You may get slightly better performance by putting it out the window.
That said, if you have aluminum window frames this could cause problems with
SWR if the metal part of the antenna touches it or is in close proximity.
There are many antennas that work on most HF bands, however they are very
large verticals, or very long dipoles.
For instance, I have a carolina windom wire antenna that is 132 feet long,
with a 26 foot vertical radiator that hangs down from it.
I also have a 6 band vertical that covers 80M through 6M that is 12 feet
long with 6 4 to 5 foot horizontal elements.
This vertical is more or less useless on 80M and 40, but works OK on 20M,
15M and 10M given good band conditions.
A vertical that performs OK on the lower frequencies would be at least 31
feet, and usually 43 feet or more if you want to be able to use it
consistently
The smallest antenna that would cover most HF bands that I've seen is a
mobile screw driver type antenna which is about 6FT long...but again, the
lower frequencies are not usable on it.
Antennas are not expensive if you make them, but can get pricy if you buy
them.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Joe Quinn" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 10, 2014 11:49 AM
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: HF antenna fun
> What if you put it out of the window, would it work any better? Also, are
> th=
> ere any antennas that work on all hf bands?
> Also are antennas expensive?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Oct 10, 2014, at 12:11 PM, Colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]>
>> wrot=
> e:
>>=20
>> you will get just limited performance on 20M and up in frequency.
>> You will get basically no performance on bands down in frequency from 20M
>> o=
> r=20
>> 14MHZ
>> If you have stations very close by on 40 or 80/75M you may be able to=20
>> participate in round tables...again, if they are very close indeed...as
>> in=
> ,=20
>> within 2 or 3 miles
>> If band conditions are extremely good, you may make an occasional contact
>> o=
> n=20
>> 20M, 15M or 10M bands.
>> You will have RFi issues, and you will have noise problems making
>> receivin=
> g=20
>> difficult at best.
>> Not trying to discourage you at all, but you need to be aware of the
>> sever=
> e=20
>> limitations of an indoor apartment style HF antenna.
>> They very seldom work for anything other than limited receiving on HF.
>> Mo=
> st=20
>> guys who use HF in an apartment can get the antenna outside on the
>> balcony=
> =20
>> or something...this at least gets the radiator outside the building.
>> The=20=
>
>> building is full of metal and all sorts of stuff that blocks RF from
>> getti=
> ng=20
>> in or out, along with electronics that create high noise level on
>> receive=20=
>
>> making it difficult to copy stations.
>> I had limited success using a hamstick style mono-band mobile antenna=20
>> clamped to the balcony railing on the fourth floor for a couple years.
>> It got me on 20M and 40M, but barely... I didn't make any contacts at
>> all=20=
>
>> unless the band conditions were very very good.
>> Unfortunately, this is one of those things where there is no way
>> around=20=
>
>> it...the wheel has been invented, and reinvented on indoor HF antennas
>> and=
> =20
>> while manufacturers still make them and claim all sorts of fantastic=20
>> results, at the end of the day, they just don't work well.
>> That said, if you are located on the beech in florida or some other
>> south=20=
>
>> eastern State, you may find you have reasonable performance even with
>> an=20=
>
>> indoor antenna. Angle of radiation, propagation and other factors come
>> in=
> to=20
>> play making the circumstances more conducive to success.
>> That said, the best part about ham radio is that if you try something,
>> you=
> =20
>> may find you have results that don't match up to the accepted theory
>> or=20=
>
>> experience of others.
>> So, try it and see what happens.
>> Another antenna to check out might be the MFJ loop antenna...a bit
>> more=20=
>
>> money, but they work well even inside buildings, at least better than
>> your=
> =20
>> typical vertical.
>>=20
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Joe Quinn" <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2014 10:17 AM
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Re: HF antenna fun
>>=20
>>> Mfj1622 apartment antenna, lest you see something better
>>>=20
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>=20
>>>> On Oct 10, 2014, at 10:20 AM, Jim Shaffer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>>>=20
>>>> I see a bunch of antennas here. Specifically, what antenna is it?
>>>>=20
>>>> -----Original Message-----=20
>>>> From: Joe Quinn
>>>> Sent: Friday, October 10, 2014 10:00 AM
>>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>> Subject: Re: HF antenna fun
>>>>=20
>>>> Here's the link, tell me what you think=3D20
>>>> http://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=3D3DMFJ-1622
>>>>=20
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>>=20
>>>>> On Oct 10, 2014, at 9:24 AM, Butch Bussen <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>> wrote=
> :
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> I didn't see a link to your antenna. Keep in mind, anything smaller
>>>>> is=3D20=3D
>>>>=20
>>>>> a compromise antenna. Not to say it is bad, just be ware. A dummy
>>>>> load=3D20=3D
>>>>=20
>>>>> will load up on all bands, but doesn't radiate worth a damn. I had
>>>>> one=3D20=3D
>>>>=20
>>>>> of those b and w 160 through ten antennas, looked goot on swr meter,
>>>>> but=3D20=3D
>>>>=20
>>>>> was a very poor performer. It is basicly a folded dipole, 50 foot or
>>>>> so=3D20=3D
>>>>=20
>>>>> each side of center, right above the center insolator or balon is=3D20
>>>>> another box which is actually a resister which is why it matched
>>>>> so=3D2=
> 0
>>>>> well. I called it my dummy load with wires. I'd ask about
>>>>> putting=3D2=
> 0
>>>>> something up out side and go from there. Can you get any local hams
>>>>> or=3D20=3D
>>>>=20
>>>>> club involved to lend you a hand to see what might be done?
>>>>> 73
>>>>> Butch
>>>>> WA0VJR
>>>>> Node 3148
>>>>> Wallace, ks.
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>> On Thu, 9 Oct=3D20
>>>>> 2014, Alan R. Downing wrote:
>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> Hello Joe, Don't get your hopes up too high for this indoor HF
>>>>>> antenna=
> .
>>>>>> I=3D
>>>>=20
>>>>>> think that it is highly doubtful that an antenna that small can work
>>>>>> very=3D
>>>>=20
>>>>>> efficiently. In addition to poor performance, keep your eye open for
>>>>>> interference. When you transmit on this small antenna, you run
>>>>>> the=20=
>
>>>>>> risk
>>>>>> o=3D
>>>> f
>>>>>> getting into all many of electronics, not only in your apartment,
>>>>>> but=20=
>
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> neighboring units. Keep us posted on how you do.
>>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> Alan/KD7GC
>>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> Alan R. Downing
>>>>>> Phoenix, AZ
>>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> -----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
>>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> I found an antenna that will work inside my apartment. It says
>>>>>> it'll=
>
>>>>>> wo=3D
>>>> rk
>>>>>> f=3D3D
>>>>>> rom 40-10 meters on hf and six and 2 meters on vhf. It's not huge, so
>>>>>> I=
>
>>>>>> c=3D
>>>> an
>>>>>> p=3D3D
>>>>>> ut it outside my window or even indoors clamping it to the desk. What
>>>>>> I=
>
>>>>>> woul=3D3D
>>>>>> d like to know, is if there is another antenna that would work
>>>>>> below,=20=
>
>>>>>> or
>>>>>> i=3D
>>>> s
>>>>>> i=3D3D
>>>>>> t above, 40 meters but that wouldn't be huge, so it would work from
>>>>>> insid=3D
>>>> e
>>>>>> m=3D3D
>>>>>> y apartment. I don't know that I would be able to get permission from
>>>>>> the=3D
>>>>=20
>>>>>> ma=3D3D
>>>>>> nager to be able to hang out a 60 foot or whatever antenna outside
>>>>>> of=20=
>
>>>>>> my
>>>>>> apa=3D3D
>>>>>> rtment window. :-) but I want to be able to work as many HF bands as
>>>>>> I=
>
>>>>>> ca=3D
>>>> n.
>>>>>> A=3D3D
>>>>>> nybody have any ideas?=3D3D
>>>>>> =3D20
>>>>>> =3D20=20
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