Hello:

Do general sw listening from the broadcast band up to 30 MHz.
No transmitting.

Presently have a single long wire (guess it's technically called a random
length wire)
running around the 4 sides of my attic, and then down to receiver.

Works "fairly" well, but can't help feeling I might do better.

Was wondering if there is anything "better" that would easily fit in an
attic and still have pretty broad coverage (would settle for 0..5 - 20 MHz)
that I might consider ?

Thanks,
Bob

- You might try using a coax cable hooked to the antenna and then lead that
into your set; -
- What size is your Attic, BTW . .

The receiving conditions ( propagation ) have been fair to poor lately;
That results in crummy reception for everyone, regardless of equipment or
antenna

Dan



In article , "Robert11"
writes:


Hello:

Do general sw listening from the broadcast band up to 30 MHz.
No transmitting.

Presently have a single long wire (guess it's technically called a random
length wire)
running around the 4 sides of my attic, and then down to receiver.

Works "fairly" well, but can't help feeling I might do better.

Was wondering if there is anything "better" that would easily fit in an
attic and still have pretty broad coverage (would settle for 0..5 - 20 MHz)
that I might consider ?

Thanks,
Bob

You're doing about as good as you can....might add an antenna tuner...other
than that...run a wire outside.

73


"Robert11" wrote in message
...
Hello:

Do general sw listening from the broadcast band up to 30 MHz.
No transmitting.

Presently have a single long wire (guess it's technically called a random
length wire)
running around the 4 sides of my attic, and then down to receiver.

Works "fairly" well, but can't help feeling I might do better.

Was wondering if there is anything "better" that would easily fit in an
attic and still have pretty broad coverage (would settle for 0..5 - 20
MHz)
that I might consider ?

Thanks,
Bob

I agree with the receiving antenna tuner, that will best match the antenna to
the receiver and may help especially on the lower frequencies where the wire is
short compared to the wavelength. Try adding a good ground, that may or may not
help. A preamp may or may not help also.

Go get 'em !

jw
wb9uai

I have a 1/2 wave 40m dipole in my attic. I use a antenna tuner with it for
amateur radio on HF. It works GREAT for transmitting on 15m, 20m, 30m, and
40m...with the tuner.

When I use it for SWLing on my TS140 or my RS DX398 it does a good job at
general receiving AM broadcast stuff.

I know if I put a preamp on it for my SWL rigs, I'd blow the front end outta
the things...I think.

I read somewhere about a 44' or 88' dipole being real useful for SWLing.



"J999w" wrote in message
...
I agree with the receiving antenna tuner, that will best match the antenna
to
the receiver and may help especially on the lower frequencies where the
wire is
short compared to the wavelength. Try adding a good ground, that may or
may not
help. A preamp may or may not help also.

Go get 'em !

jw
wb9uai

Robert 11,

YES - A simple 'single turn' Loop Antenna in the Attic would
be quiter then your current Random Wire in the Attic.
* Plus add a 9:1 Matching Transformer to 'couple'
the Loop Element to a Coax Cable FeedLine.
* Use Coax Cable between the Antenna Element
and the Radio/Receiver.
* Ensure that the Coax Cable's 'outer' Shield is Grounded
at the Radio/Receiver.
* Use a good Ground Rod (earth ground) and Ground Wire
to complete your "Antenna-Radio-Ground" System.

THE BETTER IDEA: The more complex answer would be to
study your "Attic Size & Shape" and the "Pitch" (Slope)
of your Roof. Then Plan-Out an In-the-Attic Conical Loop
Antenna (Folded SkyWire) for placement within the Attic.
(Attached to the "Under Side" of the Roof.)

= = = TOP VIEW : 40'L X 25'W
_______________________________
| ____________________________ |
| | ________________________ | |
| | | ____________________ | | |
| | | | *****************| | | |
| | | | *****************| | | |
| | | | x________________| | | |
| | | |____________________| | |
| | |________________________| |
X |____________________________|


= = = SIDE VIEW : 6'H
******x____________________
*****______________________\_ = 1 Ft Winding Spacing
***__________________________\_ = 2 Ft Winding Spacing
x______________________________\ = 3 Ft Winding Spacing

This is 'ruffly' a 400 Foot Folded Loop Antenna

FWIW: A better Drawing of this is In-the-Attic "Conical Loop Antenna"
(Folded SkyWire) is located in the PHOTOS Section of the SWL Antennas
and AM & FM Antennas eGroup at YAHOO !

GoTo= http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group...FM-Antenna/lst

iane ~ RHF
..
..
= = = "Robert11"
= = = wrote in message ...
Hello:

Do general sw listening from the broadcast band
up to 30 MHz. No transmitting.

Presently have a single long wire (guess it's
technically called a random length wire)
running around the 4 sides of my attic,
and then down to receiver.

Works "fairly" well, but can't help feeling
I might do better.

Was wondering if there is anything "better"
that would easily fit in an attic and still
have pretty broad coverage (would settle
for 0..5 - 20 MHz) that I might consider ?

Thanks,
Bob


..

"Freddie" wrote in message hlink.net...
I have a 1/2 wave 40m dipole in my attic. I use a antenna tuner with it for
amateur radio on HF. It works GREAT for transmitting on 15m, 20m, 30m, and
40m...with the tuner.

Thats what I use. Was a perfect fit across the attic. I ran it up on
the peaks of the rafters and ran it through the 1x4's to support it.
Fed it with about 20 ft of 300 ohm twin lead to a 989c tuner.
It works fairly well. It's my backup antenna when there is too much
lightning to risk being on the outside antennas. Many for listening,
although it will transmit 40-10. Even it's a risk due to surge if I
took a close strike...I unhook if lightning is in the area..I use it
many times after the lightning has cleared the area, but I expect more
later, or am too lazy to connect the normal antennas. :/
I also have a 2m ground plane hung from the highest point in the
attic. It's also for bad wx use when I'm too paranoid to be on the
outside beam. It's ok for listening anywhere in the VHF/UHF spectrum.


I know if I put a preamp on it for my SWL rigs, I'd blow the front end outta
the things...I think.

Should be no need for a preamp on any decent or even semi-decent radio
thats connected to at least 50 ft of wire. Many need less than that...

I read somewhere about a 44' or 88' dipole being real useful for SWLing.

Any dipole is good for SWL use. No need to worry about mismatch unless
it's very severe. Twin lead or coax fed. I never bother using the
tuner for casual HF receiving on a coax fed dipole. No need. I do have
to use it on the attic antenna because the needed balun is in the
tuner, and the use of the tuner makes the system pretty high Q. You
need to get it vaguely in the ballpark. The only time the average HF
center fed dipole will be a problem will be on very low MW or LW
freq's.
In that case, just feed only one leg of the feedline, ala inv L, or
jumper both conductors together and feed the antenna as a T vertical.
It will work fine for most lowband stuff if you do that. No tuner
should be needed usually. Feed as normal for the higher bands. The
tuner will help block out of band crud if you do use it. But most ham
tuners won't cover MW or below. MK