1938 GE antenna
 

New to restoring chassis's on vacuum tube radios, and want to know from
antenna experts what better solution is there than just a long wire. Most my
radios are AM/SW, and would like something simple to attach to the antenna
screw on the back, and have full range reception. I've heard the term 1/2
wave dipole with a balanced lead-in, but don't know what that would look
like. Thanks

1938 GE antenna
 

A dipole is directional and built for a single frequency although it will
work over a narrow band of frequencies. It is not really suitable for
shortwave listining. You would do better with a random wire as long and
high as possible.

Irv VE6BP

larev wrote:

New to restoring chassis's on vacuum tube radios, and want to know from
antenna experts what better solution is there than just a long wire. Most my
radios are AM/SW, and would like something simple to attach to the antenna
screw on the back, and have full range reception. I've heard the term 1/2
wave dipole with a balanced lead-in, but don't know what that would look
like. Thanks

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--------------------
Irv Finkleman,
Grampa/Ex-Navy/Old Fart/Ham Radio VE6BP
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

1938 GE antenna
 

for receiving, the common low dipole with whatever size legs you can make
works just fine. which is easiest to use depends on they type of antenna
connector on your radio, if it has 2 terminals then a dipole with twinlead
or coax plus a balun would probably be easiest. if it is only a single
terminal then just go with a single random wire. note that you can run the
random wire right from the back of the radio, but because it will pick up rf
noise from anything it goes near you might want to use coax to at least get
the antenna away from rf noise makers like tv's and computers first.

"Irv Finkleman" wrote in message
...
A dipole is directional and built for a single frequency although it will
work over a narrow band of frequencies. It is not really suitable for
shortwave listining. You would do better with a random wire as long and
high as possible.

Irv VE6BP

larev wrote:

New to restoring chassis's on vacuum tube radios, and want to know from
antenna experts what better solution is there than just a long wire. Most
my
radios are AM/SW, and would like something simple to attach to the
antenna
screw on the back, and have full range reception. I've heard the term
1/2
wave dipole with a balanced lead-in, but don't know what that would look
like. Thanks

--
--------------------------------------
Visit my HomePage at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv/index.html
Visit my Baby Sofia website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv4/index.htm
Visit my OLDTIMERS website at http://members.shaw.ca/finkirv5/index.htm
--------------------
Irv Finkleman,
Grampa/Ex-Navy/Old Fart/Ham Radio VE6BP
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

1938 GE antenna
 

larev wrote:
New to restoring chassis's on vacuum tube radios, and want to know from
antenna experts what better solution is there than just a long wire. Most my
radios are AM/SW, and would like something simple to attach to the antenna
screw on the back, and have full range reception. I've heard the term 1/2
wave dipole with a balanced lead-in, but don't know what that would look
like. Thanks

Pretty much any ole wire you attach to it will work. Like one said,
local
noise can be an issue in some places, and that might cause you to
vary the design a bit. If any of those old radios use the loops for MW,
I
would keep those intact. The loops are usually by far the best for the
MW
band. Only use the wires for SW.
MK

1938 GE antenna
 

larev wrote:
"I`ve heard the term 1/2 wave dipole with a balanced lead-in, but don`t
know what that would look like."

It might look like two equal length wires supported end to end with
insulators at each end and in the center between the two wires.
The balanced line connects in the center to the wires at each end of the
center insulator. one line wire to one antenna wire.

The overall length of the two wires totals about 1/2-wavelength only at
one particular frequency or wavelength. but it may receive well over a
wide range of frequencies though it is resonant only at specific
frequencies.

In 1938, GE sold a dipole antenna kit for its multiband home radios.
This aerial kit was called a V-doublet kit. The two equal-length wires
were to be cut to fit the user`s available space. The kit also included
two high to low impedance wideband r-f transformers, one to use between
the doublet and the transmission line and the other to use between the
transmission line and the radio`s input terminals. The transnission line
was a low-impedance twisted pair of insulated wires. The idea was that
such a balanced transmission line is immune from noise pick up. Neither
wire is grounded. Noise induced in both wires has the same magnitude but
cancels in the receiver`s transformer input as it is flowing in opposite
directions through the coil.

As I remember, it worked very well.

Best regards, Richard Harrison, KB5WZI