Crude drawing with a question
- Thread starter KD5SPJ
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If you just want a long wire then clip off the braid and cover the exposure with heat shrink so it doesn't come in contact with anything. Or, you could attach an equal length of wire to the braid and make a dipole but it now becomes more tuned to a specific band not to mention that it will be more directional.
Interesting, since I have never heard another ham ask this question?
Just a suggestion, but your best answer is in your amateur radio handbook from the ARRL.
Or google "electrical ground". :wink:
73,
n9zas
majoco
Stirrer
Need quite a bit more information....
1. What receiver do you intend to connect with the "F" connector? It's a rather unusual connector for a radio - or is it going to an antenna tuner...
2. How long is the coaxial part?
3. 50ft of antenna will be alright, solid copper or whatever, but if your receiver has a 50ohm input, then a balun would be nice.
4. If you intend to just join the centre of the coax to a whip antenna on a portable, then you may well overload the input.
5. Whatever, just join the braid to a ground - hopefully an RF ground, not the power point ground. (Wait for the screams from the "You must bond everything back to the power panel..." brigade.) :roll:
1. What receiver do you intend to connect with the "F" connector? It's a rather unusual connector for a radio - or is it going to an antenna tuner...
2. How long is the coaxial part?
3. 50ft of antenna will be alright, solid copper or whatever, but if your receiver has a 50ohm input, then a balun would be nice.
4. If you intend to just join the centre of the coax to a whip antenna on a portable, then you may well overload the input.
5. Whatever, just join the braid to a ground - hopefully an RF ground, not the power point ground. (Wait for the screams from the "You must bond everything back to the power panel..." brigade.) :roll:
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If possible. meaning you already have such a thing, connect it to an RF ground system. That RF ground system provides the 'other half' of the antenna. All antennas have an 'other half'. It's not always apparent, or what you might think it is, or the 'right' size/shape, but it has one.
I have to think that you've got this thing hooked up already and have listened to what it's providing you. One simple way of doing it is to make a temporary connection to something and see what happens. If it's better, leave it connected. If not, disconnect is and/or try something else.
- 'Doc
I have to think that you've got this thing hooked up already and have listened to what it's providing you. One simple way of doing it is to make a temporary connection to something and see what happens. If it's better, leave it connected. If not, disconnect is and/or try something else.
- 'Doc
KD5SPJ
Member
its on my Grundig GS450DL which has an F connection for the external FM SW ext ant connection. The antenna is solely an 18ga solid copper wire about 35ft long. How long is optimal for use for the entire SW band for listening only?
This may help you,
Ham Radio HF/VHF Antenna Lengths
Being a ham, this should be easy for you right?
73,
n9zas
That F-connector on the 450DL is intended for 75 ohm impedance. Just treat it as you would your HF rig as far as antenna choices go. (nevermind any slight 50/75 ohm impedance cabling mismatch here).
The problem you face may be overload, so a full-size antenna *may* not be desired. You may have to use the side-attenuator (dx/local) as well as the AM RF gain knob even on HF even with short antennas.
My first thought was attach 35 feet of wire to braid, and hang the whole thing up as a horizontal dipole, inverted vee, etc.
The problem you face may be overload, so a full-size antenna *may* not be desired. You may have to use the side-attenuator (dx/local) as well as the AM RF gain knob even on HF even with short antennas.
My first thought was attach 35 feet of wire to braid, and hang the whole thing up as a horizontal dipole, inverted vee, etc.
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A 35 ft. antenna should bring in most of the SW bands well. Longer lengths may bring in the lower SW bands better. A higher antenna will bring in signals better than a low one.
Like the other guys have said, an external antenna may overload your portable, depending on the overall signal strengths that occur where you live. Where I live (NW US) you can attach a 100 ft. wire to many portables and have few problems. Other areas of the US, where there are higher SW signal strengths, that could be a problem.
As for the braid, you could attach it to a ground wire and use it as a radio ground (some SWLers swear by radio grounds, others don't see much difference in using one). Or you could just tape it off.
One thing (and you probably already know this) is to be careful during stormy weather or dry winter air conditions with an outdoor antenna, when things like lightning and static can wreak havoc on a radio.
Disconnect and ground the antenna during storms, and if there are dry winter conditions some sort of safety connection between the antenna and the ground is a good idea, as static can zap a radio's RF amp transistor (some guys use a big resistor between antenna and ground, other guys use a pair of diodes wired back to back between the antenna and ground).
Like the other guys have said, an external antenna may overload your portable, depending on the overall signal strengths that occur where you live. Where I live (NW US) you can attach a 100 ft. wire to many portables and have few problems. Other areas of the US, where there are higher SW signal strengths, that could be a problem.
As for the braid, you could attach it to a ground wire and use it as a radio ground (some SWLers swear by radio grounds, others don't see much difference in using one). Or you could just tape it off.
One thing (and you probably already know this) is to be careful during stormy weather or dry winter air conditions with an outdoor antenna, when things like lightning and static can wreak havoc on a radio.
Disconnect and ground the antenna during storms, and if there are dry winter conditions some sort of safety connection between the antenna and the ground is a good idea, as static can zap a radio's RF amp transistor (some guys use a big resistor between antenna and ground, other guys use a pair of diodes wired back to back between the antenna and ground).
KD5SPJ
Member
Thanks for all the reply's. I might build one of those multi band wire antennas since I have 10 acres to play with.
SpectreOZ
Member
The T2FD is yet another worthy broadband antenna (at least of consideration) 
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