Hi Eric!

Now that's out-of-the-box thinking!  hhhmmm . . .

73,
Richard KK6MRH

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Eric Oyen
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2014 8:17 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A Technical Antenna Radiation Pattern Question Concerning Metal
within Walls

well,
if you could find a spot where the chicken wire is exposed, you could = hook
up a small length of wire there, run it into an antenna tuner and =
basically load up the whole building. I did this in an apartment once = and
had loads of fun on HF with it.

-eric

On Jun 29, 2014, at 7:35 AM, Richard B McDonald wrote:

> Hi Colin!
>=20
> this is very helpful, practical information.  Sorry your stuff blew-up 
>=
when
> the antenna hit a power line : )  And, thanks for the heads-up on the  
>antenna deal you mention!
>=20
> 73,
> Richard KK6MRH
>=20
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators =
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Colin McDonald
> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2014 9:46 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: A Technical Antenna Radiation Pattern Question Concerning 
> =
Metal
> within Walls
>=20
> hey richard:
> as was said, theoretically, metal that close to the antenna will =
effect it's
> radiation pattern etc.  However, you've still got a whole lot of =
antenna up
> in the clear.  You must use ground radials with this particular =
antenna to
> make it work at all though.
> Also, I very strongly recommend not getting the 160 option for the 
> matching/tuning box at the bottom.  Our club had one of these =
antennas, and
> it worked really quite well with four 65 foot radials at the bottom, =
until
> we added the 160M option...at which poit the antenna became almost =
useless
> on all bands.  It worked great from 80 through 6M without that 160 add 
> on...until, alas, it bent over in a wind storm and touched a power =
line and
> fried everything including the radio attached to it lol.
> We had it ground mounted on a piece of 1.5 inch pipe driven into the 
> ground...the bass was at about 1 foot or so off the ground.
> Anyway, great antenna without the low band thing.
> BTW, S9 antennas are on sale through cheapham.com and their 43 foot =
vertical
> is on sale for a very good price...along with the radial plate and the 
> =
other
> various accessories.
> you can score the 43 foot vertical with all hardware for under $200.
>=20
>=20
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Richard B McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2014 7:15 AM
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: A Technical Antenna Radiation Pattern Question Concerning =
Metal
> within Walls
>=20
>> Hi!
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> For practical reasons (e.g., space issues, zoning restrictions,=20  
>>landlord concerns, etc.), I am thinking about putting up a MFJ 43'=20  
>>vertical 160 - 6 meter antenna=20  
>><http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=3DMFJ-2990>
>> .  This question relates to how metal content within the walls of 
>>my=20=

>> house might affect the radiation pattern of this antenna.  
>> Basically,=20=

>> I am wondering if my walls will meaningfully interfere with=20  
>>transmit/receive operations of this antenna.
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> The walls in my house contain about an inch thick layer of stucco=20  
>>which is meshed with chicken wire.  This chicken wire is the kind =
with
> about 1.5"
>> holes.  On the inside of this is a layer of tarpaper.  This 
>> tarpaper=20=

>> is secured with metal wire of about 18 gage running horizontally; =
with=20
>> such a wire about every 8' from the bottom to the top of the wall. 
>> =20=

>> The rest of the wall is standard 2"X4" and plywood construction.  
>> The=20=

>> house was built in 1941.  So, it is this chicken wire and tarpaper=20  
>>wire I am wondering about.
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> This antenna would be ground mounted about 2' from the wall, and=20  
>>secured to the roof's eve overhang per MFJ's installation 
>>instruction=20=

>> in the manual.
>> Also, there is a water heater within a metal enclosure that is 
>> about=20=

>> 3'WX3'DX7'H that is about 6' away from where this antenna would go. 
>> =20=

>> My house is single story; so about two-thirds of the height of 
>> this=20=

>> antenna would be above the rooftop.
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> How much might the chicken wire and tarpaper wire mess-up my 
>>antenna?=20=

>> What
>> about the water heater?
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> 73 and happy Field Day!
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>> Richard KK6MRH=20