He supports the antenna wire with
  a tree or a pole.
  Figure 6-19. Repair procedure, whip antenna.
  INSULATORS
  6-118. The radio operator can make these from items that are readily available (Figure 6-20). He should
  choose materials that do not absorb water, as those that do, such as rope or cloth, will lose their insulating
  characteristics and become conductors themselves should they get wet.