[Elecraft] Suggestions/WTB: inexpensive portable HF RX/XCVR

[Jim Wiley]

Al -


Chain link fences are usually poor choices for antennas.  Here's why:  
(1) The links are not bonded to one another, so even though the fence 
"looks" continuous,  it is not.  Poor connection between  adjacent wires 
creates lots of rectifying joints, with attendant RFI, both incoming and 
outgoing.  (2) In most installations, the bottom part of the fence 
"drags the ground", greatly attenuating RF signals, again both ways. 
(3)  The fence, even the top wires, are not very far above the ground, 
ergo: poor radiation and reception. 


A much better approach is a length of insulated wire thrown over a 
branch, or supported by a telescoping  fiberglass mast, together with 
one or more radial / counterpoise wires  (if used as a counterpoise, the 
wires should be resonant and at least several inched above actual 
ground, if possible).  An automatic tuner, such as the ones available 
for the K2 and  K3 transceivers will make things easy for transmit 
applications.  For receive only, a insulated wire 50 to 75 feet long 
will usually pull in anything that's out there.   There are obviously 
better receive antennas, but for casual listening, such as you describe, 
a single wire plus a "casual" ground wire / radial wire should be enough.


- Jim, KL7CC



Al Gulseth wrote:
> <snip> 
>
> As a (related) side note, has anyone had any experience with using a chain 
> link fence as an antenna, and if so, what's the best way to match/load it?
>
>