[R-390] SWL antenna

[DJED1 at aol.com]

Regarding antenna alternatives:
 
I would think the sheathing may be a problem, but it's hard to tell without  
knowing all the details.  If it acts like a big metal roof then you may  have 
a problem with an antenna close to the roof or in the attic.  I think  
fundamentally a 50 foot long wire is OK for SWLing, especially with the R-390  
antenna trimmer in the radio.  You might want to Google "invisible"  antennas.  One 
option is to use a very fine wire and run it from the house  to a tree or 
other support.  Another is to make a vertical flagpole and  feed that at the base 
(needs a ground system to work well).
As far as the feedline, I would vote for coax, because modern houses have  so 
many sources of electrical noise.  Of course, the coax works best with a  
matched and balanced feed, so it's not a perfect solution.  
Remember you only need enough antenna to have the external noise override  
the radio's internal noise, and that's pretty low in the R-390.  Good  luck
Ed