++++++++++++++++++ See also Stealth Antennas ++++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 08:35:21 -0400 From: "Mike Yetsko" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [126269] Re: Covert Antenna! If it's a vinyl downspout, try just dropping a wire into it and using the wire as a vertical. It'd be out of sight too. Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "W2WU" To: "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2002 12:44 AM Subject: Covert Antenna! > Allan: > Kind of difficult if you live on upper floors of a high rise. Downspouts - > yeah they are great if you have them & they aren't PVC. To bad you can't > load the roofs safety railings. > > How about a VHF/UHF stealth antenna (loops) on an A/C etch PC board but > allow for different loading? 73- Ron W2WU > ----- Original Message ----- > From: allan egleston > To: > Sent: 06 May, 2002 21:15 > Subject: [Cliffdwellers] hi > > > > I rembember reading in an electronics magazine where a c.b. operator who > > lived in an apartment complex, ran coax from his window to his mobile , > > and hooked up the mobile antennas to his base station rig and covered up > > the offending coax and no one suspected. Could this be transfered to > > ham. I also heard of hams using downspouts and rain gutters and dipoles > > on rose trellis. 73's de Allan Egleston, kf6uxj ++++++++++++++++++++ Date: Thu, 27 Jun 2002 14:21:58 -0500 From: David Gauding To: qrp-l at lehigh.edu Cc: W2SH at aol.com Subject: [128649] RE: putting an antenna under my siding Hello Charles, I couldn't agree more! Installing antennas in confined spaces can be a major hassle, depending on the situation. But, when the alternative is not operating HF at home, you go with what is possible. After running wires in five condo attics over eighteen years, I've been there too. Fortunately, one rental location with a high-pitched roof and floored attic was a snap. It made up for the others - a little! Yes, indoor antennas are noisy - depending - with condos or apartments being two of the biggest offenders after your own space. I suppose the best way to find out is to be on the air using a battery when the mains drop out. Or, simply throw the big switch and be amazed. Which is one reason I enjoy portable so much, assuming it is away from man-made noise sources. Regarding indoor antenna performance, I have no complaints, but did have the height advantage of a two-story condo, about 26' at the peak. I did DXCC with 50W maximum and then went back and did it again on QRP at 5W or less. At the same time, managed W.A.S. on 2 x QRP, which was very satisfying in those days. The antenna was usually a badly-bent "Aluminum Cloud" in a tuned doublet configuration. Distinctive in that the major part of the radiator was constructed from either 24" or 36" wide aluminum kitchen foil. This design hears rather well and remains a personal favorite for indoor/attic locations. Mostly worked 20M and 15M plus some 30M but very little 40M during the DXCC efforts. I ran miliiwatts at other times, simply because it was possible to do so with decent results. Finally, lots of 80M on a remarkably effective rain gutter/downspout arrangement. We finally moved into a real house four years ago. It was my first opportunity to put up an antenna outdoors. I later experimented with a 10-40M tuned doublet laying right on the roof because it was not possible to try that in the last condo. I tried out zig-zag and inverted-U installations. These antennas used 300 ohm twinlead with the feedpoint at either the peak of the roof or on at the bottom of one side. The arrangements worked pretty well. Maximum feedpoint height was 30'. If I have to choose between antennas in a restricted location the nod would now go to a stealthy roof doublet as opposed to the attic installation. I believe wire performs a little better out in the sunlight, even laying right on a solid non-conductive surface. Finally, I'd rather take my chances crawling on the roof if the attic option is too confined. The body just doesn't bend as easily anymore. Good luck with your project, Charles! You might find the doublet-on-the-roof an interesting option. Ditto for a loop around the outside edge of the roof. de Dave, NF0R nf0r at slacc.com ++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002 20:53:33 -0700 From: To: qrp-l at lehigh.edu Subject: [128565] putting an antenna under my siding? Folks, I have the dubious honor of being able to get new siding for my house. (Hail damage.) I currently have aluminum siding (boo) and will be getting vinyl siding (yeah). I understand that I can put a nice wire around the top of my house and do a nice loop type antenna. As I plan this out I've chatted with another local ham and his ideas were: 1) put it as close to the top of the house as possible. 2) run loops down from the top to any window I might want to use. Later I can dress the loops for whatever. He has knife switches just inside a couple of windows so that he can switch out portions. I'm curious if any of this wonderful group has any other ideas I should consider. My biggest problem is that I have to decide fairly quickly as they are installing early next week. I really have put too much thought into this yet. Oh, I have the wire. I don't remember the guage, but it is teflon coated. And it's a two story house in front, three story (walkout basement) in back. Currently my "shack" (if you can call it that is on the middle floor in back. TIA Michael N4NMR ++++++++++++++++ Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002 23:33:18 -0500 From: "George, W5YR" To: bowerm at ix.netcom.com Cc: Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion Subject: [128566] Re: putting an antenna under my siding? Mike, the "gotcha" may be that most wall sheathing on houses these days contains a layer of metallic foil. So try to get your antenna wire as far away from the sheathing on the walls as possible. Try to run the wire along the roof overhang - the soffet - where it will be almost impossible to see anyway. While the loop will "work" and probably surprise you, remember that everything electronic in the house is within its induction field: telephones, TC/cable coax, intercomm wires, etc. Plus any ducting in the attic and walls will get its licks in also. Just don't be surprised too much if even 5 watts attracts some telephone attention. The flip side is that a lot of noise generated from within the house is going to be aimed right at your antenna so receiving might be compromised somewhat. Good luck and knock 'em dead! Hope to hear you in the Fox Hunt packs. 73/72/oo, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 56th year and it just keeps getting better! QRP-L 1373 NETXQRP 6 SOC 262 COG 8 FPQRP 404 TEN-X 11771 I-LINK 11735 Icom IC-756PRO #02121 Kachina 505 DSP #91900556 Icom IC-765 #02437 bowerm at ix.netcom.com wrote: > > Folks, > > I have the dubious honor of being able to get new siding for my house. (Hail > damage.) > > I currently have aluminum siding (boo) and will be getting vinyl siding > (yeah). I understand that I can put a nice wire around the top of my house > and do a nice loop type antenna. ++++++++++++++++ Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 08:03:28 -0400 From: "Mike Yetsko" To: , "Low Power Amateur Radio Discussion" Subject: [128574] Re: putting an antenna under my siding? Don't be surprised if they don't take the old siding off. Most new siding just goes up OVER the old. And they may even add a layer of foam sheets that are foil backed. And... you may have foil in your ORIGINAL insulation, depending on when it was built and the builders preference at the time. Mike +++++++++++++++++