indoor homebrew antenna, house has aluminum siding... problem?

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mparker

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i am going to build a 1/4 wave 2m antenna today with some scraps laying around... i found an old camera tripod and some pvc pipe that i think will work out really good, should hold it about 9' in the air... i might have to only use the PVC section outside and run the cable out the window... (8' ceilings in the house)

anyhow my question is, when using the antenna inside is the fact that my home has aluminum siding going to be a problem?

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byndhlptom

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indorr antenna / aluminum siding

Yes, the aluminum siding will negatively affect your reception. Depending on frequencies you listen to and the various openings (windows/doors/etc), your results could be anything from great to "there's nothing to listen to". You may just need to get above the siding (either attic or roof).

Of course, this works both ways, the neighbors probably won't receive your wifi either and the "guys in black vehicles" can't electronically eavesdrop on you very well......

have a good new year

tom
 

mparker

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that would explain a lot... i hear some people on the local repeater talking about walking around the house with their HT... but i have to set mine in the window to TX.

i am hoping my homebrew set up in front of a window helps a little...
 

mparker

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here is what i ended up with...

i was going to solder the radials but i couldnt hold them and solder at the same time so i went with bolts which made them 1/2" shorter than planned, they ended up being 19.5" the radiator is 20". id like to find a different way to attach it to the tripod.

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gewecke

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Some years back I rented an apt. with alum.siding on the building,so I used a Panel from an old pc server and stuck it out the window horizontally and slapped a 5/8 wave larsen 2/70 mag. mount antenna on it.
Other than being a little directional it worked great! I had good simplex 15-20miles with rptr. contacts at up to 30miles away.
Another idea too,would be to use a Diamond X50a on your cam tripod? I did this also before I mounted it outside and even with the alum. siding it still did quite well.
Good luck!
n9zas
 
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