[TowerTalk] Antenna in attic

[Jim Kinney]

It didn't work for me, too many metal studs in the second floor walls.

There's been articles in QST.

Good luck.
73, Jim WE4S

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On May 16, 2022, 8:52 AM, at 8:52 AM, Robie Elms <ruler55 at gmail.com> wrote:
>Brad,
>
>A local ham uses an attic antenna.  His is a approx 100' wire fed in
>the
>center with ladder line to a tuner.  He keeps the wire as far away from
>metal as possible (other wires, AC ducts, pipes, etc.).  To obtain
>100'+
>length the wire is bent around the outer portions of the attic. 
>Imagine a
>rectangle with a portion of one of the long sides missing.  His house
>is
>two stories so the wire is approx 20' above ground level.  This
>arrangement
>works well for him and he has worked many DX stations with it.  His
>preferred operating mode is FT8.
>
>I don't think there is magic in the wire length, but longer wires gives
>you
>a better chance of matching the antenna at lower frequencies.  One big
>issue with this arrangement is RFI both on receiving and transmitting. 
>He
>has found that 40 watts is the maximum power he can run without
>upsetting
>his home electronics.  In my opinion this approach
>requires experimentation.  Look at the frequencies on which you want to
>operate, using what you know about antennas come up with a plan,
>install
>the antenna, see how it works, modify if needed and repeat! 
>Information
>has been published on indoor antennas which you should be able to
>locate
>via web searching.
>
>Good luck!
>
>Robie AJ4F
>
>
>
>On Mon, May 16, 2022 at 7:32 AM Brad Anbro <n9en at live.com> wrote:
>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> A new acquaintance of mine, who is a newly licensed ham, would like
>to
>> install an HF antenna in his attic. In my 40+ years as a ham, I have
>never
>> installed an HF antenna in an attic. I have installed many wire
>antennas
>> outside in the open air, but none in an attic. I am guessing that he
>would
>> like to end up with a dipole for 20 meters, so that he can get on HF
>and
>> make a few QSOs.
>>
>> I am assuming that the antenna should be in the clear and as far away
>from
>> the wood as possible. Is that correct? Also, is the required length
>> appreciably different than a dipole installed outside in the air (468
>> divided by the frequency in MHz)?
>>
>> Thanks for any help with this!
>>
>> 73 de Brad, N9EN
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>>
>>
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