Antenna Question

[culcuhain]

Good morning everybody!
I currently have a little Radio Shack Portable SWR that I use the whip antenna. MY buddy, who is a CW ham operation is letting me use on a long term his Yaseu FT840 for SWL. I know this is a transceiver but I have no plans on using it as such. I don't want [or wife doesn't ] an antenna mast in the yard or on the house. I was thinking about running a long wire out of the window. Anyone see anything wrong with this or would there be something better for my situation? I do not have any trees to hang wires between. Thanks!!

Also, any suggest for a not so expensive power supply? I have a back up 12 volt switching power supply for an arcade game, but I know the switching can cause interference. Thanks!!!

 

[ka3jjz]

If you did hang a wire out the window, where would the far end of the antenna go? You said you don't have any trees around you. And how much distance is there between your wall and the attachment point for the far end of the antenna?

Apart from using a Wellbrook or Pixel loop (both are quite pricey) there are a number of other options here. If you have somewhere to put the far end of a wire antenna, then antennas like the PAR EF-SWL will do very nicely. Or you could build an inverted L, then feed it with a commercial 9:1 (sometimes mis-named a 'magnetic longwire balun') transformer, such as the one sold by WinRadio. Or you can build a 9:1 transformer yourself - I understand it isn't all that hard, once you have the parts.

Some folks have had success with this antenna - but I am loathe to recommend verticals because they tend to pick up noise much easier than their horizontal cousins...

Apex Radio 303WA-2 Shortwave antenna. ApexRadio

And with you being in Texas, I don't think you want a lightning rod...

How big is your lot? Do you have a wooden fence around it? (I can't imagine not having any trees around - here in the NE, that's nearly always not a problem...) Do you have a garage or permanent shed on the property?

A little more info is needed here, I think...Mike

 

[culcuhain]

I live in an area that was farm land converted into a housing area, hence the no trees. The lot size is 1.5 acres and no HOA. From the window to the radio will be maybe 10feet. From the window to the property line on the east side is 120-140 feet and from the window to the north end is closer to 180-200 feet. No shed or garage (yet) on the property. I will look into what you have posted. Thanks!

 

[SCPD]

Also, any suggest for a not so expensive power supply? I have a back up 12 volt switching power supply for an arcade game, but I know the switching can cause interference. Thanks!!!

Astron RS-7A is your best (cheapest) bet as it's a linear.

Astron Power Supplies

 

[SCPD]

I know this is a transceiver but I have no plans on using it as such. I don't want [or wife doesn't ] an antenna mast in the yard or on the house. I was thinking about running a long wire out of the window.

Par Electronics EF-SWL End Fed Dipole SWL Antenna. Par EF-SWL.

Use at least 50ft of RG-8x coax to run the transformer outside... then throw the end of the wire (the gray insulator) anywhere you can. The higher the better. Try to keep it away from the house as far as possible for the best reception.

 

[majoco]

You don't need a big supply to run the receiver alone, just a couple of amps will probably do fine. The spec says 1.2Amps on receive.

 

[SCPD]

You don't need a big supply to run the receiver alone, just a couple of amps will probably do fine. The spec says 1.2Amps on receive.

At zero volume.

The RS-7A is the lowest level of Astron I would go for... and it's worth the investment...