Good Shortwave and ham antennas!!

[ShawnCowden]

found a antenna from DWM communications http://www.qth.com/dwm

the tiny-tenna is a good one all-band indoor active (amplified) antenna
it even helps scanner radio signals!! its 19.99 plus s&h but hey for lifetime warranty its worth it!

Satisfaction guaranteed! And a lifetime repair or replace warranty!
on most of the productsb

 

[LarrySC]

If you are using a toy shortwave radio then this toy antenna would work. However, for any good receiver costing $500+ you need better. If you have room. From here is SC I monitor world wide using a 66' Windom tapped at 42'x24' with 4:1 balun [tv antenna type] and RG-59 coax. I use a Yeasu 8800 thats about 20 years old. I can hear a frog fart in Fargo. Larry

 

[loumaag]

...I can hear a frog fart in Fargo. ...

That is amazing. Last time I was in Fargo, all the frogs had started using FRS (Frog Radio Service) radios. :lol:

 

[kb2vxa]

good equipment

Hi all,

All too often I see questions like "Which receiver should I use?" and "What's a good antenna?" so here we go with a tutorial in a nut shell.

FIRST you must learn a bit about receiver ciruit theory, nothing special, just the basics about front ends, IF's, detectors, filters and the stuff that's in the box. Then learn how to use a receiver knowing that you have chosen one that fits your requirements, it will be a communications receiver, not some junk portable for a day at the beach.

Then a bit of antenna theory, you'll be able to build one that suits your requirements and is a good compromise with where it will be used. You can't string a half wave dipole in a small apartment. Considering the characteristics of HF, unless you want to listen to a half watt signal coming from the other side of the planet you don't need anything special. BUILD one yourself, there's no pride in accomplishment to be found inside a plastic bag packed in a cardboard box.

There is no greater feeling of satisfaction than knowing you selected a proper receiver and built a proper antenna and can hear what the guy with that POS with the whip antenna only dreams about. The receiver costs a buck so no excuse for pinching pennies until Lincoln bleeds and that doesn't mean scrimp on quality, it means patience, sacrifice and saving up until you can afford what you want. Building an antenna saves money wasted on plastic bags and cardboard boxes, but the main thing is being able to say "I did it all myself and it WORKS."

 

[Halfpint]

kb2vxa,

Did you actually bother to go to the site mentioned and read the `home' page? It reads in part:

"We got our start by developing pre-assembled, homebrew-type gadgets for the disabled and elderly ham radio operator and short-wave listener who wasn't able to "roll their own", but who still wanted to participate in the fun and lower prices of homebrew projects."

(Emphasis added)

While *I* like to do such things as building my own antenna(s) and such *I* also see where offerings like those that they are offering have a purpose. As I get older and more and more decrepit I can actually see that there just might be a time when I may have to avail myself of the services of someone else to do things I used to be able to myself. In fact I actually, in a way, have already done so when I went and bought my LF Engineering H900 antenna *and* hired a guy with a `bucket truck' to put it up for me! (At the same time I had him take down several of my antennas I had put up years ago. I did this because we are planning on moving in the next few months and I wanted to still be able to at least `SWL' until the time came and not have all the associated hassles involved being another part of the overall hassles I expect we'll have. While the H900 isn't the same as the antennas I had taken down it still does a pretty good job considering just what it is.) I'll admit that I am getting too old and shakey to be wandering around on either roofs or climbing towers and the way the progressive degeneration is progressing there may just come a day when about the only thing *I* might be able to do *is* hook up a simple `active' antenna like that one *if* I'm actually even able to stand up.

Just an `olde Fart's' 2¢ worth! {GRIN!}

 

[loumaag]

Please...Don't feed the trolls. :!:

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi again,

"Please...Don't feed the trolls.
_________________
Lou Maag"

As much as I'm tempted to tell the guy off I understand, they have this tendancy to bite the hand that feeds them. Hmmm, come to the Jersey shore where trolling catches fish you can eat. (;->)

 

[Halfpint]

Please...Don't feed the trolls. :!:

Oh, well... OK. *But* they make such cute `squeaky noises' when you squeeze them! {VBE GRIN!}

 

[loumaag]

Hi again,

"Please...Don't feed the trolls.
_________________
Lou Maag"

As much as I'm tempted to tell the guy off I understand, they have this tendancy to bite the hand that feeds them. Hmmm, come to the Jersey shore where trolling catches fish you can eat. (;->)

Well, you do seem to be trolling old posts to comment on. It seems like the only thing you are doing is posting to build-up your post count as very few of your posts seem to be adding to the discussions in a helpful way. I think I have hinted in the past that you read the Webmaster's announcement on Etiquette and the Forums; when you do pay particular attention to rules 1, 2, 5, 6, & 7, which you seem to have the most trouble with. :?

Since nothing is being added to this topic worth reading, it is being closed.