[Hallicrafters] Receiving Antenna help...

Tue Oct 24 23:36:22 EDT 2006

Hi Jim,

I've have (and still do) use with great luck using a commercial dipole made by Antenna Supermarket, called the "eavesdropper".  The "best-all around-affordable" antenna ever made!  I've used this antenna for years and have great results using it.  I've used it in both the attic and outdoors.  It's a trapped dipole using a balun and is available in either 50 or 300 ohm feeds, and it covers 11 to 75 meters.  If I remember, it costs about $150 USD.
I also use a sloper configuration made by RF Systems out of Holland.  Unless your an experimental ham with tons of yard space- don't bother with experimenting with antenna constuction projects out of the ARRL manual (unless you like that kind of stuff).  An average SWL's does quite well with the basic no-nonsense diploles and long-wire antenna arrangements.  It's true though- the higher the better, the further away from a structure and power sources the better.  As far as antenna/lightning protection, there are several commercial produced lightning arrestors available to choose from.  I've found the best source of supplies for the SWL'er of today is Universal Radio, or even Ham Radio Outlet (HRO).  You can access both these companies via the web.  Remember, there is no "real" protection from a direct lightning strike, but you can help protect your equipment from EMI by grounding your mast(s), radio equipment, using an arrestor, and simply diconnecting your antenna feed when lightning is known to be close by

Happy Listening & 73,
STEVE, KA0BMQ
Highlands Ranch, CO

-- Original Message -----
From: jew123 at juno.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 4:14 PM
To: Hallicrafters at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Hallicrafters] Receiving Antenna help...

Last year I rebuilt a SX-99.  Now I need help designing a good  
receiving antenna to use with it.  I picked up the ARRL Antenna Book  
from the local library.  However it appears like ever antenna  
discussed in this book is for use with a transmitter operated by a  
mathematician (LOL).  Now I know that an antenna for transmitting will  
also work for receiving, but I do not transmit.  And since you are  
applying high voltage RF to the antenna to transmit, these antennas  
seem to be complex and expensive to build.

I have purchased 2 70-foot rolls of #14 Radio Shack antenna wire and  
10 insulators off the Internet and need some suggestions for antenna  
options, other than high and long.  Can one make homemade lightning  
arrestors?  I cannot seem to locate arrestors anywhere.

Jim Winkler
Centennial, CO

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