Alpha Antenna HOA BUSTER - Does it even work? - Sunday Night Ragchew

[@lairdlind9860]

RexTheDane gives this interesting video 3 dog paws up!

[@prephampaul]

One can always rely on Rex's paws!

[@phillipdewitt4454]

Do you have aluminum facial around your house under the gutters? Hard to guess if there is efficient electrical connection between the painted gutter and facial . Also there is adhesive at each gutter downspout bib.

[@prephampaul]

No I think it's screwed into wood, no metal facial. I know if I put a metal screw in each connection it would probably be better overall. 👍

[@daveborchard2019]

I thought about trying a gutter antenna because I read so many good results. So I tried connecting the center lead of the coaxial cable to the HF radio and the shield to either nothing or ground. I received no signals at all. I received lots of signals with a 20 meter resonant dipole that was only 4 feet above the ground, that was laying on top of a hedge. I’m assuming that I should be able to receive some signals without the antenna matching device. I’m guessing that my rain gutters are grounded somewhere. I didn’t want to buy the antenna matching part if the gutter was grounded. Another idea that I thought about trying, but didn’t try is running a wire for the antenna parallel to the rain gutters, parallel to the rain gutters, laying on the shingles, periodically glued or attached to the shingles. But I didn’t try that idea yet. So far, the non-resonant offset flagpole antenna, without radials, with a remote antenna tuner, works good enough. But it would be nice to have a second stealth antenna.

[@prephampaul]

I am going to metal screw in all my joints this week and see if it helps performance. I know other who use it and it works fairly well for them.

[@mrsblackirish7]

Otimo video. Espero mais videos como este🙌

[@daveborchard2019]

I tried connecting my HF radio coaxial cable center directly to my metal downspout without a matching device. I received nothing. I suspect that my gutters are grounded. Could you try bypassing the matching device? Could you determine the difference on receiving with and without the match? Tfe FT8 mode doesn’t take much of an antenna. I could easily get a lot of contacts with FT8 and a resonant 20 meter dipole at only 4 feet above the ground. But the flagpole antenna works much better.

[@prephampaul]

I think that's a good idea to try. I'll try to get to it soon and see what happens, I would assume the SWR at the radio would be much higher, perhaps not even tunable without a match but hey, let's find out!

[@ArchangelMLM]

What would be the radiation pattern using your gutter as the antenna? Just curious is it safe? Thank you Michael

[@aaronrussell6795]

Curious about this as well

[@prephampaul]

I have yet to figure out how to use that antenna radiation pattern software. I'd like to know too, I would think being close to the ground, 8' that it could be a good nvis antenna.

[@Cliff-KI5OPP]

Sorry i missed it live. I am on call and was working

[@prephampaul]

No worries!

[@Outcast.Horizon]

why not try to connect to the flag pole?

[@prephampaul]

Connect this match and 8' wire to it? The flagpole is my main HF antenna.

[@Outcast.Horizon]

@@prephampaul I was asking if you did it was a 20-30 foot pole. just seems like it would make a good antenna.

[@prephampaul]

@@Outcast.Horizon Not sure I fully understand. Use this antenna on a 20'pole then attach to gutter with a longer wire or just run the match with a wire from a 20'pole? The antenna was made for HOA use to not be visible and for ease in setup I think. I'm sure if I put a longer wire on the match it would work great, similar to an EFHW.

[@stevew4538]

I imagine that this setup could work with voice also? Just not as far. I have the same match as you do.

[@prephampaul]

Yes I have made a few with voice, it seems to be good for NVIS as well, although I couldn't find anyone on 80m to test that on later at night. It isn't a hexbeam for sure but it does work for someone who can't do anything else.

[@randyab9go188]

That is NOT a ground. It is in a flower pot. You must place the spike in the earth not a flower pot!!!😮

[@N1IA-4]

An antenna doesn't need a ground. For example, a dipole (or vertical) symetrical radiator with two halves. The ground doesn't radiate too well, and is NOT a part of an antenna. If you want to bury your signal and have it not be heard, by all means stick it in the ground.

[@Colin_In_VK]

Whats your ALC reading having the volume (PWR) set to max in WSJT-X (bottom right of WSJT-X). I have to adjust mine to only just move the ALC, never flat out?

[@prephampaul]

Hey Colin, I have my ALC at about 1. I've set the alc in the sound card settings in Win10. I don't know if that's better, worse or equal but at output level 43 in windows it sets me to 0-1 ALC.