It depends on how much room you have and what configuration you are
considering. If you can put something up outside, many of use a dipole
which in its simplest form is a quarter wave on each half, so on 75
meters, for example, you would have a piece of coax going to the feed
point and a 60 foot wire running to the left and another 60 feet piece
of wire going to the right, with the shield tied to one and center
conducter to the other. These will some times tune on other bands, but
not well, so often these are redisigned with multiband traps and so
forth. The G5rv which yo'll see mentioned is about 105 feet long total
length and fed in the center with balanced line which is a certain
length and that is hooked to coax which goes to your radio. Again,
these aren't anything you could put up inside. Key thing to remember
about an antenna is it has a radiator and a ground. On the above
mentioned dipole, one wire, to the center is radiator and shield is the
ground, both are important as antennas must work against a ground. A
vertical is another kind of antenna, the vertical part is the radiater
and it must work against a ground plain which can be many pieces of
wire, a metal rooff, a balcony rail or whatever. If you have a balcony,
you could mount something to the rail, or you could hang a thin wire and
ground the shield to a counterpoise wire or the rail. You would use the
tuner in the radio, so the length wouldn't be critical, although longer
is better for lower frequencies. You really need to get some local help
there if you can to see what can be put up, places to tie to and so
forth.
Hope some of this makes sense. Antennas are a complicated subject and
there are many books written on this subject. You could also go with a
screw driver antenna of some kind, these are made for mobiles, but if
you had a good ground, you could use one of those. I have one of those
on my metal roof of my house and it works very well. These are a
vertical whip which are controled from inside the shack and a small
motor shortens or lengthens the antenna depending on the band.
73
Butch
WA0VJR
Node 3148
Wallace, ks.
On Fri, 10
Oct 2014, Joe Quinn wrote:
> I'm thinking my Rig will be the ts590s. So how long would the wire have to b=
> e? Where would you get it from? I've only dealt with 2 m repeaters, no knowl=
> edge whatsoever of antennas, that's why I'm asking all the questions
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Oct 10, 2014, at 6:58 PM, Butch Bussen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> =20
>> It sounds like that would be a difficult antenna to tune. There has to=20=
>
>> be an easier solution. If nothing else, a fine wire hung out the window=20=
>
>> with a counterpoise ground run around the floor and an automatic tuner=20
>> would be much simpler, but your radio may already have the tuner, I=20
>> forget what your rig is.
>> 73
>> Butch
>> WA0VJR
>> Node 3148
>> Wallace, ks.
>> =20
>> =20
>>> On Fri, 10 Oct 2014, Joe Quinn wrote:
>>> =20
>>> So do y'all think that this antenna would be worth me buying? Or would it=
> be=3D
>>> too much of a pain to deal with?
>>> Also why don't these Hf radios come with some sort of antennas?=3D20
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>> =20
>>>> On Oct 10, 2014, at 3:17 PM, Jim Shaffer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>> =3D20
>>>> Ok, here's the antenna Joe's talking about:
>>>> =3D20
>>>> The MFJ-1622 Apartment Antenna covers 40 through 2 Meters, mounts outdoo=
> r t=3D
>>> o=3D20
>>>> windows, balconies, railings, and works great indoors mounted to desks,=3D=
> 20=3D
>>> =20
>>>> tables, and bookshelves!
>>>> This Apartment Antenna lets you operate 40 through 10 Meters on HF and 6=
> a=3D
>>> nd=3D20
>>>> 2 Meters on VHF with a single antenna! Its universal mount/clamp lets yo=
> u=3D20=3D
>>> =20
>>>> easily attach it to window frames, balconies, and railings. It also work=
> s=3D20=3D
>>> =20
>>>> great indoors mounted to a desk, table, or bookshelf. Its not a five ele=
> me=3D
>>> nt=3D20
>>>> yagi, but youll work your share of exciting DX!
>>>> The highly-efficient air wound bug catcher loading coil and telescoping 5=
> =3D20=3D
>>> =20
>>>> 1/2 foot radiator lets you really get out! The radiator collapses to 2 1=
> /2=3D
>>> =3D20
>>>> feet for easy storage and carrying.
>>>> It includes coax RF choke balun, coax feed line, counterpoise wire and=3D=
> 20
>>>> safety rope. The operating frequency is adjusted by moving the wander le=
> ad=3D
>>> =3D20
>>>> on the coil and adjusting the counterpoise for the best SWR.
>>>> =3D20
>>>> So, it sounds like it might be a bit of a pain to tune. I wonder if any=
> on=3D
>>> e=3D20
>>>> can comment on those magnetic loop antennas? I remember a discussion of=
> =3D20=3D
>>> =20
>>>> them several months ago on this list, but can't remember any specifics.
>>>> =3D20
>>>> Another possibility is an antenna in the attic. Joe, does your apartmen=
> t=3D20=3D
>>> =20
>>>> building have an attic, and could you possibly put an antenna up there? =
> I=3D
>>> =3D20
>>>> have an Alpha-delta 40 through 10 meter dipole in my attic, and it works=
> =3D20=3D
>>> =20
>>>> pretty well, even on 40 meters. It is 40 feet long, and just fits in my=
> =3D20=3D
>>> =20
>>>> attic.
>>>> --
>>>> Jim, KE5AL
>>>> -----Original Message-----=3D20
>>>> From: Joe Quinn
>>>> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2014 11:17 AM
>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>> Subject: Re: HF antenna fun
>>>> =3D20
>>>> Mfj1622 apartment antenna, lest you see something better
>>>> =3D20
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> =3D20
>>>>> On Oct 10, 2014, at 10:20 AM, Jim Shaffer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> I see a bunch of antennas here. Specifically, what antenna is it?
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> -----Original Message-----=3D20
>>>>> From: Joe Quinn
>>>>> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2014 10:00 AM
>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>> Subject: Re: HF antenna fun
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> Here's the link, tell me what you think=3D3D20
>>>>> http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=3D3D3DMFJ-1622
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> On Oct 10, 2014, at 9:24 AM, Butch Bussen <[log in to unmask]> wrot=
> e:=3D
>>> =20
>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>> I didn't see a link to your antenna. Keep in mind, anything smaller
>>>>>> is=3D3D20=3D3D
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> a compromise antenna. Not to say it is bad, just be ware. A dummy
>>>>>> load=3D3D20=3D3D
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> will load up on all bands, but doesn't radiate worth a damn. I had
>>>>>> one=3D3D20=3D3D
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> of those b and w 160 through ten antennas, looked goot on swr meter,
>>>>>> but=3D3D20=3D3D
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> was a very poor performer. It is basicly a folded dipole, 50 foot or
>>>>>> so=3D3D20=3D3D
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> each side of center, right above the center insolator or balon is=3D3D=
> 20
>>>>>> another box which is actually a resister which is why it matched so=3D=
> 3D20=3D
>>> =20
>>>>>> well. I called it my dummy load with wires. I'd ask about putting=3D=
> 3D20=3D
>>> =20
>>>>>> something up out side and go from there. Can you get any local hams
>>>>>> or=3D3D20=3D3D
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> club involved to lend you a hand to see what might be done?
>>>>>> 73
>>>>>> Butch
>>>>>> WA0VJR
>>>>>> Node 3148
>>>>>> Wallace, ks.
>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>> On Thu, 9 Oct=3D3D20
>>>>>> 2014, Alan R. Downing wrote:
>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>>> Hello Joe, Don't get your hopes up too high for this indoor HF antenn=
> a.=3D
>>> =20
>>>>>>> I=3D3D
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>>> think that it is highly doubtful that an antenna that small can work
>>>>>>> very=3D3D
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>>> efficiently. In addition to poor performance, keep your eye open for=
>
>>>>>>> interference. When you transmit on this small antenna, you run the r=
> is=3D
>>> k
>>>>>>> o=3D3D
>>>>> f
>>>>>>> getting into all many of electronics, not only in your apartment, but=
> i=3D
>>> n
>>>>>>> neighboring units. Keep us posted on how you do.
>>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>>> Alan/KD7GC
>>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>>> Alan R. Downing
>>>>>>> Phoenix, AZ
>>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>>>>>>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]
>>>>> ]
>>>>>>> On Behalf Of Joe Quinn
>>>>>>> Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2014 9:49 PM
>>>>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>>> Subject: HF antenna fun
>>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>>> I found an antenna that will work inside my apartment. It says it'l=
> l
>>>>>>> wo=3D3D
>>>>> rk
>>>>>>> f=3D3D3D
>>>>>>> rom 40-10 meters on hf and six and 2 meters on vhf. It's not huge, so=
> I=3D
>>> =20
>>>>>>> c=3D3D
>>>>> an
>>>>>>> p=3D3D3D
>>>>>>> ut it outside my window or even indoors clamping it to the desk. What=
> I=3D
>>> =20
>>>>>>> woul=3D3D3D
>>>>>>> d like to know, is if there is another antenna that would work below,=
> o=3D
>>> r
>>>>>>> i=3D3D
>>>>> s
>>>>>>> i=3D3D3D
>>>>>>> t above, 40 meters but that wouldn't be huge, so it would work from
>>>>>>> insid=3D3D
>>>>> e
>>>>>>> m=3D3D3D
>>>>>>> y apartment. I don't know that I would be able to get permission from=
>
>>>>>>> the=3D3D
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>>> ma=3D3D3D
>>>>>>> nager to be able to hang out a 60 foot or whatever antenna outside of=
> m=3D
>>> y
>>>>>>> apa=3D3D3D
>>>>>>> rtment window. :-) but I want to be able to work as many HF bands as I=
>
>>>>>>> ca=3D3D
>>>>> n.
>>>>>>> A=3D3D3D
>>>>>>> nybody have any ideas?=3D3D3D
>>>>>>> =3D3D20
>>>>>>> =3D3D20=3D20
>>> =20
>>> =20
>
>
|
