[Elecraft] Attic Antenna Tradeoff?

[Jim Campbell]

Greg,

One of the truisms of antennas is that any antenna is better than no
antenna.  I have been using an attic antenna for over a year with my K2
and have been quite happy with my results.  I live in an
antenna-restricted neighborhood and the attic antenna is my only
choice.  I tried a loop stapled under the eaves for a while, but it
didn't work all that well.  For most of its run it was only a few inches
from an aluminum gutter.

There has been a lot of controversy on this list and the QRP-L list
about 88-foot dipoles.  That is what I am using.  The center of the
dipole is fastened in the center peak of my attic.  From there it runs
to the eaves at each end of the house.  From there it goes vertically
outside the house for a few feet where it is then tacked to the side of
the house.  The outline would be something like the cross-section of a
circus tent. 

I feed the center of the dipole with 300-ohm twin-lead.  The twin-lead
runs to the top of one of the interior walls of my house.  From there I
use coax down through the wall to the operating position.  I use a choke
balun where the twin-lead joins the coax. My KAT2 has been able to load
this antenna with an acceptable SWR from 160 meters - 10 meters.

I have talked with Russia, Croatia, France, Germany and England.  The
other direction I have talked with Alaska.  That is all using 5 watts
CW.  For the most part, if I can hear them, I can work them. I am
located in Raleigh, in the central part of NC.

If you have any questions, just ask.

72,

Jim
W4BQP

Greg White wrote:
> 
> I am currently building a new home and have many challenges regarding the
> use of a traditional outside antenna.  I know that an "indoor/attic" antenna
> is a compromise, but how much of one??  All things being equal, what amount
> of attenuation (receive and transmit)can I realistically expect?  I am just
> trying to figure out if I would be happy with an attic antenna for the time
> being.  I will use a trap dipole in the attic (about 25-30 feet) with my K2.
> Thanks!
> Greg, N9EYO
>