Long wire antenna

[Rickycandela]

Hi, new here with a question, I noticed there is lots of knowledgeable members so I’m sure I will get a answer here. I got the shortwave listening bug back again, I used to listen when I was a kid back in Cuba with Russian transistor radios. Now I have a Grundig Satellit 750 and want to run a 14ga 80 feet insulated stranded copper wire over the privacy wood fence (I reside in a HOA subdivision sooooo,forget about high antennas) question is, Should I continue the long wire straight without cutting after the porcelain insulator to the antenna Imput of the 9:1 balun I have? or should I cut the wire once attached to the porcelain insulator and splice the insulation of the long wire and solder the wire that goes to the balun a couple of feet from the porcelain? I’m not sure if there is a benefit to this or not. I’m also running a 65 feet rg58 with pl259 ends to the radio. Also want to know if there is a benefit to use that balun I have. I have a ground rod buried directly under the area at the end of the long wire where I plan to ground the balun ground terminal or just the rg58 connector if I don’t use a balun. Also have another ground rod buried about 10 feet from the radio to ground it. I thank you for your response in advance Ricky.

 

[mmckenna]

Couple of things to consider…

Using a random length wire and a 9:1 balun is a good option. Just be aware that having an antenna down close to your (and others) homes will pick up a lot of noise. Not much you can do for your situation.

Just continue the wire to the balun. There's really no benefit to cutting and splicing.
The balun also needs to have the ground, so you do want to hook up the ground terminal on it.

You also need to have your ground rods (including your house ground) all bonded together. Having different ground rods spread around and not bonded can cause issues.

 

[lou9155]

i have a grundig 800 with a 9:1 balun....about 75 feet of 14 gauge i got great reception...although i had to turn off all the led and flourescents in the home.

 

[Rickycandela]

Thanks for the ideas

Thanks for the ideas. What size/gauge wire should I run between ground rods is a safe bet? and, does it has to be stranded or solid wire? Thanks for the info.

 

[mmckenna]

Thanks for the ideas. What size/gauge wire should I run between ground rods is a safe bet? and, does it has to be stranded or solid wire? Thanks for the info.

6 gauge. That's pretty heavy, you could probably get away with smaller, but then you'd really want to look at national electric code stuff.

Either stranded or solid will work fine.

 

[Rickycandela]

Doing it tomorrow. Here in tampa we are starting to get into the usual season with heavy downpours with a heavy load of lightning on a daily basis soooooo thanks for the heads up!