SHORTWAVE ANTENNA

[ShawnCowden]

WHAT IS THE BEST SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS FOR THE KAITO KA1102 SW SSB RADIO ??
IT HAS A EXTERNAL ANTENNA PLUG-IN JACK LIKE THE GRUNDIG YB300 DOESI WANT A EXTERNAL ANTENNA FOR HAM LISTENING ONE THAT HAS A PLUG THAT WILL FIT THE ANTENNA JACK ANY INFO ??

 

[elk2370bruce]

The best approach is a dipole strung outside between two trees. Higher the better but stay away from power lines. Fairly easy to construct your own from braided copper cable and fittings and you will save a bundle of dough. You can add your own choice of end fitting.

 

[LarrySC]

If you have the room: 66' of 22ga stranded covered wire. Cut at 24'x42' and insert a 4:1 balun [ tv antenna type ] Put "F-59" connector on RG-8 coax and run to receiver. If you cant hear it on this, its not there. Put one end as high as makes good sence. This antenna is call a Windom.

 

[ShawnCowden]

I 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][/b]

 

[kb2vxa]

HUH?

Hi Larry,

I'll save you from embarassment this way.

"... insert a 4:1 balun [ tv antenna type ] Put "F-59" connector on RG-8 coax and run to receiver."

We're talking HF, not TV frequencies here and no way can you connect it to RG-8, it's meant for an F connector and RG-6 or RG-59 and each is a different diameter requiring a different diameter F connector.

What's required is an HF balun obtainable from a ham radio dealer which connects with a PL-259 and uses either RG-8U or RG-58U with an adapter ferrule inserted. (Some use an N connector but it's more expensive and not needed in this application.)

What's an "F-59" connector? Somehow you managed to mate an F connector with a PL-259 and they reproduced, sort of crossing a horse with a donkey and getting a mule. I have no idea how they ever fit together, maybe you used artificial electrification and grew the embryo in a vacuum tube. (;->)

Now if you're going to recommend a Windom antenna it's best to tell them what it is and how it's constructed. It's not a straight dipole nor is it fed with coax and a balun, rather with open wire ladder line and balanced output tuner for highest efficiency. In any case this is an SWL forum and an exotic antenna like that is oddly out of place.

The simplest thing to slap together is a half wave dipole for the lowest operating frequency, a 1:1 balun and RG-58U coax, no tuner needed since impedance matching and SWR isn't a receiver issue. Better yet, an inverted L 1/4 wave at the lowest frequency. Half the length of a dipole you only need half the space, no transmission line, just connect the end to the receiver and use a decent ground.

 

[racin06]

If you have the room: 66' of 22ga stranded covered wire. Cut at 24'x42' and insert a 4:1 balun [ tv antenna type ] Put "F-59" connector on RG-8 coax and run to receiver. If you cant hear it on this, its not there. Put one end as high as makes good sence. This antenna is call a Windom.

Will this balun suffice?: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/antsup/2286.html

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi Larry and all,

Yes, that balun or the 1:1 also on that page will do if you run ladder line into the shack and connect it to a tuner through a coax jumper. If you want to go that route combine the two, MFJ makes a series of low power (300W max) tuners with coaxial, unbalanced and balanced outputs plus a "coax direct" output bypassing the tuner and balun.

Save yourself time, expense and headaches by heeding the advice I gave before you made that post. For receiving a long wire works wonders and all you have to buy is wire and a few insulators. BTW, the old tube type communications receivers had antenna tuners built in and had both balanced and unbalanced inputs. My first "professional" receiver was a National NC-173 I got for a whopping $60 and spanned the world like that famous Pathe` chicken. (Never mind, you were born too late, hi.)

 

[leftystrat]

WHAT IS THE BEST SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS FOR THE KAITO KA1102 SW SSB RADIO ??

`Best' is subjective. Listen to the radio with the existing antenna and see if it is sufficient for you. If not, there's a really cool, cheap wind-up reel antenna that comes with Grundigs and others. One end goes across the room and the other goes into your antenna jack. You can also accomplish this with wire and an alligator clip.

If this isn't floating your boat, it's time to Head Outside. The gentlemen who posted about Windoms had the right idea, afaik. One thing to consider is that you're a LISTENER, so you don't need high-power tuners, etc.

Since antennas are just wire, why not throw up some wire? Try the Windom idea - I'm told you don't even need the balun (I don't use one).

An even easier route would be the end-fed antenna. This simply means you run a wire from your radio to the antenna end, then string the antenna. Get it as high and long as you can. Run the center of your coax to the antenna and the shield to a ground rod, driven into the ground (buy at Radio Shack). The ground isn't mandatory, but it can certainly help a lot.

Hell, you can throw a wire coat hanger up on the roof with enough wire attached to make it through your window and see if that works.

If you're interested, there is a LOT you can learn about antennas. If not, try things until you're happy with the results.


I don't have any of the active antennas but I'm told that they can overload more sensitive receivers.


Good luck!