[Icom] HTs and metal siding

[BMoore]

Hi,
I'm a newbie to the ham radio world.  As you may recall I lost my DH K6SQJ
last February.  I recently got my technician license.  My call sign is
KG6RRN but will soon (hopefully) be K6SQJ.  The local radio club is working
on this. They will also help me to set up the equipment again.  There have
been so many construction workers on our court so I removed our valuables
from the garage until I can improve our security. Anyway I am looking
forward to going on the air once everything is set up and I am more
comfortable working the equipment.(I hope as K6SQJ so there won't be any
confusion over my call letters)

Anyway the reason I am responding is because there is a large metal building
behind our house (south) that is used for a church.  DH anchored the
antennas on the west side of our house and as far as I know did not have any
problems.  We were initially afraid this huge building would block radio
waves.  We did have some problems putting up our satellite TV dish but he
managed to find one little spot where the reception came through.  Also,
there is a window on the east side of the garage and that is where the ham
station is set up.  Setting up next to a window may help you. if you are
able to do this.
Good luck!

Beverley (Bev) Moore
KG6RRN (soon to be K6SQJ)

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Geiger" <johngeig@yahoo.com>
To: <icom@mailman.qth.net>; <yaesu@mailman.qth.net>;
<kenwood@mailman.qth.net>; <vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu>;
<vhfcontesting@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2003 6:21 PM
Subject: [Icom] HTs and metal siding


> I have lived in my present location for 2 years-a
> house with steel siding.  I am sure that others live
> in similar setups, with aluminum or steel siding, or
> in metal trailers.  I am wondering how bad the metal
> siding affects RF inside.  I wasn't too active on VHF
> FM for 10 years before moving here, but now have
> become much more active on the local repeater.  I seem
> to have more problems than anyone else does getting
> into the local repeaters with an HT.  There seems to
> be spots in the house where I can't get in with 5
> watts.  I have tried about every HT on the
> market-Kenwood, Yaesu, Icom, with varying results.
> Aftermarket antennas help to varying degrees also, but
> there are still problems.  I also notice a decent
> amount of fading at times on receiving the signals
> from the repeater.  I know that our local repeater
> isn't the greatest, but am wondering how much of the
> problem is due to my QTH.  And no, I won't move
> because I have an awesome house, and can't afford
> vinal siding at this time.
>
> Am I doomed to failure because of all of this steel?
> I notice some problems on receive also.  I am
> seriously considering going crossband repeat so I can
> use the outside antennas with my FT100D.  The HT is
> nice to be able to move around the house while QSOing,
> instead of being tied to one spot in the shack.
>
> I am interested in others' experiences in similar
> setups.  Would UHF work better or worse than 2 meters?
>  What else might help in such a situation?
>
> 73s John NE0P
>
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