[HBQRP] Opinions on a new antenna

[Rick Bennett]

Dale,

Just simply my opinion, but I don't think the gutter will cause you much
problem.  I also think your idea of using the gutter is a good one.  As long
as you have good electrical bonding at any joints and to the rest of the
antenna it ought to work.  Rain or snow in the gutter may make some
difference in the tuning, but with an antenna tuner you should be good.

Good luck,

Rick, KC0PET


-----Original Message-----
From: hbqrp-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:hbqrp-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of Dale Botkin
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 12:31 PM
To: HBQRP
Subject: [HBQRP] Opinions on a new antenna

Hi all,

I'm relocating my shack from the basement to a second-floor former
bedroom.  Along with this comes the opportunity to put some wire in the
back yard, woo-hoo!  I had plans to end-feed a 70-odd foot length of wire,
but another possibility has come to mind as I take some measurements.  It
seems I have enough room for a full-wave, 40 meter horizontal wire loop. 
The shape would be a truncated triangle, or a trapezoid.  The longest leg
would be along the back of the house, with a convenient feed point from
the window of the new "shack".  And lo and behold, this month's QST has an
article about how to use a 40 meter loop on 80 meters!!

I have a couple of options.  First, I can string wire on insulators just
under the eave, and feed it just outside the shack window.  The down side
is, there's a metal gutter just a few inches away.

Second, I could use the gutter as one leg, isolate the downspouts from it
and feed it at a corner.  There's one seam I will need to electrically
bond, no big deal.  I wonder, though, how snow and rain will affect this
when everything gets wet and dirty.

There's also a significant change we may end up with a steel roof on the
house...  ugh...  but at least I'd have 2/3 wavelength of wire in the
clear!!

Opinions/advice?  Anyone have experience with rain gutter antennas?

73,
Dale - N0XAS
---
It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of karma to burn off.

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