Shortwave antenna Question

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davynavy

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Does anyone have any idea if I put a long wire antenna in my attic, since the wife won't let me put more outside. I have a metal roof, so I was wondering if a wire antenna would work in the attic.
 

vagrant

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A metal roof, as well as foil backed insulation, will attenuate potential signals.
A wire matching the color of your house trim can be difficult to spot. Can you run it under the eave instead?
A loop antenna can be just a few feet above the ground and you might be able to disguise it.
 

trentbob

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Have you thought about divorce? Just kidding! So whatever your wife's objection is you might try a copper wire attached to a rock and throw it over the nearest tree to your house. Bring your lead into your shack... she probably won't notice... ;)
 

jaspence

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Your eaves might work if they are metal, or if they are plastic, lay a wire in them, run it through the down spout and into the house.
 

w2xq

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Does anyone have any idea if I put a long wire antenna in my attic, since the wife won't let me put more outside. I have a metal roof, so I was wondering if a wire antenna would work in the attic.
As noted above, attenuation would probably be significant. What is your SW radio? If an inexpensive portable, a long wire length would probably not the best idea. If you are near a local broadcast station, the radio front end may be overloaded causing mixing spurs and images. Are you in an urban, suburban or rural environment? What is the exterior construction? Aluminum siding or something else? What area of the country are you in? I think you might get a better answer to your antenna question by answering some or all these questions. HTH.
 

vagrant

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There's also the lopsided options you can try, but if she's pretty hip she'll tell you where to put your choices. #1 is costly, #3 is inexpensive and #2 is a better choice, but with more cost than #3. Also, W2XQ has some good points and questions where your answers will guide the answers. You may have the correct antennas already and just need a MW broadcast filter.

Propose these options in this order and you may get #2 or #3 (which are fine) with #1 being outrageous to her:
1. A large log periodic antenna for HF. Be sure to tell her how large it is, the turning radius, the rotator needed and the noise it will make.
2. A passive or amplified loop that is just a few feet above the ground with an inexpensive rotor. Could you hide it behind a bush?
3. A thin wire about 45' long with a 9:1 transformer. Again run it under the eave and out of sight out of mind.
 

trentbob

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Well... only 40 posts in well over 15 years... He got some very sage advice here peppered with some well-intended humor ;)
 
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