[Cliffdwellers] Overview of antenna history at KD7BFX

Sun, 13 Jan 2002 08:41:01 -0500

Hi Will,
Your note was jam packed with useful information. Having tried some of your antennas and some of my own I have little to add.

At my home in Florida there is no antenna problems. At an apartment I own the best solution so far is a mag mount with a mobile
antenna (Hustler) on a metal radiator cover by the window.

I can also extend it out the window at night with a counterpoise hanging down and that is satisfactory. If I had a balcony then the
mobile would be clamped to the metal railing.

I remember using a long wire stretched out on the deck of my boat with an antenna tuner many years ago and it worked great just
laying on the deck but thats another story...
Bill Marx W2CQ

----- Original Message -----
From: <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2000 12:44 AM
Subject: [Cliffdwellers] Overview of antenna history at KD7BFX

> Presently I have the best QTH, from an antenna point of view, that I
> have had in 4 short years of hamming, and nearly 20 of "serious" SWL. My
> main antenna for HF is a 66' inverted-V, 45' at the apex, with an
> included angle of about 100 degrees, ends at 17.'  Needless to say, it
> works quite well on all bands from 40-10, and when I tie the feeder
> conductors together and use my artificial ground box, it does a credible
> job on 80 as well. I work mostly CW.
>
> Up until late last year, I had to deal with serious limitations on my
> antennas, due to landlords, neighbors, or simply lack of space, even
> where neighbors and landlords were willing.  Here is a short list of
> *some* of the things I have tried which worked (reasonably) *well*:
>
> *Random-wires, if they are at least 1/2 wavelength on the band of
> interest. Quarter-wave "randoms" are a real mess without a serious
> radial system (artificial ground devices don't work so well here), and
> if you can install a good radial ground system, you probably don't have
> to worry about stealth or space restrictions, anyway.
>
> *Small transmitting loop antennas (also known as "magloops"). I have
> used both the MFJ and AEA versions. The MFJ is the better of the two,
> and it does work, but tuning is *very* sharp on 40, 30, and the bottom
> of 20. Smallest antenna I have used, and the much hyped nulling and
> noise-reducing characteristics of this antenna are real, and useful. I
> homebrewed one, and it worked better than those commercially available,
> for *much* less money ($75 vs. $350!). The real trick is finding (or
> making, in my case) a suitable HV capacitor. Vacuum variables are ideal,
> if you can afford them. I 'brewed a "trombone" variable, using copper
> plumbing pipe and PTFE sheet insulation. I used a continuous piece of
> 5/8" copper refrigeration tubing, and welded the raditor to the cap,
> which reduced the losses considerably. There are several excellent
> design programs (DOS) available.
>
> *Bent or 'articulated' dipoles. Simply, put up a dipole as big as you
> can, where you can. I have had them from 20' to nearly 100, indoors and
> out, high and low, straight and crooked, etc. As long as the included
> angle between any two adjacent segments is not less than 90 degrees, the
> antenna should work (or usually did for me). A tuner, the best you can
> afford, is a very wise investment for the cliffdwelling ham. I have put
> dipoles of this type under eaves, along ceilings, between a window and a
> tree, etc.
>
> *Mobile whips and other shortened, loaded verticals. One word:
> counterpoise! There are a lot of mobile whips (I mean to include
> screwdriver types here) and "restricted-space" shortened verticals on
> the market. Some work better than others. I have had good results with
> the "Hamstick" brand. On a second floor balcony, with one 'resonant'
> radial hanging, I have routinely worked CW into G, DL, EA, VK, LU, JA,
> and elsewhere, from Arizona using 50W or less. Results similar but
> somewhat less on SSB.
>
> I found being space restricted was a net, long term plus. I learned a
> lot about antenna theory, about propagation (taking advantage of
> optimums), and mostly about the importance and the difference that
> quality in materials and workmanship makes. The best solder joints, the
> best wire, etc. *will* make a big big difference when you have to use
> less than ideal antennas. Filtering, shielding, and grounding are
> important, more important than for the ham with 5 acres and no deed
> restrictions and an unlimited budget. Without them, you *will* cause a
> bunch of TVI and other RFI. It is almost inevitable with sub-subsized
> antennas. This is especially important if you plan to run more than
> 100W. My present living arrangements are long term but not permanent, so
> I may need to use and refine what I have thus far learned about
> cliffdwelling. That's why I joined this reflector again. A compromise HF
> antenna doesn't mean a compromise or weak or inferior HF station. I'm
> not alone in using my own ingenuity, good advice, and careful, thorough,
> hard work to squeeze the maximum out of my apartment antennas (and the
> rest of my station) in order to work a good share of DX, even some rare
> (the best operator with a pint-sized antenna will usually catch the
> rarie before a poor operator with a KW and stacked beams), and good
> reports. Don't treat it as second-best, it is really a challenge in the
> best and oldest tradition of amateur radio.
>
> 73 de KD7BFX (Will) AR
>
> Fernando Quinones wrote:
>
> > Hello Allan.
> > You are the first post I have read since
> > I subscribed. My name is Fernando.
> > I'm interested in how others get on the
> > air from restricted conditions.
> > Specifically, Stealth antenna solutions.
> >
> > enjoy
> > --- allan egleston <[email protected]> wrote:
> > >  My name is Allan Egleston. Call sign is kf6uxj. I
> > > live on a small lot.
> > > The only antenna I have now up is a j pole. 73's de
> > > Allan kf6uxj
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Cliffdwellers mailing list
> > > [email protected]
> > >
> > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cliffdwellers
> >
> > =====
> > 73's Fernando NF6Q/NNN0JYM
> > San Jose,CA.
> > CCA #01187; K2 #2330 (in it's infancy)
> > <http://www.geocities.com/nf6q>
> >
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