- This topic has 4 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 1 week, 6 days ago by
PaulG.
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PaulG
I’n working on foundation and I’m doing okay with the course material. I can get through mocks without too many issues and I’m doing the September course.
Where I’m struggling is working out how to practically design a station. The area I’m having most trouble with is Antenna.
I have limited space. Working at height is not an area I’m comfortable with. I’ve considered EFHW, Wire dipole (arrange in a horizontal V?). I have a redundant TV aerial on the roof and approached TV aeriel installers if the could remove the TV antenna and replace with something that will work.For the most part they don’t want to know.
I’m still thinking the best bet is an EFHW… But even that seems to require height and space I can’t acheive (I was looking at 10m of wire).
When I investigate options, they’re always described as not optimal. Or I can’t get enough seperation to comply pass an EMF assesment. (My house is surrounded by bridal path)
Really hope someone can give me a reality check as the more I learn, the more confused I am.
M7GOA
Hi Paul. Don’t give up, do the course and get a license, then you can experiment with what works for you. You mention EFHW dipole. Just to confuse you even more there is also EFRW – end fed random wire. This is just a length of wire with a UNUN, and an antenna tuner. But the wire doesn’t need to be straight. This example has it wound round a piece of plastic pipe:
My main antenna is a piece of wire that is a big spiral on a wall. Totally not optimal but I get results. I expect you could run a wire along the perimeter of your loft. Or stick a nail in a tennis ball, attach some wire and lob it over your roof. The ball sits in the gutter on the other side.
There’s a book available called “Stealth Antennas” available on Amazon that has lots of ideas. I expect none of them will be “optimal”.
KeithHi Keith
I think my fear is building a station and being scuppered by antenna woes.At this stage with patchy knowledge and lack of experience everything probably seems harder than it is. Plus I overthink solutions.
I’ve watched a few videos with random wire antennas and that’s been ecouraging. Trees seem to make very good masts.
I like the idea of throwing the tennis ball over the roof (also watching the dog trying to chase it would be fun). This solution would get me height and length. Plus be stealthy.
I’m assuming with random wires a tuner would be needed?
My immediate plan is to take the exam and worry about a station afterwards. I was rushing because Yeasu have a cash back offer, but from what I gather they do that a lot! In the meantime I’m going to make a dipole for my Baofeng for a bit of tinkering practice.
Once I have the license and I can experiment more – I’m hoping it clicks then. I’ve always had a bit of a fascination with radio, but never pursued it until this year.
Richard G7LEE
Try to dial down the overthinking. Are you into HF or VHF and up? On HF verticals take up less linear space though they do pick up local noise a bit more. a lowish dipole (think fence line) is good for NVIS inter-G. Or take a look at what the SOTA and POTA guys are doing. Not so much opportunity for SOTA (summits on the air, we ain’t got any in East Anglia) but POTA could be a way of trying longer wire aerials out. NVIS operation means you don’t need huge height, though you won’t be DXing with that.
I have literally no idea what any of that means, but I’ll check it out. THat’s part of the fun.
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