'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
David Joseph (W7AMX)
on
September 26, 2009
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If you live in an antenna restricted environment there is still a way to get on the air.
I just read an article by someone who lives in a mobile home and the park didn't allow him to erect a wire antenna. Now, in my park, I can have a wire antenna; but, as a back up, I decided to tap into the roof flashing so I could have an axillary antenna, if needed.
As it turned out, after falling palm fronds chopped my wire down for the third time, and multiple questions of..."what's THAT for?...and, "Wonder if you're the one messing up my TV...", I just said to myself, forget this. Took down the wire and have been on the roof flashing ever since. Sure I'm down a couple of dB but now when one of the local antenna gestapo says..."so...you quit radio?...I say..."you don't see an antenna do you?".
I ran some coax under my place to an air vent on the back wall of my place. Drove a ground rod for the coax braid just outside and ran a small wire from the center conductor up the back wall and tapped into the roof flashing. I wound a 6 inch diameter coil of about six turns of coax at each end of the cable, hooked it to an off the shelf T-tuner sitting on the top of the radio.
I load the flashing on all HF bands, plus six meters also. Works well.
If you need a radiator that 1) works and 2) lets the rest of those around you think you just gave up on getting on the air, this one will fill the bill.
Another note/tip. I know you know that 50 watts is only a half an S unit down from 100 watts...right? (6dB per S unit...so half power = 3dB). So...run 50 watts, be a half S unit down on peaks. The stations that have missed you on the round tables and nets won't care.
Be happy...get on the air!
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by K2DC on September 26, 2009
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David,
Necessity is the mother of antennas. Early in my Ham career I was living in an apartment complex with little or no hope of an outdoor antenna. So I loaded up the metal screen door to the patio. In general the performance stunk, but I made contacts. Do whatever ya' gotta do.
73,
Don, K2DC
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by N4BFD on September 26, 2009
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The only thing I would improve on this antenna would be some radials un or under the ground. Just grounding the coax braid to a ground rod is no counterpoise at all, it's just a electrical ground.
Even four radials would better than nothing.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KD8FTH on September 26, 2009
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I agree put some radials down and bury them. You may be suprised at how much better it performs.
kd8fth
Ron
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Good old wire high in the sky saves the day.
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by AI2IA on September 26, 2009
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It depends of course on your proximity to neighbors, but simple wire antennas with light blue insulation or in shady areas with black insulation between trees and as high as you can place them, often go completely unnoticed.
Minimize the associated hardware and eliminate the current balun or place baluns close to the house. If needed, use an antenna configuration that radiates from part of the feedline.
Keep a tight lip on your activity. Don't talk about it with non-hams, even trusted family members, then it will be out of sight and out of mind. Trusted friends or family members sometimes innocently mention it to third parties and then it gets back. A good rig is a good rig, and a good amp is a good amp, but a good wire antenna nobody sees is a fine radiator of RF energy over great distances.
You can have years of operating enjoyment with these wire antennas.
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RE: Good old wire high in the sky saves the day.
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by AB7E on September 26, 2009
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AI2IA,
I agree with your comments, and in fact thin bare copper wire soon turns a dark color that is extremely difficult to see, but I'm pretty sure he said falling palm fronds (which are heavy and have lots of little "grappling hooks" along their spine) kept breaking his previous wire antenna.
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by WD9FUM on September 26, 2009
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A friend of mine retired and downsized into a townhouse. He tried loading up his gutter with the center conductor and tied the braid into a ground rod connected to a few radials. Voila! - No DX pileup buster, but he's stil enjoys HF ragchewing.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by G3LBS on September 27, 2009
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I read an article somewhere about loading up small trees and bushes. Aren't big trees about 2 megohms?
It may be better to stealth-load up the neighbors' houses rather than your own, or even the neighbors' themselves? Of course many of us inadvertently do this anyway. Do any of you have low impedance neighbors?
Buffalo Gil W2/G3LBS
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by WA2JJH on September 27, 2009
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Are not all neighbors very "RESISTANT" to anything you can sneak in.
The lack of a radial field bugs me too. Perhaps the ground underneath is moist and has a high saline content.
That would be a bummer if he buries an absolute minimum of radials, only to be noticed by the pesky
neighbors. With an apartment highrise, one can get away with a conterpoise, and a few radials per band used.
Some folk in marsh area's can do faily decent if the ground copper rod goes down 8 feet of more.
Multiple ground rods of even deeper deepth can do in a pinch.
However, in general everybody would prefer if you could run 4 or more 33 foot radials. Some folk insist on close to 100 radials.
However, being a stealth install, that would be hard feat to pull off with nasty, noisy neigbors nitpicking you.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by W9OY on September 27, 2009
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Loading up a tree probably won't get you far, but you can hang a wire out of a tree and even wrap it around the trunk a turn or two, put down some radials and have a blast.
I made no attempt to "stealth up" this antenna but here is a starting point for some ideas
http://w9oy-sdr.blogspot.com/2009/09/43ft-vert.html
Pure unadulterated Radio FUN
73 W9OY
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by K3AN on September 27, 2009
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Most people don't see something if they're not looking for it.
At a townhouse we once rented, I ran a length of #26 black insulated stealth antenna wire across the townhouse parking lot from a second-story window to a tree. Completely out in the open and no more than 25 feet up, that wire wasn't noticed by anyone for almost a year. Then a ham, visiting my next door neighbor, spotted it. Since I had been operating QRP and was not causing any interference, the neighbor had no problem with it.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by NF8V on September 27, 2009
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You know I use to run a end fed dipole, I just used I ground radial from the ground rod that the braid was attached to snf it was quite a improvement as the others said.
I would do the same with your ground rod but run it around the base of the building to the begining of the wire and put another ground rod next to the existing ground rod and attach it there.
be stealthy like the boys in "the great escape" when you do the install. maybe not do it all in one day do a little bit at a time over a few days.
Just to keep from being seen by the "Radio Nazi's"
73
Rich NF8V
P.S. one long radial is sometimes better that 4 short ones.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS! Reply
by N4BFD on September 26, 2009 Mail this to a friend!
The only thing I would improve on this antenna would be some radials un or under the ground. Just grounding the coax braid to a ground rod is no counterpoise at all, it's just a electrical ground.
Even four radials would better than nothing.
RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS! Reply
by KD8FTH on September 26, 2009 Mail this to a friend!
I agree put some radials down and bury them. You may be suprised at how much better it performs.
kd8fth
Ron
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by N8NSN on September 28, 2009
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Each time I see an article on antennas, ESPECIALLY apartment, condo, or otherwise restricted installs, I want to attempt mentioning the following...
This goes for any antenna install, in reality.
When it comes to driving ground rods, BE CAREFUL!
Keep in mind:
ALL POSSIBILITIES OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES!
Water
Phone
Cable (TV computer phone)
Electric Mains
One small mistake can be very costly, including your life!
Just hope people do not over look these possibilities in their excitement to get on the air.
72,
Jim N8NSN
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KB2DHG on September 28, 2009
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These post are becoming way to common these days and I too am a victom of HOA's..
I was fortunate to get a home brew G5RV up on the roof but I still feel controlled and violated that I cannot have an antenna I really want.
A good station is only as good as the antenna. I rather spend big money on the antenna than a rig.
In my past home where I had a tower and beam along with multi dipoles i worked the world QRP!.
It was all in the antennas and instalation.
Well, I commend your dillagence and the fact that you never gave up. It just makes me mad that we live in a world of restrictions...
Nice article... Hope to catch you on the Air!
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by WB4TJH on September 28, 2009
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For stealth and good performance, I have always liked the end fed zepp antenna, made from unobtrusive 300 ohm ribbon line and small guage wire. I also use a Par Electronics End Fedz, which is another end fed halfwave antenna. Being half wave lengths, both of these antennas do just fine without radials. Radials might or might not improve them, but I have worked the world with these types of antennas with QRP CW and no radials. I have the Par Electronics QRP model 39 footer, which works 10/20/40 meters and it's about as stealthy as you can get. You could run a length of coax out to a tree, bury it, and run the black coax a few feet up the tree, stretch the wire vertically from the tiny matching box, thru the tree branches, and it would be practically invisibile. I can guarantee you this little end fed antenna is a killer. I have had mine for several years, and it is my primary portable HF antenna. I know of several that are mounted permanently in HOA restricted locations. Par Electronics also makes them in 100 watt version monobanders. The real beauty of an end-fed antenna is that it is so easy to mount or conceal, if need be.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KG4GPJ on September 28, 2009
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Taking Rich's suggestion one step farther, if it's the "right" season for planting flowers, ornamental plants, etc., perhaps you could disguise the running of a radial wire (or wires) around the footprint or foundation of the structure by appearing to be digging out and planting a flower bed. Just bury the radial wire under the soil, and it would help if flowers and other plants later sprang up!
Also, a long-wire antenna can be run under the eve or soffit of a house to form a loop.
Larry
KG4GPJ
Prior Message:
You know I use to run a end fed dipole, I just used I ground radial from the ground rod that the braid was attached to snf it was quite a improvement as the others said.
I would do the same with your ground rod but run it around the base of the building to the begining of the wire and put another ground rod next to the existing ground rod and attach it there.
be stealthy like the boys in "the great escape" when you do the install. maybe not do it all in one day do a little bit at a time over a few days.
Just to keep from being seen by the "Radio Nazi's"
73
Rich NF8V
P.S. one long radial is sometimes better that 4 short ones.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by WA2JJH on September 28, 2009
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First rule in keeping any cleaver, small foot print, or classic 1/2 dipole/inverted V is to DENY that it radiates or emits anything.
Tell em your out of the hobby, and do what you want.
Should they blame your Ham radio ops are causing TVI,
Try this provarication detector. Low tech.
Tell the neighbor, he should call your home Telco number as soon as the alledged RFI is yours.
Put someone else on the landlane. You then run into the shack and call CQ on a clear freq. If they there is no interference, videotape the event.
Hopefully, it is a CBer or some EMI produced by industry. You keep collecting proof, and still get DX and enjoy this hobby.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by W7LV on September 29, 2009
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A new neighbor, obviously the successor to both Tesla AND Edison (after all, he owned a 1/2" hickey and a pair of Kleins) informed me that his father-in-law, who, "...used to repair TV's...(maybe did open heart surgery, too?)"... said that my 58 foot Rohn and CL 33 were, "suckin' all the power outta his TV signal."
Inasmuch as the tower and antenna had been in place several years before aforementioned troll bought his vacant lot (from ME!), I inquired as to his and his father-in-law's Degrees in Electrical Engineering.
"Wahl, ain't got no DEE-gree, but I'm a Master Electrician."
Now, being a General Contractor of some number of years' standing, and having worked my way through college as a ("SURPRISE!") Electrician, this assertion hardly established bona fides with me vis-a-vis radio wave propagation expertise.
I assumed that Business Must Be Good (he had one of those $50K+ Idiot's Delight Diesel-powered 4WD pickup trucks) and suggested that he and his father-in-law might seek to have their grievance redressed in a court of competent jurisdiction, and that, barring this, my interest in his television reception was nil.
"Whut?"
"I said, 'Tough s**t, Sarnoff...the tower was here before you were. And, if you don't like it, you and your father-in-law, George Westinghouse, are free to SUE ME!!! Otherwise, STFU, you spit-dribbling, ROMEX-pulling idiot!!!'"
This last was expressed about 3 dB louder than the Command Voice I use to have things and behinds moved out of my way on a commercial construction site ("MAKE HOLE!!! MAKE IT WIDE!!!"). I am known as an individual who finds use of voice amplification equipment redundant.
Never heard another word about how Idiot Neighbor's quality of life was impacted due to poor recption of The Wide World of Midget Wresting or Nguyen van Nguyen's "One Hundred Ways to Cook Dog Show"...
It is TRULY amazing how effective the phrase, "Put up your dukes, SUE me or SHUT THE HELL UP!" tends to quash these petty authoritarians.
Or, perhaps it's the lawyer telling them that he needs $10,000 for a Retainer to start work.
Either way, "Your Ham Radio Stuff iz Messin' Wif My TV," can easily, and for FREE be met with, "Life's really hard over at your place, isn't it?" or, "Sure sucks to be YOU these days, eh?" or, "Yeah? Well, I'd SUE me if I were you!"
We don't have to show 'em any Steenking ARRL TVI/RFI manuals!
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by K2JF on September 29, 2009
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Great resourcefulness! When I first got back on the air from my 3rd floor NYC apartment building with no access to the roof. I slung one of those slinky antennas under the ceiling. At the time I was operating a TS 130V and 10 watts into the slinky and made contacts. I was happy.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by SV1ENS on September 29, 2009
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I was recently in VE land and I had to deal with a steel and concrete condo building with no possibility for an outdoor antenna...
All indoor antennas I tried did not work, dipoles, loops, ect...
I finally tuned the aluminum window frame with surprising results, considering that the frame was directly mounted on concrete...
73
Demetre - SV1ENS
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by W4DOV on September 30, 2009
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This guy has a pretty cool set-up. Just thought I would share.
http://www.geocities.com/wa8wqc/
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KB6QXM on September 30, 2009
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What is an restriction. You guys chose your living conditions before your hobby of ham radio.
There is no free lunch. Either you follow physics and get a reasonable antenna in the air on a reasonable tower with some gain or you just live with being 20+ db down from everyone else.
Again there is no free lunch. If 5X3 or less reports are fine with you, then great. If not having the capability to break through a DX pile up is fine with you, Great. If not, find some rural land with no antenna restrictions, purchase towers and some high gain/large boom yagis and stop spending so much time trying to squeeze out that last milliwatt. Remember basically 6db=1S unit.
73
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KA2DDX on September 30, 2009
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I too, used to live in an apartment and unable to put anything outside. So, I got ahold of a cheap ($40) tuner and ran a piece of wire across the baseboard from the bedroom into the living room. Bending and turning all the way. Got about 20 some feet or more long. Darn thing tuned on 20 meters and a couple other bands. I kept my rig power around 30 to 50 watts. The apartment was on the second floor, which was the top floor in that building. Even though I was limited to just a few bands, I worked a ton of dx and had a ball.
For vhf, I put a magnetic mount 2 meter antenna on a cake pan by the window and was able to hit most of the repeaters in the area and Southern Ontario as well.
You never know until you try.
Nice article, brings back memories.....
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'lNo Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KD0ILM on September 30, 2009
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Now you have me thinking.....always dangerous. I have hooked up the rain gutters in my house and have been only using it for receiving. I am installing a Bencher Butternut and have installed a radial field for it. Now, i have a piece of coax hooked to the gutter only utilizing the center conductor. What if i attach the coax shield to my new radial field with some wire. is it logical to think that I could use the radials for both antennas? Would having the gutters hooked up to my radial field screw up the Butternut?
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by N7RK on September 30, 2009
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I'll take the hidden wire in to a tree over attic antennas or gutters when possible.
I was in an apartment for 2.5 years during the late 1990's. This is what I did for an antenna and it worked very well. It also allowed me to keep DXing and you could not see the antenna.
http://members.cox.net/n7rk/bigsig2.html
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by G3RZP on October 1, 2009
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About 50 years ago, I remember reading about a guy in one of the southern African countries who worked a fair bit of DX on 10, 15 and 20 by loading up his metal artificial leg (his real leg went when his Spitfire got shot down in WW2)- not when wearing it, of course. From memory, he used the bed frame as a counterpoise.....
You can't get much more stealth than that - and even the worst HOA would have a problem stopping you using an artificial leg!
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by VA3TDZ on October 1, 2009
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I live in a highrise condo - which means lots of rebar in the concrete structure of the building.
The only antenna that I could manage to get out on the balcony of my seventh-floor unit and not generate any suspicion from neighbours, etc. was a Super Antennas MP-1 manually tuned screwdriver antenna.
I had to tilt the antenna at 30 degrees from vertical to avoid blasting RF into the unit above me.
My unit faces due west and the southern and southwestern aspect is partially blocked by various low-rise buildings and further away, high-rise buildings. The eastern aspect is blocked by the building itself and the north is clear.
My balcony is tiny, and there's not much metal in the balcony railing, so I couldn't set up much of a counterpoise either.
Results overall with the MP-1 were poor. I could hear lots of stations but not make contact. I did get lucky one day and make some contacts with hams in Western Canada with S-meter readings between S5 and S7.
Propagation conditions aside, I'm convinced the rebar in my building was acting a bit like a Faraday cage and having at least a partial capacitive effect on my transmissions.
So I gave up HF rather than put up with hit-or-miss, low quality results. Maybe someday I'll win a lottery and be able to buy a house where I can erect a serious antenna.
At least I can hit all of my local 2m/440 repeaters with a J-pole antenna mounted indoors and five watts output on the rig.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KD0ILM on October 1, 2009
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I suppose in DX work he had a leg up on the rest of us.
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by G3TEX on October 2, 2009
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I guess we're luckier here in France. Apart from some historic sites you can erect anything up to 12m high (a shade under 40ft) without any form of prior permissions.
I reckon that a thin wire antenna is best for no-show and if it breaks just put up a new one. I also agree that radials are worth it and of course aren't seen.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KG4WXP on October 2, 2009
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>>KB6QXM says: 'What is an restriction. You guys chose your living conditions before your hobby of ham radio'<<
Not everyone can afford to go live in the country on 12 acres nowdays, and most new neighborhoods are HOA ran, so what can you do? Sheesh.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by AF6AU on October 2, 2009
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My system for HF is a inverted Vee, about 33 ft. at the top, and the angle is about 110 degrees. The top is at the middle of the house width, from an eaves supported pole.
My greatest issue is noise, and most condos, or high density homes, expose your close to the ground antenna to the plasma televisions, power lines, fluorescent lights, clock oscillators, motor switching circuits in washing machines and variable speed dryers, old corroded CATV lines, anyway you get the idea. I have a constant S-7 or higher noise level on 20 meters, more with the neighbor using their Front loader washer.
Low antennas will work, but in high density housing, the noise is killer.
JML
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by WA2JJH on October 2, 2009
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Noise on 20M in citys does plague some. I had a 6db noise level.
I added a few more radials per band. Resoldered coax connector on ant. side. Added a in line antenna balun.
I got my constant s-6 down to a more comfortable s3-4.
I also found b using the RF RX pre-amp kicked out really made a huge difference.
Most commmercial rigs do not use an RF pre-amp. Part of elekaft K-2's RX a real performer was to use a biolar grounded base pre-amp. The front end is also Ham only, no general coverage.
I found on my TS-950SDX, the rx pre-amp was creating the high nise level from man signals off frequency being added in the MOSFET RF pre-amp.
I also added an external ATU that would tune the antenna on RX as well as tx. Most rigs, the built in ATU is only their to protect finals from high SWR.
The added in ATU in line with antenna and rig did wonders. It acted as a pre-selector. I hope to add a wayer roof ATU at antenna feedpoint. So my antenna will no longer add unwanted signals for the 1st converter mixer and pre-amp gives me a high noise background.
DX engineering makes an in line feed choke. The antenna side is DC isoolated too. This way the coax feeds the radials and radiator only. The coax no longer acts as a undesired couple of feet of wire in series with what should be the radiator.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by N2WJW on October 2, 2009
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Living in a townhouse I have found a way to make a couple of stealth antennas and both work great, mind you Im 100% CW operator and this is using 40 watts and under down to qrp.
Im lucky to have trees very close to the back of the house but there is still a few feet of clearance from the trees to the back of my home and any wire to the trees can be visible. I did get a notice to take the "string" down (little clue the association has that I am a ham) so rather than making a whole lot of noise I did take it down, I had strung up a random wire using 22 gauge insulated up to a tree about 50 feet total length, I was working just about everything I heard with very good reports. A few weeks later another ham suggested I use magnet wire so I strung up about 50 feet of the real thin stuff and its really tuff to see it unless you are looking for it but works like a champ, once in a while I do have to replace it since it is thin and sometimes gusty winds can bring it down, overall Im very happy with it and get to work just about every band including 80m with great results.
My other antenna is a G5RV jr strung up in the attic making sure it does not touch anything so its basically just "hanging" there and this antenna is just impressive on 40m and higher bands like 15 and 10m.
Bottom line, my move to an antenna restricted home has not stopped me from my hobby and at the same time I hope I have encouraged other hams to use stealthy antennas.
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by XE1GXG on October 4, 2009
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All good and interesting comments, as usual. Here in México--where law and disobedience of law are often confused and confounded--it is not as tough to just "do your own thing". Living in a housing community with small, closely-spaced condo-type units, I've found that my Zepp, Inverted Vee and vertical rarely provoke much more than "¿Qué es ESE alambre?" {"What's THAT wire?"]. BUT I insure that lowpass filter, counterpoise system and well-soldered, well-sealed connections preclude ANY possible comment about TVI.
Folks here have cable and sat TV, so that helps. I am sure it'd be more of a hassle were I in a fancy neighbourhood full of wealthy retirees from Canada or the States. But then, maybe not.
Best of luck with getting on the air!
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KF5BUB on October 12, 2009
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Back in the old days, in California, I faced restrictions by my condo association. They wanted to erect a 50' mast for their community TV antenna. I offered to put up the guy wiring since it was on top of my building. It's amazing what an inverted vee will do on top of a 5 story building! They never knew. I had to keep the power under 50-watts, but the DX-ing was great!
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by N5LRZ on October 14, 2009
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Several reasons why the idea is not a good idea even though it may work a just a little bit...
Main reason is that you will have to somehow bond all the sections of whatever flashing you are using into one continuous loop. A mere screw will not be enough over the long run. Some kind of RF strapping between each section will be required.
Second reason is obvious as well, proximity to the ground/earth will result in a near vertical radiation angle for any transmitted signal. High angles of radiation are OK for short range communications but are definately not good for DX that requires a low angle of radiation to minimize the number of signal bounces.
Third, any antenna of such a construction is probably not going to be even close to reosnance on any amateur radio band. You will need as a prime requirement a good antenna tuner to provide your radio with a 50 ohm feedpoint.
fourthly, even if you do bond together all the sections with proper RF bonding materials mother nature will cause the build-up of grime and dirt inbetween the overlaps. This dirt will act as a cap and even though you have bonded will cause a detune of the original configuration over a period of time.
Ground loss must also be taken into account as well. Depending on the conductivity of the earth beneith the antenna itself there may be considerable ground losses thus reduceing the practical efficiency of the antenna. In order to eliminate ground loss you need to be at least 1/2 wave length or HIGHER above the earth at the lowest frequency that the antenna will be used.
And of course as in all antennas of any kind placed close to any kind of electrical wireing, the antenna will unavoidably pick up ever buzz, click and humm on the electrical wires. Not to mention insert RF into every electrical wire in the house due to sheer close proximity.
Thus while your idea while it may sound good on paper will in the end turn into a disaster in the long run. You will be forced to seek another solution.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by NU6A on October 17, 2009
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I have read of the replies to the basic article, and I did not see one comment about how to maybe resolve the issue of HOA and CC&R restrictions: take a gander at a recent issue of QST about HR 2160. Then, if you are interested, write a letter to your Congressman and Senator asking for support of this piece of legislation. It is, even now, actively being discussed in both the House and the Senate. At a radio club meeting today, a FEMA communications specialist was stressing the fact that the federal government is relying upon and recognizing the value of volunteer amateur radio operators. This legislation will, eventually, make installation of antennas less of an onerous chore.
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by NU6A on October 17, 2009
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Mail this to a friend!
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I have read of the replies to the basic article, and I did not see one comment about how to maybe resolve the issue of HOA and CC&R restrictions: take a gander at a recent issue of QST about HR 2160. Then, if you are interested, write a letter to your Congressman and Senator asking for support of this piece of legislation. It is, even now, actively being discussed in both the House and the Senate. At a radio club meeting today, a FEMA communications specialist was stressing the fact that the federal government is relying upon and recognizing the value of volunteer amateur radio operators. This legislation will, eventually, make installation of antennas less of an onerous chore.
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by KG4CLD on October 19, 2009
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Mail this to a friend!
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Better than an indoor antenna on the low bands(3.5, 7.0, & 14mhz), but terrible on 10-meter(28mhz). However, I use a 102in steel whip and used the flashing as a ground plane. I mounted the antenna, to the corner peak of the house, using part of a mirror bracket. (side with the right angle and 3/8" threaded socket on it). I painted the base white, like the house and used light gray primer paint to lightly cover the whip. Only enough to dull the shine. What those condo-comandos can't see, they can't complain about. Good job on your design. Suggestion, maybe add a picture or two. 73's!
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RE: 'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by N5IVZ on October 24, 2009
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i have a black buddipole that is hidden in our lemon tree... hard to see in our antenna restricted neighborhood...and it works!
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'No Show' HF Antenna that WORKS!
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by VA7HV on October 25, 2009
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I reallyenjoy reading the " No antenna, antenna stories " I lived in Regina SK. for about a year and in a very nice condo, BUT NO ANTENNAS or ANY WIRES OR ANYTHING! Rules. Well it so happened I lived on the top floor, and a metal railing surrounded my corner patio. I discreetly bonded my antenna to become one long unit, (24 ft.) attached a small balun, ran a counterpoise wire to my central air metal piping underneath my floors, and using a YAESU FT-817 with a Z11 was able to work as far west as ALASKA and California and a few Canadian provinces and about 10 other states and even got a signal into Central America once. The 2nd antenna I built was a golf ball retreiver pole, extended up and through my closet into the attic space. I had a MFJ coil that I used as a trap and again connected to the central air as a counterpoise, with 5 watts was able to work a very acceptable distance. I even had a 2 meter in the attic space on a cookie sheet with a bunch of radials extended.. The WARDENS knew I was working my Radio hobby but never did figure out my antennas. They looked, but never did see the " railing antenna " hi.hi.. I am now in The Miramichi of NB and I have an acre of antenna farm to grow! 73 Henk VE9HV.
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