[TenTec] Ok, Off Topic, but long time no talk to folks...

[Glassrus]

MFJ and Ten Tec both make Counterpoise/Ground tuners which work very well
with a random length counterpoise, or in series tuning the wire to the house
ground (which unfortunately may introduce noise).

Additionally, MFJ makes a combined tuner with cross needle power/swr meter,
and ground tuner, MFJ 934. Unfortunately it does not have a meter on the
ground tuner side, and consequently I wouldn't recommend it.

I would load the gutter with any conventional tuner, or auto tuner as a
random wire, feeding it with the shortest wire practical into the apartment.
You will have RF in the shack, and your neighbors are likely to get RFI.
I wouldn't run any more power than necessary.

Also check to see if the gutter is bonded to ground with an ohmmeter.

Paul N8NOV,
Houston


> I have found myself living in Southern California for the next 6 
> months.  Worse yet, in a 850 sq foot apartment.  While this is not 
> ALL bad, it does create some real issues.
>    
>   That said...
>    
>   I'm contemplating running a sheet metal screw straight into the 
> gutter that runs out side of my balcony.  It's about 20 feet tall, 
> connected to a 30 foot wide section.  An Inverted L sorta...
>    
>   What would be the absolute best way to load this?  I'm on the 
> second floor.. Can't put in a real ground system.  Should I get a 35 
> foot spool of wire and try to make a counterpoise by unrolling it?  
> I can snake it around my living room.
>