• Found this reading a Ham newsletter...

    From Phoobar@21:2/147 to All on Sun Mar 22 22:50:39 2020
    Has anyone used an antenna like this? https://tinyurl.com/s4ymwlz

    Would one of these be usable in a downstairs apartment where I can't run a
    wire outside...but can string one along the floor board or mount on the wall. In addition...I do have a crawlspace under the apartment that maintenance
    uses to check for water leaks accessible for the set of apartments close to mine. If I would make this work...would tying a tennis ball to the end of the line to stretch it out & pull it back in after I get finished.

    The living room isn't usually used...except for getting to the kitchen. Using thumbtacks...I could run a wire along the wall or along the floor board.

    Got any suggestions...impress me...since I feel the call of FT-8 more & more.

    ACME BBS-Member of fsxNet/WWIVNet/SciNet/AmigaNet/VKRadio/FidoNet/MicroNet.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/18 (Windows/32)
    * Origin: ACME BBS-KA0TT AE/Former VE (21:2/147)
  • From echicken@21:1/164 to Phoobar on Mon Mar 23 10:30:22 2020
    Re: Found this reading a Ham newsletter...
    By: Phoobar to All on Sun Mar 22 2020 22:50:39

    Has anyone used an antenna like this? https://tinyurl.com/s4ymwlz

    I used something similar. As a receiving antenna it was pretty good. As a transmitting antenna it was terrible, partly down to my environment.

    Would one of these be usable in a downstairs apartment where I can't run a wire outside...but can string one along the floor board or mount on the
    wall.

    I wouldn't gamble $70 - $85 USD to find out. The odds aren't good. You could build this on your own for
    cheaper as an experiment. It's already not a very efficient antenna, and being indoors won't improve it.

    I'd sooner try a longwire wrapped along the perimeter of the apartment at ceiling level, or some kind of wire loop design, or a dipole. A magloop might be a good option, and there are designs for cheap homebrew tuning capacitors.

    If the rain gutter downspout is anywhere near your window, I'd even try clipping onto it and loading it up.

    Is your inability to put a wire outside because you aren't allowed to put up an
    antenna, or because you can't poke a hole in the wall? If the latter, a window
    feed-through panel is an option.

    ---
    echicken
    electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com
    * Origin: electronic chicken bbs - bbs.electronicchicken.com (21:1/164)
  • From Phoobar@21:2/147 to echicken on Mon Mar 23 23:24:06 2020
    I used something similar. As a receiving antenna it was pretty good. As a transmitting antenna it was terrible, partly down to my environment.

    Actually built one like this many years ago. Used it outside & wasn't a barn burner...but wasn't too bad.

    cheaper as an experiment. It's already not a very efficient antenna, and being indoors won't improve it.

    Suspected that. My SuperAntenna might be better...especially if I took that money & got the 80 M coil for it.

    I'd sooner try a longwire wrapped along the perimeter of the apartment at ceiling level, or some kind of wire loop design, or a dipole. A magloop might be a good option, and there are designs for cheap homebrew tuning capacitors.

    The 1 thing I'm worried about is the RF load. Been thinking about getting the long wire adapter for my tuner...but if I can use a long wire without
    something catching on fire or causing damage...would be worth it.

    Also built a GR5 Jr which was tuned with a tuner by a former elmer.

    Is your inability to put a wire outside because you aren't allowed to
    put up an antenna, or because you can't poke a hole in the wall? If the latter, a window feed-through panel is an option.

    No can do on the panel. The idiot kids are allowed to play outside of my
    window & would tell on me. Do have a tree outside of my window...but these idiots/lawn care folks would see it when they trim stuff once a week.

    ACME BBS-Member of fsxNet/WWIVNet/SciNet/AmigaNet/VKRadio/FidoNet/MicroNet.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/03/18 (Windows/32)
    * Origin: ACME BBS-KA0TT AE/Former VE (21:2/147)