[PPRAANet] PPRAANet Digest, Vol 389, Issue 4

[Jim Harris]

Hi Phil,

A legit balum would be best.  However, 6-7 turns of coax about six inches
in diameter likely would work but as you said it can be frequency dependent.

Ideally, a tuner at the antenna is best.  However, a tuner at the radio
will work.

You will learn in amateur radio that there are ideal solutions and then
there are practical solutions.  The practical solutions will get you on the
air and make contacts and you can work toward the ideal solutions as you
have time and funds.

73,

Jim, W0EM

On Sat, Aug 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM <ppraanet-request at mailman.qth.net> wrote:

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>    1. rain gutter antenna (Phil Dubois)
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> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 29 Aug 2026 09:52:51 -0600
> From: Phil Dubois <dubois at dubois.com>
> To: ppraanet at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [PPRAANet] rain gutter antenna
> Message-ID:
>         <
> CAM8LZ-duiiB0J_8OCAygmUdVmsh__h-t-eg5cdrtk1MwUsLx1Q at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
>
> Greetings and thanks for your help.
>
> I'm making a rain-gutter antenna and wonder whether I need a choke or unun
> at the feed point.
>
> If a choke, may I just coil the coax feedline around, say, a short length
> of 4" PVC?  How many turns?  I read that the number of turns depends on the
> frequency I will be using, but I'd like to try all the frequencies, so
> maybe there's a number of turns that's the best compromise.
>
> If an unun, is there anything I should know about?  Can I just find a
> design online and make it?
>
> Finally, I may need an antenna tuner.  What kind?  Can I screw it to the
> wall near the feedpoint?  Or should I have it near the radio?
>
> I know that I'm asking a lot of newbie questions and don't expect anyone to
> spend a lot of time answering, so I'm happy to spring for lunch for an
> Elmer's help.
>
> --
>
> Phil Dubois
> kf0zdb
>
>
> ---
>
> Contemplate impermanence.
>
>
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> End of PPRAANet Digest, Vol 389, Issue 4
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