Ok, just some odd questions here. First of all, I am in the dreaded HOA restricted community - not that I care about that too much - but I don't really have any trees either. (LOL) - I would really like an antenna that works well on 40m and 20m, 10 and 6m would be a bonus. Running a vertical antenna in the yard is most likely not an option.
I have a Icom 7300 and a G5RV Jr. antenna from MFJ. The antenna is in the attic, probably only about 16-18' above the ground. I have build the recommended Balun using ~10 wraps of the coax feed and a 5inch diameter PVC pipe. It's laid out pretty much as good as I can, but the 450ohm ladder line is most certainly more horizontal than perpendicularly and vertical to the antenna. Rig is grounded to an external ground rod outside.
Biggest problem. The only band the 7300 will tune using the internal tuner is 20m. It does not generate a match on any other band. Second problem - I had a MFJ-915 RF isolator in the line (with the above home brew air-Balun) - but with the MFJ in the circuit the radio would not tune >ANY< band. With the 915 removed, the radio does tune 20m. Needless to say, the 915 is currently removed from the feedline, but my background HF noise is increased.
I am considering some options. Just wanted to hear some thoughts.
First option - get a Icom AH-4 auto antenna tuner - stuff it up in the attic - and just run a random wire in a "L" as the antenna. (again, the question here is the height in the attic - is 16ft above ground high enough?)
Second option - switch to an end-fed design antenna in the hopes that the Icom built-in tuner can tune it.
what will not work >>> I cannot install a vertical in my backyard. I already have a flag pole and it's on the wrong side of the house. running any wire on the roof (a loop) is probably a non-starter, unless it's just laying on the shingles (probably not a good idea in florida)
open to some thoughts/ideas - just be reasonable about it.
doug
I have a Icom 7300 and a G5RV Jr. antenna from MFJ. The antenna is in the attic, probably only about 16-18' above the ground. I have build the recommended Balun using ~10 wraps of the coax feed and a 5inch diameter PVC pipe. It's laid out pretty much as good as I can, but the 450ohm ladder line is most certainly more horizontal than perpendicularly and vertical to the antenna. Rig is grounded to an external ground rod outside.
Biggest problem. The only band the 7300 will tune using the internal tuner is 20m. It does not generate a match on any other band. Second problem - I had a MFJ-915 RF isolator in the line (with the above home brew air-Balun) - but with the MFJ in the circuit the radio would not tune >ANY< band. With the 915 removed, the radio does tune 20m. Needless to say, the 915 is currently removed from the feedline, but my background HF noise is increased.
I am considering some options. Just wanted to hear some thoughts.
First option - get a Icom AH-4 auto antenna tuner - stuff it up in the attic - and just run a random wire in a "L" as the antenna. (again, the question here is the height in the attic - is 16ft above ground high enough?)
Second option - switch to an end-fed design antenna in the hopes that the Icom built-in tuner can tune it.
what will not work >>> I cannot install a vertical in my backyard. I already have a flag pole and it's on the wrong side of the house. running any wire on the roof (a loop) is probably a non-starter, unless it's just laying on the shingles (probably not a good idea in florida)
open to some thoughts/ideas - just be reasonable about it.
doug