GOOD INDOOR 2METER ANTENNA

[ShawnCowden]

i live in an apartment and im looking for a good indoor antenna to use as a base setup for 2meters to transmit ??


also maybe something for 220, 440, and 6 meters for a later on setup inside the apartment.

Note: not allowed to have one outside and theirs no room outside anyhow.

 

[KC2LVC]

you could try making one of these, 300 ohm tv twin-lead j-poles. Easy to make, and work pretty good. You could tape it to the window and you'll get out pretty decent. You could pick up 300 ohm twin-lead at RadioShack pretty cheap, and you get a large amount of it. So, if you wanted to make a few for 220 and 440 also, you can, plus if you screw up the first time you make it, as I did, it's not a big deal to make another. I had one in my car for a while, taped to the back window, and it worked great.

http://www.mvw.net/radio/jpole.html

http://hamgate1.sunyerie.edu/races/antenna/pocket.htm

or just do a google search for 2 meter j-pole 300 ohm.

 

[K2KOH]

Check out the Cushcraft Ringo...it's small, and can be used indoors. Check it out at www.cushcraft.com

 

[ReceiverBeaver]

Hi friend,

Unfortunately, I think the terms "good" and "indoor" are mutually exclusive. Anything you do is going to be a compromise.

A Ringo from Cushcraft is a good ant. and I've used several of them however all verticle ant.'s such as these like to be in "free space", that is they usually need to be in an open space with no nearby surrounding objects which can deflect their out-bound signals. Installation with nearby objects may cause a high SWR reading. Whatever you do I recommend having a VHF SWR meter on hand to test whatever antenna you come up with to make sure that's it's tuned properly and not being affected by nearby objects. You are also going to be subject to interfering with your and the neighbor's TV's, phones, stereos ect....that is unless you're not planning on transmitting. If receiving only, well heck you can receive with a coat hanger.

Good luck!

 

[KC2LVC]

actually, you could transmit with a coat hanger also, if you opened it up and cut it for the appropiate length. You'd be suprised the things you could use as an antenna. But yes, indoor antennas are definitely at a disadvantage compared to outdoor. That's why I suggested the twin-lead taped to the window. It's "close" to outdoors. ha. Maybe some metal framing around the window would cause problems though. Old wood frame windows would be better. But try different things. Experiment. You'll find something that works for your needs. And yes, test everything through the swr meter first.

My friend uses a magmount 5/8 wave, on a big piece of stainless steel sheetmetal , and puts it on his bed to use it. His bed is right in the middle of the room, so there's no objects near it. It works great. No reports of RFI from anyone, so far. Yes, a pain to have to pull out the sheetmetal from under the bed each time he uses it, but it works for him.

 

[kc2jfs]

2 mete indoor antenna

Shawn,

Just a quick note..... I live in an apartment complex, however I put a magmount antenna on the window mounted air conditioner outside. That is your property no harm no foul. Good Luck

 

[ShawnCowden]

Yes I can try putting it on an air conditioner but we are only allowed one in the summer time in our windows. Thanks for the posts everyone.