[TowerTalk] Grid dip meter and Yagi elements

[Mark Beckwith]

> Why does it need a gap in it?. It is an
> inductor and it has a resonant
> frequency.  Use the coil with the frequency
> range of the antenna and tune to
> find the dip.

I can't believe I'm going to show such ignorance, but here goes:  We had
"grid dip meters" when I was a kid.  I think they were called this because
they had a vacuum tube in them.  I think vacuum tubes had something called a
"grid" inside them.

I am assuming you guys talking about "grid dip meters" are not really
talking about these old devices.  What is the modern equivalent?  I have an
MFJ 259B, for instance.  It is easy to get the resonant frequency of a yagi
element split and insulated in the middle.  Can I use it to inductively
couple to a continuous yagi element or otherwise determine that element's
resonant frequency in any way?

Forgive my untechnical perspective, but the only reason I care about towers
and antennas is to make as many QSOs in radio contests as possible.  This
has incidentally helped me conquer my fear of heights.

Mark, N5OT