[Cliffdwellers] Hello?

[FreitasRJ@aol.com]

Dave,

Thanks for the suggestions ......... here's where I am today and how I got 
there.  If you have any other ideas I'd be greatful.

In a message dated 5/6/02 10:46:02 AM Pacific Daylight Time, daveg@bcn.net 
writes:

<<So there IS life on here!

Here's some ideas for stealth antennas -

HF vertical inside a flagpole.  Obviously it has to be the 'skinny' type trap
antenna, and the actual flagpole is heavy PVC or similar.  Fly 'Old Glory' on 
a
calm day.  Never tried this myself, but know a few hams who run this way, and
they sound pretty good.>>

If you saw my front yard you'd think twice about this!  My front yard is the 
size of a postage stamp and a flagpole taller than a 2M jpole would look out 
of place.  :-)

<<Zig-zag dipole in the attic.  Could end up shaped like the letter 'Z' or 
similar
for each side of dipole.  I have had several different installs with this.  
Good
results, but TVI is a definite issue.>>

My attic is very convoluted so the letter 'Z' would look more like an english 
maze.  I have tried this and, with low power, it does work.

<<HF vertical inside a chimney flue.  Just don't start a fire in the 
fireplace ;-O
I've tried this with an Antron 99 on 10 meters.  One trip to the roof, drop 
it
down, and you're on the air.  And it works!>>

Wait now ..... I really want to keep my fireplace!  It's too much fun to play 
radio in the winter with the fireplace working.

<<Dipole made with wire the exact color of the building.  Keep it smaller 
guage,
somewhat hear the building, it's invisible.  It's worked for me.>>

Yeah, this works but with my convoluted roofline I don't have a straight shot 
longer than 33' in any direction.

<<Lately, I have moved all the HF antennas outside and keep the attic filled 
with
6/2/440 stuff.  I can only fit a 6 meter ground plane up there, but have
multi-element 2 and 440 beams with rotors up there.  There is obvious signal
loss, especially on 440, but attic antennas never suffer from rust, moisture 
or
other problems like that.>>

Yes, I have 2M and 440 antennas in my attic too.  I am thinking about an 
internal attic loop because:
1.  I've talked to people who've had good luck ..... especially with an 
automatic tuner at the feedpoint.
2.  Inside the attic is alot easier than around my eaves.  At points my eaves 
are about 30' off the ground and I don't want to be that high up on an 
extension ladder.  Also, it's much easier to run around on my ceiling joists 
with a staple gun than to work around the outside on a ladder.
3.  As you mentioned ..... there's no weather effect in your attic!
4.  I figure I'm the only Extra class around who has to go to a friend's 
house to do any serious DX!

<<73's
Dave, N2EPV>>

73,
Rich, KF6SZA