[Qcwa] "Hidden" HF antenna

[Keith Kotch]

Last month I passed my General and want to get on HF.  I'm in the usual
predicament these days, living in an antenna restricted community so I need
to have a very low profile or hidden antenna.  I do have a roller inductor
antenna tuner so I'm thinking of a couple of options.

Option 1 is an attic mounted dipole but in order to get on 75 meters I will
probably have to zig-zag or bend the wire along the trusses to fit it all
in.  Total attic length is approx 69'.  I thought of taking the "leftover"
ends and putting them through the gable ends of the attic and bend them
toward the ground.  My problems/questions here are two-fold.  First the main
AC duct runs down the middle of the attic.  It's the fiberglass box type
duct, not the metal cylinder. It does have the aluminum foil type wrap on
the outside.  I don't know what affect it'll have on the wire antenna except
maybe act as a reflector?  The second problem is how to fasten the wire to
the trusses.  I feel I need some type of standoff insulator and the only
ones I know of are the types used to stand off tv twin-lead.  Also, if I
were to go through the gable ends, what type of insulating grommet should I
use.  Max power expected would be 100 watts.

Option 2 is a loop wire run just under the eves of the house.  Same issue
about insulators and how to fasten the wire up.  Another consideration in my
mind is height above ground and the fact there's an aluminum gutter running
across the front of the house.

There are no trees available that I could hide a vertical or long wire in.

I would like to work 10-80 meters at this time.

Any suggestions?

Keith, KF4BXT