Alligator clip and a wire

[bearcatrp]

Does this work fairly well when out in the boon docks? Have always heard about this but never tried it. Need something for camping trips.

 

[ka3jjz]

Better to use the input jack if the radio you are using has one. What radio are you going to use? And will this be for MW as well as HF?

Mike

 

[mmckenna]

Sure, it'll help.

But it can also be problematic. Poor receivers can get overwhelmed when hooked up to really long wires.
Also, portable radios rarely have any static protection on the telescopic antennas, and hooking up a big long piece of wire blowing in the wind can be an issue.

 

[bearcatrp]

Will be used with my Afedri LAN IQ.

Check out the Afedri LAN-IQ SDR: a new stand-alone touch screen SDR

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following video from Fernando Duarte highlighting the new Alfredi LAN-IQ SDR: I can’t wait to check out Fenu’s full …

swling.com

 

[ka3jjz]

What are you going to attach to the wire? An alligator clip won't do it - looks like the connectors are BNCs. A wire connected to that should work but it's far from optimum. Heck an end fed EFHW might be my first choice.

Mike

 

[bearcatrp]

I actually tried my comet W100RX from my scanner and wasn’t to bad. Figured I could clip it to that. Have an endfed at home for my Icom R8600, just changed out there wired with a spool of wire I bought at Home Depot. Have about 60 feet stretched out. Thought about buying another one for this radio. Figured I would go cheap to try before buying another antenna so I thought I would ask first.

 

[ka3jjz]

A coax leadin would be of benefit so that the antenna doesn't 'hear' the SDR and would make connections simpler.

Mike

 

[bearcatrp]

Have a few 3 footers I use on my 4 port that I can snag one to use. Or should I go longer? Thanks for the tip. May just order another endfed.

 

[ka3jjz]

Sadly MyAntennas is down until after 9/15, but there are other suppliers. You're less critical in a listen only application so even getting a Mighty Fine Junk one would work. Going longer might be OK if the weight and how it can be stored isn't too bad, but if you are in an urban environment in your home station, I would try to keep it the same length. That way you have a spare if the one you are using now gets knocked down by a storm, etc. Just my 2 pfennig

Mike

 

[sunwave]

Will be used with my Afedri LAN IQ.

Check out the Afedri LAN-IQ SDR: a new stand-alone touch screen SDR

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following video from Fernando Duarte highlighting the new Alfredi LAN-IQ SDR: I can’t wait to check out Fenu’s full …

swling.com

You can clip a wire onto this

10 bucks on Amazon for 2 pack. It will fit your SDR as well as receive RFI.

 

[bearcatrp]

I have one of those antennas. Actually brought one on my last trip but no wire or clip. It did terrible. But will try a clip with wire attached with that antenna and see what happens.

 

[ka3jjz]

Careful! Any static discharge while attaching a wire to this, or even casually touching the ship, even by accident, would probably render your SDR as deaf as a rock

Not recommended

Mike

 

[bearcatrp]

Careful! Any static discharge while attaching a wire to this, or even casually touching the ship, even by accident, would probably render your SDR as deaf as a rock

Not recommended

Mike

Well that sucks. Guess I won't be doing this. Will order a endfed to be safe.

 

[krokus]

I have done this, with some success. Need to be careful, as others have said, and in other threads, as there is often an RF amp connected to the whip, which can be damaged.

An option is to use an un-un as a DC separation, and put a large value bleeder resistor between the wire and earth ground. This will bleed off static built up by wind blowing past the wire.