When starting out to build my station, I decided to keep track of all costs so that I could see where I wasted, er, invested my money. I also thought the price sheet might help newcomers know what they need to get started.
My goal was to build the SSTRAN antenna exactly as described in the instructions, making no substitutions on the materials.
Total cost, including a pre-assembled SSTRAN AMT3000 transmitter: $437.98
Cost of antenna alone: $268.03
Please note that I listed all costs, including costs for tools that I needed to work on the antenna. You may be able to build this antenna for a lot less money if you already have some of the materials on hand. Shopping around for better prices might help, as well.
Also note that this list does not include cost of mixers, microphones, computer equipment, etc, used in the studio.
Price Sheet for SSTRAN Antenna
| AMT3000 Transmitter (incl S&H) | 169.95 |
| MarVac coil wire (incl S&H) | 17.66 |
| 3” PVC caps | 4.18 |
| Spray sealant | 2.98 |
| 3” width PVC pipe, 5′ length | 5.79 |
| 1 1/2” width PVC pipe, 10′ length | 4.99 |
| Copper pipe ½” 10′ | 8.49 |
| Copper pipe ¾” 3′ | 6.49 |
| Masking tape | 3.46 |
| Drill bits | 4.99 |
| Sand paper | 1.23 |
| Electrical tape | 3.87 |
| PVC cleaner | 1.99 |
| PCV cement | 1.94 |
| Cable ties 6 | 1.99 |
| Solderless copper bond | 9.99 |
| 1 ½ x ¾ “ bushing | 5.49 |
| Tubing cutter | 6.49 |
| Pvc adapter | 1.98 |
| Hose clamp 2 | 1.58 |
| Copper adapter | 1.39 |
| Ground clamp | 2.29 |
| Copper cap ½ “ | 0.29 |
| Velcro | 8.79 |
| 1×2 braces for antenna cementing | 1.56 |
| Post driver | 19.98 |
| 80lb sack cement (2) | 7.96 |
| ½ inch x 8 feet grounding rod (2) | 23.94 |
| 1 1/2” width galvanized conduit x 10′ (mast pipe) (2) | 55.9 |
| 9/64” drill bit | 0.88 |
| 1 – 1 ½ grounding clamp (2) | 2.98 |
| Silicone sealant | 2.99 |
| Square u-bolt 5/16”x2” (2) | 2.48 |
| Weatherproof junction box 8x8x4 | 17.99 |
| #10 self-drilling screws (5) | 1.33 |
| #6 copper wire 5 feet | 1.7 |
| #18 2 cond. Bell wire 100 feet | 20 |
| Pack wire staples (2) | 2.94 |