On Topic
 

Overall,which type/kind of outside antenna for shortwave listening is
the best/best design? I am not talking about a great big very expensive
antenna,although I do have plenty of room in my back yard for a big
antenna.Are there any kits or plans available for such antennas? I
refuse to register at yahoo for reasons of my own,so antenna information
at yahoo lets me out if it requires registering at yahoo or anywhere
else.I only know two people (women) who use yahoo for emailing me and I
once tried to get one of them (that married Irish woman wayyyy over
yonder accross the big pond) to use a different email provider.
cuhulin

On Topic
 

Dear Cuhulin,

Probably, for general shortwave listening (not concentrating on one or
two particular bands) and also for keeping expenses to a minimum, it is
my opinion that the best outdoor antenna is the random long-wire. Note
the word "long" - it has to be as long as is possible.

All you need is some heavy insulated wire, a couple of stand-off
insulators, some rope or chain to attach the antenna to your supports
on both ends (and they better be good supports), and some lead-in wire.
(And a soldering gun!) Lightning protection is also necessary and
probably you'll need a ground wire soldered to a copper stake driven
into the earth as deep as possible.

I don't think the whole setup would cost much more than $30.00 (that's
a "guestimate") and it might even cost less. You could get everything
at a local hardware store.

Just remember - if you can't run a LONG straight wire, you'll need to
try something else. 100 feet would be a bare MINIMUM.

(You do realize that all of the above applies to an antenna for a
table-top shortwave receiver, or a sophisticated lap or porta-top
radio, NOT a small portable.)

Best,

Joe

On Topic
 

Joe Analssandrini wrote:

Dear Cuhulin,

Probably, for general shortwave listening (not concentrating on one or
two particular bands) and also for keeping expenses to a minimum, it is
my opinion that the best outdoor antenna is the random long-wire. Note
the word "long" - it has to be as long as is possible.

All you need is some heavy insulated wire, a couple of stand-off
insulators, some rope or chain to attach the antenna to your supports
on both ends (and they better be good supports), and some lead-in wire.
(And a soldering gun!) Lightning protection is also necessary and
probably you'll need a ground wire soldered to a copper stake driven
into the earth as deep as possible.

I don't think the whole setup would cost much more than $30.00 (that's
a "guestimate") and it might even cost less. You could get everything
at a local hardware store.

Just remember - if you can't run a LONG straight wire, you'll need to
try something else. 100 feet would be a bare MINIMUM.

Actually 70' to 100' works well for all 'round use. If one starts to go longer
than that you'll start to wind up with directivity issues the farther up the
bands one goes.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

On Topic
 

Just remember - if you can't run a LONG straight wire, you'll need to
try something else. 100 feet would be a bare MINIMUM.

OK, but I use a 60-footer to great advantage. If it were longer, it
would (1) not fit in my yard; (2) exacerbate the horrid effects of
nearby stations; and (3) sag a lot more than it does ;-).

You just don't need *that* much for general listening, and in a city
with gobs of evil RFI, less could be better. I get loads of stations
on it, although it is not good enough or high enough for consistent
results below about the 49m band...which is not to say it doesn't work
there too, because it does.

A random wire can work for a portable too, but some inductive coupling
to the whip rather than a direct connection might be useful. This is
very simple and effective to accomplish (just wrap the insulated end of
your lead-in around the whip a dozen times), and it prevents staticky
stuff, reduces overload and protects internal organs of your radio. I
did this for years with a Radio Shack Astronaut-8 and got great
results.

Bruce Jensen

On Topic
 

In article . com,
"Joe Analssandrini" wrote:

Dear Cuhulin,

Probably, for general shortwave listening (not concentrating on one or
two particular bands) and also for keeping expenses to a minimum, it is
my opinion that the best outdoor antenna is the random long-wire. Note
the word "long" - it has to be as long as is possible.

All you need is some heavy insulated wire, a couple of stand-off
insulators, some rope or chain to attach the antenna to your supports
on both ends (and they better be good supports), and some lead-in wire.
(And a soldering gun!) Lightning protection is also necessary and
probably you'll need a ground wire soldered to a copper stake driven
into the earth as deep as possible.

I don't think the whole setup would cost much more than $30.00 (that's
a "guestimate") and it might even cost less. You could get everything
at a local hardware store.

Just remember - if you can't run a LONG straight wire, you'll need to
try something else. 100 feet would be a bare MINIMUM.

(You do realize that all of the above applies to an antenna for a
table-top shortwave receiver, or a sophisticated lap or porta-top
radio, NOT a small portable.)

Single element common mode antennas are a poor choice for anyone that
lives in town. This type just picks up a lot of local noise. This type
works very poorly for me. If you live in at a semi-rural or rural area
it could be a good choice but that is not where most people live.

In addition if you live in a low noise area so this type of antenna is a
sensible choice then you should also have a good outside ground and use
a transformer to match the impedance of the wire. The transformer with
also prevent static electricity buildup on the wire from getting to the
radio input.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Simple 'build-it-yourself' Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antenna made from TV Parts - [Was : On Topic]
 

Cuhulin,

Consider a simple 'build-it-yourself' Shortwave Listener
(SWL) Antenna made from TV Parts.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/6233

SWL ANTENNA PARTS - BUY THE FOLLOWING :

* 40 - 100 Foot Piece of TV 'type' 300 Ohm Twin Lead.
RadioShack Catalog # 15-1174
http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ5825567843
[ Speaker Wire (24 AWG) or Landscaping Cable (16 AWG)
could also be used here for the Wire Antenna Element. ]

* 300 Ohm to 75 Ohm Matching Transformer.
RadioShack Catalog # 15-1230
http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ5764013531
http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ5824268873
[ Shortwave Longwire Antenna Balun Match 9:1 # SWLZ -or-
Shortwave Longwire Antenna Balun Match 9:1 # LMZ-75 made
by RF Junkie could be used with a Single Wire Antenna
Element instead by simply connecting the Two Wires
together at both ends. ]
http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ5823838982
http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ5825174432

* 25 - 100 Foot piece of 75 Ohm RG6 Quad-Shield Coax Cable.
RadioShack Catalog # 15-1579 = 25 Foot Coax Cable
RadioShack Catalog # 15-1572 = 50 Foot Coax Cable
http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ5824932152
http://cgi.ebay.com/_W0QQitemZ5791766267

* One 2" Hose Clamp

* One Roll of Nylon-Poly Mason Line

* Some Electrical Tape and Plastic Wire Ties.


ASSEMBLYING THE SWL ANTENNA PIECES :

* Take one end of the Twin Lead and Strip-Off about
1 Inch of the Insulation and Twist the Two Wires Together
and Solder them; then Bend the Twin Lead back on itself
about 6 - 8 Inches and Wrap it with Electrical Tape and
Secure it with Plastic Ties. This is now your Far-End
of the Wire Antenna Element.

* Take the other end of the Twin Lead and Strip-Off
about 1 Inch of the Insulation. Then take the TV Matching
Transformer and Twist the Two Wires Together and Strip-Off
about 1 Inch of the Insulation. Twist one Twin Lead Wire
with one TV Matching Transformer Wire; and then Twist the
other Twin Lead Wire with the other TV Matching Transformer
Wire. Solder both sets of Twisted Wires, and wrap the
joints with Electrical Tape. This is now your Near-End
of the Wire Antenna Element with the Matching Transformer
attached.

* Connect one end of the Coax Cable using the "F" Connector
to the "F" Connector-End of the Matching Transformer.


RIGGING THE SWL ANTENNA :

* Find an OutSide Metal Cold Water Pipe going into the
Ground that is under near some structure / object that
can be used as a support for the Wire Antenna Element.
[ A Roof, the Eaves, a Tree, whatever; anything that
is 8-12 foot High or Higher to Rig the Wire Antenna
Element to that will keep it at least 8 Feet overhead. ]

* Take a Brillo / Steel Wool Pad and clean an area about
2 Inches wide around the Metal Pipe.

* Place the Matching Transformer with the "F" Connector
on the bottom along side the Metal Pipe. Use the Hose
Clamp to Secure the Metal "F" Connector to the Metal Pipe
and get a good Metal to Metal Electrical Connection.
This is your Antenna Ground.

* Take the Wire Antenna Element and attach some Mason Line
and Rig it to the First Antenna Support at/near the House;
and Secure it in place.

* Take the Far-End of the Wire Antenna Element and walk
stretch it to the point on the ground; where you Second
Antenna Support is located overhead. [ A Tree, Pole,
Fence, whatever; anything that is 8-12 foot High or Higher
to Rig the Wire Antenna Element to that will keep it at
least 8 Feet overhead. ]

* If there is going to be some left over Wire Antenna
Element; then Coil it up in about a 6 Inch Diameter Coil
with even and tight Turns and secure it with 5-6 Plastic
Wire Ties.

* Now attach some Mason Line and Rig the Far-End of the
Wire Antenna Element to the Second Antenna Support; and
Secure it in Place

* Then Adjust the Rigging of both Antenna Supports so that
the Wire Antenna Element is Tight and at least 8 Foot above
ground level. Use a Weight at the Far-End with the Mason
Line to allow for normal movement and loading of the Wire
Antenna Element.

* Finally run/route the Coax cable into your Radio Shack
and Connect it with the appropriate "F" Connector to ____
Adapter to your 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio or Table
Top Shortwave Receiver as needed.
For Shortwave Receivers using a SO-239 Jack
for the SWL Antenna Input :
* * "F" Connector [Adapter] to SO-239 Connector
RadioShack Catalog # 278-258
* * For 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radios using a
1/8" Mono Phone Jack for the SWL Antenna Input :
* "F" Connector [Adapter] to 1/8" Mono Phone Plug
RadioShack Catalog # 278-257
* * Right-Angle "F" Adapter
RadioShack Catalog # 278-305
* * "F" Jack to Mini-Phone Plug Adapter
RadioShack Catalog # 278-267


I DON"T KNOW WHY THIS SWL ANTENNA WORKS :
But for some reason using about a Hundred Feet (100') of
Twin Lead or Speaker Wire seems to Cancel-Out a lot of the
local RFI / ENF Noise and yet still produces a fairly good
level of RF Signal for most Shortwave Radio/Receivers.
Think of it is a very long and very thin Loop Antenna.


CAUTION - You should have a Safety Ground for your Radio
Shack that is Bonded to your House's Electrical System.


hope this helps - iane ~ RHF