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Author Topic: Christmas Lights Antenna  (Read 1211 times)

WB0UQD

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Christmas Lights Antenna
« on: December 05, 2021, 11:45:30 AM »

My wife put up a bunch of Christmas lights, and I was thinking of trying to tune it with my antenna tuner. Has anyone tried this? I would assume the bigger lights would work better, but I'm just guessing.

Have a "FB" Christmas!!
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WB6BYU

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    • Practical Antennas
Re: Christmas Lights Antenna
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2021, 01:10:53 PM »

It will give you a visual demonstration of the current distribution
along the antenna, as G8JNJ shows here (scroll down to
almost the bottom of the page).

Conventional incandescent lamps will, of course dissipate your RF
as light and heat, reducing the radiated power significantly.

LED lamps could generate harmonics, and will certainly be
non-linear.

However, many strings of lamps have 3 wires, two of which
run through to the opposite end with no lamps, to allow
multiple strings to be connected in series.  Those will be carrying
120 VAC, but will make a better antenna (or feedline) than the
wire with the bulbs.  There will still be significant coupling between
the wires, however, so even with the lamp wire disconnected
you may still see them glow

But, while you are up there hanging the Christmas lamps, why
not hang a separate antenna wire under the eaves, where it is
out of sight and out of the weather, and use that for your antenna. 
Then you can use it the rest of the year as well.  I've done fine
just stapling an insulated wire to the back of the fascia boards,
but you can use a small piece of plastic for an insulator, or put
in an electric fence standoff insulator, especially if you plan to
run more power.

WB0UQD

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Re: Christmas Lights Antenna
« Reply #2 on: December 05, 2021, 07:53:07 PM »

Quote
However, many strings of lamps have 3 wires, two of which
run through to the opposite end with no lamps, to allow
multiple strings to be connected in series.  Those will be carrying
120 VAC, but will make a better antenna (or feedline) than the
wire with the bulbs.  There will still be significant coupling between
the wires, however, so even with the lamp wire disconnected
you may still see them glow

But, while you are up there hanging the Christmas lamps, why
not hang a separate antenna wire under the eaves, where it is
out of sight and out of the weather, and use that for your antenna. 
Then you can use it the rest of the year as well.  I've done fine
just stapling an insulated wire to the back of the fascia boards,
but you can use a small piece of plastic for an insulator, or put
in an electric fence standoff insulator, especially if you plan to
run more power.

I did not know about the third wire, I will try that.
Thanks!!
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VE3PP

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Re: Christmas Lights Antenna
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2021, 03:13:37 AM »

Years ago I put a string of lights on the gutters on the front of my house. Length of the string of lights was 50 feet.
Then I had an extension cord which ran into my shack to power them. No ground wire, just two wires in the extension cord and lights. Total length of wire would have been about 75 feet X 2. So 150 foot loop!

So one night I thought "I wonder if I can load these up?"
Well I tried and sure enough those lights loaded up easily on 40 meters. I had a few QSO's on 40 using them  ;D

NVIS because the gutters are only 8 feet off the ground! But it worked.


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W1BR

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Re: Christmas Lights Antenna
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2021, 11:02:01 AM »

lot of work... but a .01 cap across each filament would keep RF energy where you want it.
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WB0UQD

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Re: Christmas Lights Antenna
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2021, 02:28:08 PM »

So one night I thought "I wonder if I can load these up?"
Well I tried and sure enough those lights loaded up easily on 40 meters. I had a few QSO's on 40 using them  ;D

NVIS because the gutters are only 8 feet off the ground! But it worked.
I really miss experimenting with antennas, before HOAs. Our HOA seems to be getting better though, It's less extreme than some of the old ones.
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VE3PP

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Re: Christmas Lights Antenna
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2021, 04:29:33 AM »

So one night I thought "I wonder if I can load these up?"
Well I tried and sure enough those lights loaded up easily on 40 meters. I had a few QSO's on 40 using them  ;D

NVIS because the gutters are only 8 feet off the ground! But it worked.
I really miss experimenting with antennas, before HOAs. Our HOA seems to be getting better though, It's less extreme than some of the old ones.

Well I have no HOA crap here as I own my home. But it was something to try and it worked. Now I am sure I would not have worked any long distance contacts with those lights. But it just goes to show you can make contacts with less than optimal antennas!
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KC3TEC

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Re: Christmas Lights Antenna
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2022, 12:29:10 PM »

My cousin was a lawyer purchased a home in a hoa and the contract stated no transmitting devices what so ever.
He said he would sign it if he had it in writing the authority to enforce the rules.
They jumped right on it and signed.
After he put the document in his safe he told them no wireless internet, no cellphones, no wireless security cameras, garage door remotes, tv remotes, and finally, anyone with a cardiac pacemaker either moves out or show up the following morning for surgical removal, :o

They let him put up his antennas ;D
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K1VSK

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Re: Christmas Lights Antenna
« Reply #8 on: November 06, 2022, 12:37:14 PM »

My cousin was a lawyer purchased a home in a hoa and the contract stated no transmitting devices what so ever.
He said he would sign it if he had it in writing the authority to enforce the rules.
They jumped right on it and signed.
After he put the document in his safe he told them no wireless internet, no cellphones, no wireless security cameras, garage door remotes, tv remotes, and finally, anyone with a cardiac pacemaker either moves out or show up the following morning for surgical removal, :o

They let him put up his antennas ;D

Any lawyer will tell you an HOA Board can and often does change their rules. As HOAs have no authority to regulate transmitters, it’s a moot point as it has nothing to do with him erecting an antenna.
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ONAIR

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Re: Christmas Lights Antenna
« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2022, 08:23:50 PM »

Tuned one up when I was visiting a relative's home for the holidays last year.  Worked well!
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