HF antenna

ILSAPP

Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2007
Messages
72
Hello all,

I'd like to ask for your advice regarding building/buying a HF antenna. (Neighbours are already informed of my intentions to build an antenna for TX and are ok with it).
I live in 1st floor and would like to take profit of the balcony area (small but it's what I have - please see attached picture) to get the most of my transceiver specially on 10-40m bands. Transceiver will deliver 100W output power and most of the time I'll be using SSB voice. For RX I'm currently using a 1m diameter loop (with an amplifier) which is working very good!
I'm thinking in an EFHW but not sure if it's the best choice here. Also don't really know which wire configuration I should start with in order to have the most of wire possible laying around but at the same time don't compromise the antenna pattern and performance.

Dimensions:
Length: 11'
Width: 4.5'
Height: 8.5'


Any help would be very appreciated!


Thank you
 

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prcguy

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So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
Is there something 60-70ft out from the building you could attach a wire to, even temporarily? How about roof access? There may be a common cable shaft that goes to the roof or sometimes you can drop a cable down a vent pipe on the roof and pull it out in your unit. Otherwise that's a pretty bad situation.
 

W4AXW

A keeper of the SSB flame
Joined
Jun 30, 2024
Messages
72
Not really suggesting this but here's what I did for about a couple years in a second floor condo:

20230506_175354.jpg
Had wires tuned for 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters. Just swapped wires out for whichever band was open at the time. Built a wire Moxon for 6m. Both worked better than expected. 50+ DXCCs on phone, 100w max.

Most people here discount dipoles as weak or having big nulls but they are highly efficient radiators and Inverted Vs nulls are small.

Someone will most likely suggest a MagLoop.

7 3
 

ILSAPP

Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2007
Messages
72
Thanks for the reply.
Well I have two street lamps nearby to attach the wire but wonder if it will be a good option - pictures below.
Yes I have roof access but of course I need to ask for permission from the condo. I'll try to get some pictures when I get there.
In the living room I don't have any vent exit so I need to explore other options to get the cable there.
 

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ILSAPP

Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2007
Messages
72
Thanks for the reply.
Seems an interesting solution but unfortunately it does not cover the 40m band which I'm interested as well. However for the total wire length used that is pretty impressive!
 
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