[TenTec] OT: Indoor antenna

[Rick - NJ0IP / DJ0IP]

Go for it , Ron.  Sounds like a great idea!
I think MJF has some cheap stuff you could use for a base to start with.
If you build it, they will come!

Actually I believe I have seen a commercial antenna disguised as a
fiberglass flag pole.
But it was a full size 20m, with a loading coil for 40.  Not a screwdriver.

73
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]
On Behalf Of Ron Notarius W3WN
Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 10:28 AM
To: tentec at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] OT: Indoor antenna

I have an S9 antenna; picked it up last year and then plans changed.  It's a
very nice antenna, but it is not structurally robust enough to masquerade as
a flag pole.

That aside, I think you missed my point.

Yes, there are several commercial flagpole antennas available.  That is to
say, base loaded (for the most part) verticals that look like a flag pole.

Nor is is that hard to take a commercial flagpole and base-load it to act as
a vertical.

And there are many commercial fiberglass flag poles that can be acquired,
for a price.  Running a wire through the center of one isn't very difficult.
Putting a tuner at the base isn't either.  I've heard of more than a few
hams who have done this.  Even a few who've used a commercial fiberglass
light support, such as those you find around parking lots.  

But my point was... I don't know of any current amateur radio antenna
manufacturer who is making a fiberglass (or other non-conductive outside)
flag pole with a hidden internal wire antenna, that has place INSIDE at the
base a screwdriver-antenna type assembly, to make about as "stealthy" a
remote tuned hidden antennas as you can get.  Considering the vast
availability today of screwdriver-style tunable inductors, it seems so
obvious that I'm just a little surprised that it hasn't happened.

Yet.

73, ron w3wn



Nov 30, 2010 11:07:22 AM, tentec at contesting.com wrote:


There are several commercial flagpole antennas available, and S9 antennas
come very close to your description.








-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Notarius W3WN 
To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment' 
Sent: Mon, Nov 29, 2010 6:24 pm
Subject: Re: [TenTec] OT: Indoor antenna


All that being said... I wonder why no one has marketed a flag pole antenna,
using a hollow fiberglass pole, a solid copper wire in the center, and the
equivalent of a screwdriver antenna (the rotating inductor) safely hidden
internally at the base. You'd think there'd be a market for this. But that
is probably a discussion for an antenna related forum... and I thank you for
permitting the distraction here...



73, ron w3wn



-----Original Message-----

From: tentec-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:tentec-bounces at contesting.com]

On Behalf Of Rob Atkinson

Sent: Monday, November 29, 2010 2:54 PM

To: tentec at contesting.com

Subject: Re: [TenTec] OT: Indoor antenna



I think it is a real shame that things have reached the point where we

hams have to put up these sneak antennas, as if we are doing something

illegal, or operating spy stations in enemy terretory.



The ham magazines just about every month run articles about hams who

are so happy with their hidden stealth antennas which I believe only

gives lawyers more evidence to use in court when they are going after

some poor ham who has dared to put up a decent antenna and his town is

going after him to get it down.



If you have a high profile dipole way up in the air and you are happy

and you wind up in court and the other side lays out all these

magazine articles about how this or that ham got WAS with his secret

night time telescoping antenna or hidden wire under his eaves, or

closet slinky and how he's just delighted working everything he can

hear, he's going to have a hard time convincing a non-technical judge

that those antennas are unsatisfactory and his high dipole, or quad,

or beam are really needed.



If a ham has to get by with a stealth antenna okay, but the magazines

(CQ, QST and Electric Radio as far as I know) ought not to portray

these antennas as highly satisfying.



my opinion and worth what you paid for it.



Rob

K5UJ

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