Long wire antenna question

[funken]

Hi folks!
I'm not sure if this is the place to ask tis question but you all have been very helpful with my other questions.

I have a kit for a long wire antenna. I have limited space where I can string the wire. I would say a about 50 yards max.

I read somewhere if you don't have a lot of space for this type of antenna it wont be that effective.

Please advise.

This antenna will be used for my Telefunken.

Thanks in advance!!

Funken

[Sandy G]

An antenna 150' long-50 yards- should be more than enuff for about anything you wanted to do-except maybe do longwave work (below the broadcast AM band), & there really isn't too much down there anyway. In reality, you don't need all that much antenna-I drive my R-390As w/a wire about 50' long, but they will do OK with a line strung across the tops of yr curtains-try that before you go running wire all over yr property.

[funken]

Currently I have a copper wire with two alligator clips. One on each end. I bought a small door spring from the hardware store. I have the spring stretched about a foot long. I attached it outside my window between two metal I bolts. The bolts were already attached to my house. I guess it's where a T.V. antennas wire fed through.

Anyway the other alligator clips is attached to this spring.
My shortwave reception is much better but is this sort of homemade anntena okay?


Thanks!!

Funken

[Fisherdude]

The hanging it out the window part really isn't helping much, unless you live in a steel-framed building and your radio is a long way from a window or door.

Longer is better, higher is better, but if you go outside you really, seriously need to understand how to protect your receiver from lightning.

As far as how long and how high, as Sandy mentioned you can string a 15' long wire along the tops of some picture frames or curtain rods to get it up off the floor, and you'll be amazed by what you can pick up.

While longer is certainly better, beyond 50' or so you won't see much improvement on shortwave frequencies, and even at that length it will be highly directional. It will receive very well from directions perpendicular to the wire, and very weakly from directions along/parallel to the wire, so how you face it is very important.

Just try a 10-15' length inside your room, I think you'll be surprised.

[Celt]

I use a large gauge single conductor copper wire mounted the length and peak of the roofline inside the attic. Works quite well for SW and MW, but isn't long enough to be effective for anything below 800 kc.

[funken]

I think I may try the wire around the room approach.
Got the wire and a room. Pretty cheap I would say.


Thanks much!!

P.S. I'll let you know how it works for me.

Funken

[funken]

Well folks I took your advice and ran a wire across my room.
I was able to pick up Radio Russia, Sweden, Taiwan The Nerthlands and a lot of other stations.

Is there a way to run a permanent wire without it looking like a clothes line??


Thanks much!!

Funken

[Fisherdude]

If you can find wire the same color as your walls, you could run it in the corners and attach with small staples or cable holders.