Incredibly long (~225') Random Wire Antenna (works on 160)
This antenna came about because I was given a large roll of 24 gauge wire, and I really wanted an antenna I could tune up on 160 meters. I have a pretty large backyard, but no trees. The yard is already saturated with dipoles, so I figured, why not put it on the fence. There is a 6' wooden fence all the way around the backyard so it seemed like it would be pretty easy. I tried to put it as high up on the fence as possible without being accessible to any of the neighbors that might have their hands on my side. There are two sections of fence that I didn't use because they are awaiting replacement. Please don't try to read any intelligence into the theory that was used to build this antenna. There wasn't any. I know there were a number of rules broken in the installation. Just try and think of it as another piece of wire in the air....
This photo shows the wire as it exits the house and goes up to the gutter next to the feedline for the two diploes. There are eyehooks anchored to the gutter supports that were used to hold the wire and keep it out of the gutter.
Here is where the wire exits the gutter and goes down to the fence level where it is stapled to the top of the fenceposts.
This photo shows the wire headed north along the fence line. Its a little deceiving looking at the wire because it looks so much bigger than it really is. I just had the camera lens real close to the wire. You can also see one end of the 40 meter dipole where it anchors to the fence.
This is a closeup showing the wire stapled to the top of a spare fencepost at the northeast corner of the yard.
The view looking south toward the termination point. In the distance you can see one of the fence sections that needs replacement.
This is where the wire terminates. If you look real hard, you can see that it goes down toward the ground and then comes back up. We just miscalculated the length and didn't want to cut it. When the fence section next to it is replaced, maybe I'll extend the wire a little more.
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I would like to thank Dave - N0DET for all his help in installing this antenna, and Burl for giving me the wire in the first place.