[Icom] HTs and metal siding

[Chris BONDE]

At 06:21 PM 2003-07-06 -0700, you wrote:
>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.

THe metal siding will act like an Faraday Shield.  I had similar problems 
with the stucco wire.  You will have to go to a window closest to the 
antenna, repeater with which you wish to communicate.  Many on the Antennas 
list have suggested using a passive antenna if you wish to use the 
HandHEld.  Put up an antenna outside and connect it to one inside the 
house.  This will bring in the radio waves.

Be happy that you have the shielding.  I wish that I could have at least 
such that stucco afforded.  With all the pagers, cell phones, family radio 
etc.  How much of that stuff is getting into the house?

Chris opr VE7HCB and ICOMS